Watch Larry Cooper, executive director of Experience Events, reflect on the success of the 2021 educational event for restoration and cleaning professionals, which took place Sept. 8-10 at the Paris Las Vegas hotel. After being cancelled in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, The Experience Convention & Trade Show came roaring back in full force.  

“One of the things that’s been amazing at this show is how many new people are here, which is wonderful,” Cooper said. “I have never seen so many people come into the trade show hall at one time. It was a mob. It was awesome.” 

Five tracks of education were offered including cleaning, restoration, management and marketing, work/life balance, company culture, technical training and hands-on teaching.  

“We’ve never had so much hands-on education at the show,” Cooper exclaimed. 

At least 239 booths and 18 pavilions filled the trade show floor, and Cooper approximated that 2,000 attendees gathered at the Paris Las Vegas hotel pool on the night of Sept. 9th for a party that included a live show, the presentation of The Experience Industry ICON Award, and the 2020 and 2021 R&R Ladder Award. 

Safety was paramount, with constant cleaning of surfaces and attendees able to choose green, yellow or red wristbands based on their level of comfort with regard to distancing. Each session began with the importance of wearing masks and prioritizing safety in the face of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. 

Cooper noted this would be the last year at the Paris Las Vegas hotel. In 2022, he hinted at expanding the show even more at its new home, the Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.