IFSA Global EXPO 2027 bets on Las Vegas
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA will be the venue for IFSA Global EXPO 2027
IFSA Global EXPO is Las Vegas-bound, with Mandalay Bay set to welcome the airline catering and onboard services community from September 7 to 9, 2027.
The move marks the second consecutive year the event will take place outside its longtime home in Long Beach, California. And IFSA will have plenty of company: the event will be co-located with FTE Global, while APEX Global EXPO returns to the lineup, “creating an exciting opportunity for the APEX, IFSA and FTE communities to connect in one location and engage across the broader passenger experience ecosystem,” Lauren Costello, Executive Director of the International Flight Services Association (IFSA), tells PAX International.
Located on South Las Vegas Boulevard, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center offers more than two million square feet of meeting and exhibition space, according to venue figures. The resort’s restaurants, entertainment and shopping offer plenty of scope to take conversations beyond the booth.
“Las Vegas offers a compelling destination for IFSA’s increasingly global audience, with world-class hospitality, connectivity and infrastructure that make it an attractive location for an international industry event. The city also has a strong track record of hosting successful aviation and travel industry events, including FTE Global, giving IFSA and its partners confidence in the destination and the experience it can offer attendees,” Costello explains, adding that the association is already receiving “strong interest” to attend from the airline community, “especially airlines from outside the U.S.”
That international interest is central to the move’s potential. Costello says Las Vegas could help attract attendees who have not previously participated. Building on this year’s event in Dallas, IFSA expects the destination to provide an even stronger platform for airlines, suppliers and inflight services professionals to connect.
Lauren Costello, Executive Director, IFSA
More floor time, more face time
Costello says IFSA is exploring ways to make the 2027 edition more valuable for members, exhibitors and attendees, with survey feedback and conversations with its committees and members helping shape potential changes.
Among the ideas under consideration are more dedicated time with exhibitors on the show floor and expanded thought leadership opportunities, Costello says.
“The goal is to create the right balance between discovery, networking and business conversations, while giving attendees more opportunities to engage with the companies and ideas determining the future of inflight services,” she says.
For airline buyers and suppliers, the draw goes beyond a new destination: the 2027 gathering will bring three industry communities together, with more opportunities to turn introductions into business.
