With winter almost over and springtime right around the corner, several suppliers to the trade show industry recently snagged new clients or re-signed existing ones.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has selected Convention Data Services (CDS) as its new registration partner.

Under the agreement, CDS will provide full registration, lead retrieval services, integrations and a full-service contact center for PLASTICS’ events — NPE: The Plastics Show, and the Re|focus Sustainability & Recycling Summit. 

“PLASTICS has a strong focus on innovation and technology to create connections and showcase our industry,” said Phyllis Hortie, senior director of Tradeshow Services, Plastics Industry Association.

She added, “We believe CDS' innovative and flexible approach will best meet the needs of our members, exhibitors and event attendees.”

David Lawton, executive vice president of Sales, Convention Data Services, said, “We believe our CDS team is a great fit for the Plastics Industry Association’s events and we look forward to a long-term partnership with their association,”

He added, “Our consultative approach to events will provide the PLASTICS team with custom ideas for using our cutting-edge technology, best practices and new ideas to help them achieve their event goals.”

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) has selected SmithBucklin, an association management and services company, to provide full-service association management.

The council's CEO, Karen Kotowski, CAE CMP, will continue to serve as CIC's CEO, and its headquarters will move April 1 to 2025 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

The Convention Industry Council was founded in 1949 by four organizations to facilitate the exchange of information within the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry.

CIC has grown to include 33 member organizations representing over 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties.

"In addition to feeling very honored to serve CIC, we are also thrilled to welcome Karen Kotowski to our SmithBucklin team," said Jim McNeil, executive vice president and CEO, Business + Trade Industry Practice.

He added, "Together, we are committed to helping CIC achieve its mission. We embrace the board's vision for events industry excellence and are thrilled to help CIC create value for its member organizations and achieve the growth that the board envisions."

Experient, A Maritz Global Events Company, and SMG, a convention center management firm, recently finalized a preferred partner agreement that continues a long-standing relationship between the two companies since 2005.

The new agreement will help both companies expand their business opportunities by focusing on each company’s collective venue and planning services.

“We have always seen the parallels between our two organizations,” said Gregg Caren, executive vice president of SMG’s Convention Center Division.

He added,  “We both offer best-in-class service to our mutual clients. This new and expanded partnership is a ‘renewal of vows’ so to speak. It will encourage even more event activity at our facilities by simplifying the process of contracting with our convention centers, and providing added benefits for clients.”

By expanding the partnership, customers will save time and money thanks to a more streamlined contract process.

“This continued partnership is further evidence that both of our companies are committed to provide the best service to our clients,” said Michael Guerriero, division president of Experient.

He added, “We have enjoyed working with SMG over the last 12 years for the mutual benefit of our clients and look forward to the continuation of this partnership. The combination of SMG and Experient’s industry-leading event management services and the expertise of our event professionals help create one-of-a-kind events for clients with  exceptional results.” 

Urban Expositions has selected CompuSystems as its new registration partner to service three restaurant shows. 

Under this three-year agreement CompuSystems will provide registration, lead retrieval, data warehousing and analytics services to the New York Restaurant, Western Food Service and Florida Restaurant shows.

Urban Expositions, a Clarion Events Company, produces and manages a portfolio of 35 events covering six sectors.  Urban offers a suite of trade show management services and through a logical, hands-on approach, they’ve become one of the fastest growing and most successful trade show companies in the United States.

“We’re very excited to be servicing these leading restaurant events.  Urban was looking to improve the registration and lead retrieval products being used internally and by their registrants. Our suite of products and services will definitely take them to the next level,” said Chris Williams, president, CompuSystems.