Planning your trade show presence starts before the show floor opens
Exhibiting at a major Las Vegas convention — CES, SEMA, HIMSS, or any of the dozens of shows that fill the Las Vegas Convention Center, Mandalay Bay, Venetian Expo, and Caesars Forum each year — means coordinating five distinct categories of vendor, often on a tight timeline and in a city with its own union labor rules for booth builds. Here's what to know about each.
Booth design and build
Your exhibit is the first impression attendees get. Local Las Vegas builders offer an edge over out-of-state companies: they already know the load-in rules, dock schedules, and union requirements at each venue, so your booth goes up without surprises. Ask any booth design vendor for 3D mockups before committing, and confirm whether they handle installation and dismantle or just fabrication.
Audio visual production
Sound, lighting, LED walls, and staging can make or break a booth presentation or keynote. Vegas-based AV companies that have worked your specific venue — LVCC, Mandalay Bay, Caesars Forum — will already know the power drops, rigging points, and union AV labor process, which saves setup time and avoids day-of scrambling.
Freight and logistics
Convention freight in Las Vegas runs through advance warehouses, marshaling yards, and strict dock appointment windows. A logistics partner who works directly with the general service contractor at your venue will handle drayage paperwork and delivery timing so your booth materials arrive when and where they need to.
Event staffing
Booth staff, brand ambassadors, and registration teams need to represent your brand accurately for the full run of the show. Look for agencies with a W-2 staffing model and direct experience at your venue — some are even approved vendors at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which can simplify credentialing.
Catering
Whether it's a hospitality suite, VIP dinner, or booth refreshments, Las Vegas convention catering vendors who are familiar with venue vendor-approval processes will save you a step, since many venues require caterers to be pre-cleared before they can serve on-site.
Where to find vetted vendors
Browse ExpoConLV's directory of Las Vegas trade show vendors across all five categories, filterable by service type, venue experience, and years in business.