The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) wrapped up its 2023 Trade Show and Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is somewhat historic for a couple of reasons. First, for the foreseeable future, it marks the end of a summertime Trade Show. It also marks the end of PCA Trade Shows at the Venetian Expo, at least for the next couple of years. Next year, the Premium Cigar Association Trade Show moves to early spring with the 2024 Trade Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and the 2025 Trade Show will be at the New Orleans Convention Center. There is also one more change that is coming – beginning in 2024, the PCA Trade Show is moving to a three-day format with the final half day being eliminated.
This is not new news as the dates were announced back in March, but several exhibitors and retailers told Cigar Coop this was new news to them. While the PCA has not denied the change, it has not actively promoted this change. The change was confirmed at the media press conference held on July 10, 2023.
For the past several years, the final half day has proven to be the slowest day for both foot traffic and sales activity. The past few years have seen many retailers depart the trade show early, and this has led to many exhibitors sending portions of their sales teams early, and in some cases, exhibitors have not returned to the Trade Show for the final day.
The 2024 PCA Trade Show takes place March 22-25 in Las Vegas while the 2025 PCA Trade Show takes place April 11-14, 2025. For both of these, the first day will feature educational seminars followed by three full days for the actual trade show itself.
The smartest move that the PCA has made since moving the 2025 show to NOLA. Now that the trade show will be in a city with a lot of culture, that being New Orleans, the shorter format makes even more sense. Let the participants have a day or two in the city to enjoy it’s amenities.
PCA has really impressed me. Keep up the legal fight with FDA. That is the most important thing going on in the cigar industry. Unfortunately, it is a lot more boring than new product releases.
*it’s amenities. Phone commenting is bad for grammarians.
*Its. Now throwing my phone in a lake!!! I’m correcting this even if it kills me! I think this is proof that we need an edit comment function added to the blog, Coop.