Photography

PMA 2011, Las Vegas set to open its doors to the public for the first time

PMA 2011, Las Vegas set to open its doors to the public for the first time
View 1 Image
1/1

The dates for 2011’s PMA International Convention and Trade Show have been confirmed. In an unexpected twist, rather than being held in its traditional first quarter slot, the convention has been moved from February to September.

The event will now be taking place September 8-10, 2011, in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The shift in dates has been attributed to changes in “industry buying cycles and technology developments." More significant, though, is the announcement that the convention will be open to the public on September 10, with photo enthusiasts welcome throughout the day.

Moving the show to September should mean PMA 2011 gathers up a bit more interest, as the fall date ties in with the start of the holiday season. Explaining the decision to break from the traditional timing, executive director and CEO of PMA, Ted Fox, commented, “The PMA show serves as a media showcase for the photo/imaging industry – generating thousands of blog posts, newspaper articles and YouTube videos. Moving the show to September highlights photography for the holidays. This includes new cameras and camcorders, but also the evolving photo publishing market, including photo books, cards and calendars.”

Of course, the postponement of next year’s hotly-anticipated trade fair puts a different spin on the potential release dates for new kit from major camera manufacturers - if these changes convince them to attend at all. PMA 2010, which was held in California back in February, saw a lack of appearance from key exhibitors including Canon and Leica (who said at the time it would prefer to “focus more on consumer events").

PMA claims the decision to open the Las Vegas Convention Center doors to the public for PMA 2011 comes off the back of the decision to do the same at PMA Australia 2010 Digital Life Expo (June 3-6, 2010, Melbourne). However, now that it will officially be a consumer exhibition as well as for trade, could this simply be a sweetener to get the key exhibitors back on the stands?

More information on the show is available through the PMA 2011 website, where it’s also possible to apply for membership to The Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations and receive a discount on registration.

No comments
0 comments
There are no comments. Be the first!