The PPAI Expo 2025 is all about making connections with peers, colleagues and potential customers.

“Promo professionals are some of the most welcoming and helpful people,” says Whitney Friesen, sales manager at Lynn & Liana Designs, a Canadian supplier of hand-crafted cutting boards and serving trays.

“Everyone is willing to help and give you feedback. For example, our booth neighbor helped us answer questions during our first time exhibiting at The PPAI Expo. I’ve made lots of friends and connections. Maybe they couldn’t buy from us, but they introduced us to someone else who could buy our products.”

Indeed, The PPAI Expo 2025, the largest and longest-running trade show in the promotional products industry, is more than just the hub for an unmatched array of new products, fueling an immersive experience crucial for meeting client needs throughout the year.

Promo professionals are some of the most welcoming and helpful people.”

Whitney Friesen

Sales Manager, Lynn & Liana Designs

The annual event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center truly embodies the promise of substantial business expansion arising from newly established relationships between suppliers, distributors, business services members and more.

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

Many branded merchandise firms hold their annual sales meetings, conferences and other gatherings during The PPAI Expo.

Something Inked, PPAI 100’s No. 16 distributor, brings most of its sales and customer service teams to Las Vegas for its national sales meeting the day before The PPAI Expo begins.  

“We know it’s a daunting task to walk the show, see new and existing vendors and attend all of the fun stuff, so in order to drum up some excitement, we created a scavenger hunt several years ago,” says Bill Feldberg, executive vice president of business development at Something Inked.

Typically, three teams of 10 employees are drafted by team captains chosen by Feldberg. The hunt contains about 100 “missions,” which include taking pictures at the firm’s preferred supplier/vendor booths, finding new items, playing leapfrog and pretend fighting on the show floor, among other antics.  

“One year, we even had to get the Something Inked logo tattooed,” Feldberg says. “Two team members actually did this. It’s about creating the competition, team bonding and overall excitement to kick off the year.”

  • The company uses an app called Goose Chase to create the teams and document photos and videos of completing the “missions.”


The missions have different point values based on difficulty. “The tattoo one was a super high limit because we didn’t think it was feasible, but just like when they deliver for our clients, our team never ceases to amaze us in their dedication to our company,” Feldberg says.

Networking Opportunities

The PPAI Expo Opening Reception, which will take place at Skyfall Panoramic Bar & Lounge on Monday, January 13, at 4:45 p.m., is the perfect way to kick off your Expo experience with networking, light bites, drinks and entertainment.

Also on Monday, Expo attendees will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn about the waste sorting, energy reduction and responsible water management by Mandalay Bay. It’s all part of “Sustainability At The PPAI Expo – A Tour Of Our Journey To A Zero Waste Event.”

RELATED: 9 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss The PPAI Expo 2025

Kristen Royal, director of sustainable operations at MGM, will give a short presentation followed by a walking tour to see the impressive efforts underway that help PPAI host a zero-waste event. There will also be lunch and a roundtable discussion after the tour.

  • The tour takes place Monday, January 13, from 12-1:30 p.m., at Breakers J, MBCC Level 2.
  • This is an RSVP-only event with a limited group size, so don’t wait to sign up if you’re keen.


Promo & Pints, a beer garden located on the show floor, is the ideal location to meet with clients and network with colleagues. Seating is available anytime the show floor is open, and beer and wine will be available on Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to show close.

On Tuesday, January 14, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., the Inclusive Impact Meetup will be held at Promo & Pints on the show floor, with a cash bar available. The topic of the gathering will be how to drive diversity, equity and inclusion forward in the promo industry.

Also on Tuesday, January 14, from 4-5 p.m., the Women in Promo Meetup will be held at Promo & Pints, with a cash bar available. An offshoot of the popular PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference, this meetup brings together women working in the promo industry.

RELATED: Success Stories From The PPAI Expo

Plus, there will be a special pre-show event – Meet Your Regional: Coffee & Collaboration – on January 15 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Level 2, Wedge. Held over coffee, participants are encouraged to learn about their regional association and how they can help support businesses on a local level.

On Wednesday, January 15, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., the Technology Meetup is an opportunity for like-minded promo industry IT professionals, decision-makers and executives who are leading their organizations’ technological health to mingle and discuss the issues relevant to the promo field. It will be held at Promo & Pints, with a cash bar available.

Also on Wednesday, January 15, from 4-5 p.m., the Emerging Leaders Meetup will be held at Promo & Pints, with a cash bar available. An offshoot of the PPAI Leadership Development Conference, this meetup brings together the 2024 PPAI Rising Stars and other young industry leaders.

  • Preregistration is recommended for all of the meetups at Promo & Pints. If you already registered for Expo, use the link in your confirmation email under “Modify Your Registration.” On the registration page, select the registrant to modify, click the green check mark, then the plus sign next to your name to add items. From there, choose the events you want to add. 


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.

RELATED: ‘Feels Like Home:’ Suppliers, Distributors Excited For The PPAI Expo 2025

Don’t forget about The PPAI Expo Party!

This year, the exclusive event will take place at Swingers Las Vegas, the cutting-edge, indoor, mini-golf haven inside Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino that opened on November 8 and is packed with great food, great beverages and even better vibes.

  • The event will be held January 15 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Tickets cost $75 and will include drinks and hors d’oeuvres.


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.