Vision Expo East is moving, new host city for 2025 and beyond
Traditionally hosted in New York City, Vision Expo East will be held in Orlando, Florida, beginning in 2025.
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The Vision Council and RX, co-owners of Vision Expo, announced that in 2025 and beyond, Vision Expo East (VEE) will be moved to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, after nearly 40 years of taking place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, New York.1 The final show at Javits will take place March 14-17, 2024, and the next chapter will begin in Orlando on February 19-22, 2025.
This decision extends from deep consideration and feedback from stakeholder groups, such as The Vision Council Board of Directors and the Vision Expo Show Planning Committee. They believe moving VEE from New York to Orlando is an opportunity worth pursuing as they aim to retain existing loyal audiences and attract new ones.
“We had the opportunity to make a change that aligns with the future of this industry, and we strongly believe that hosting Vision Expo East in Orlando will attract our existing loyal audience as well as expand audiences from the robust Southeast and international markets, re-engage legacy partners, and ultimately support growth for everyone involved,” Mitch Barkley, Vice President, Trade Shows, The Vision Council said in a press release.
Part of the decision to move VEE is an opportunity to reimagine the show experience. The Vision Council and RX are enhancing the attendee experience by taking their preferences into account: The conference will be more centrally located, which means the show venue, hotels, meeting spaces, and special events will all be within a walkable area. The show will also shift to a Thursday-Saturday schedule, which is noted to be preferred by attendees.
The optical trade show strategically moved closer to popular vacation spots in hopes that it will attract more attendees and exhibitors who wish to bring their families and loved ones along for an extended trip. Orange County Convention Center is also 11 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO), which will make travel in and out easier for those coming from far away.
“We’re confident that hosting Vision Expo in Orlando will position our customers for greater success and we’re incredibly excited to deliver a brand new, elevated and connected experience there,” Fran Pennella, Vice President, Vision Expo, at RX, co-organizer of Vision Expo, said in a press release. “This new chapter for Vision Expo East comes with a side of nostalgia for the incredible history and opportunity that came with our nearly four decades in New York City. We are so grateful for the hospitality of New York and the Javits Center to grow our event.”
