It might be crazy to say about the industry’s largest and longest-running trade show, but an attendee of The PPA Expo 2025 could forget to step foot on the actual trade floor and still be glad they made the trip to Las Vegas. There’s no doubt that the trade show is something to behold; it will have more than 2,500 booths and nearly 1,000 exhibiting companies. But The PPAI Expo 2025 is more than that. It’s an entire experience.
With that experience just barely a month away (January 13-16), below are nine reasons the promo world will converge on the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the can’t-miss event.
The Pitch Debuts a New Group of Judges
Promo’s cross between The Voice and Shark Tank is back for its third edition. A runaway smash hit in its first year, “The Pitch” sees exhibiting suppliers attempt to impress a lineup of discerning judges in front of a live audience.
You’ve seen The Voice cycle through new judges such as Reba McEntire and Snoop Dogg, and the third edition of The Pitch is doing the same. Fresh faces are taking on the judges’ seats this year, so studying the preferences of past judges won’t do contestants any good. It’s a whole new game.
The PPAI Expo Conference Is The Crash Course You Didn’t Know You Needed
Before the trade floor at The PPAI Expo 2025 even truly opens for exhibitors and distributors, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas will be buzzing with industry professionals looking to soak up some of the year’s best educational sessions at The PPAI Expo Conference on January 13.
The Association has assembled an extensive roster of experienced industry insiders to join panel discussions and lead sessions. Those new to the industry can accelerate their learning curve, and decades-long veterans are able to leverage The PPAI Expo Conference to keep informed and up to date on important trends and technologies. It is truly a jam-packed affair with as much learning as you’re willing to take in.
…Not To Mention Great Keynote Speakers
Included in those PPAI Expo Conference sessions are two terrific keynote speakers guaranteed to educate and inspire attendees. Monday’s keynote speaker, Tiffani Bova, is the former chief growth evangelist at Salesforce. Her session will be titled “Boosting Sales with the Experience Mindset: Driving Growth Through Employee and Customer Alignment.”
Tuesday morning’s keynote speaker, who will wrap up her session just before the trade floor doors officially open, is Kristen Cavallo, former CEO of The Martin Agency. Her session will be titled, “The Value of Being Interesting.”
A Sky Lounge View of Las Vegas
Each year, at the end of a long day of enriching and informative educational content during Monday’s PPAI Expo Conference, the Association likes to provide attendees with an informal opening reception to unwind, network or gameplan for the following day’s trade floor opening.
This year, that reception will be held at the Skyfall Panoramic Bar & Lounge in Mandalay Bay. Stunning views of Las Vegas accompany drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Inclusion Through Camaraderie
There is no industry that avoids being susceptible to inclusion issues. Perhaps it’s not necessarily active, but women and people of color are often inadvertently left out of organic networking opportunities or face more obstacles to connect with each other. Deliberate meetups can make a big difference and create low-stakes linkups that might have long-term value.
On The PPAI Expo’s trade floor, the Promo & Pints bar space provides those opportunities without even having to get away from all the action. On Tuesday, January 14, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., is the Inclusive Impact Meetup: Driving DEI Forward. From 4-5 p.m., the Women In Promo Meetup will follow.
Products Galore!
As we stated, there is much more to The PPAI Expo 2025 than a trade floor. That being said, the trade show is something to behold. First timers might feel like they need to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. Exhibitors showcase more products than a distributor could dream of.
There is, of course, a central spot for some of the new or specific products. If you’re looking for the latest in sustainable, made-in-the-USA or first-time exhibitor products, you’ll find them all in one place at the Product Pavilion. It’s always worth a couple strolls up and down.
You Might Just Have Your Life Changed
Hyperbole is relative. Ask any of The PPAI Expo’s success stories, and they’ll tell you that the event really can have life-changing ramifications.
“A lot of my accounts make this a mandatory event for their teams to attend, for good reason,” says Erika DeWolf, field sales manager at PCNA, PPAI 100’s No. 3 supplier. “The PPAI Expo allows me an opportunity to schedule our most important business reviews throughout the week and see 85% of my customers in a span of four days. Many customers don’t even have offices anymore, so it allows for them to touch and feel product as they used to before the pandemic.”
Golfing For Good
If you’re seeking some fresh air, you can participate in the Glen Holt & Fran Ford Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, January 13, at Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas. Supporting the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF), 100 golfers from 40 promo firms raised over $40,000 for PPEF’s college scholarship program last year.
The late Glen Holt, MAS, was a PPAI board member and Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in 2010, and Fran Ford Jr., CAS, was president of supplier Castelli, a division of Magnet, and PPAI Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in 2018. As a dedicated supporter of PPEF, Ford launched the PPEF Glen Holt Scholarship Golf invitational in 2014. The tournament celebrates their lasting legacies with PPEF scholarships named in their honor.
And Mini-Golfing For Kicks
Every year The PPAI Expo Party is the biggest celebration in promo. This year, it has a new, exciting home: Swingers Las Vegas. A cutting-edge, indoor, mini-golf haven inside Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, it opened on November 8 and is packed with great food, great beverages and even better vibes.
“It’s mini golf with an adult twist – the décor makes you feel like you’re transported to an old English garden,” says Ashley Van Der Stuyf, PPAI’s show manager. “There will be fun for everyone, with music, mini-golf and some exciting carnival games.”
Register Now
Don’t wait any longer – register and book your trip to The PPAI Expo 2025 right now.
PPAI member distributors may have their registration fees waived based on their membership tier. It’s $50 per person for additional registrants.
Qualified nonmember distributors may access the exhibits and conference for $350 per person. Members of industry regional associations but not PPAI can receive a code from their executive director for a discounted rate.
Suppliers and business services providers who are members but not exhibiting will be charged $750 per person for access to the exhibit hall but may attend The PPAI Expo Conference for no additional cost. Non-member, non-exhibiting suppliers are not permitted to attend The PPAI Expo.
