Exhibition News January 2020 | Page 10

Event News Events in brief The London Vet Show grows The London Vet Show recently attracted more than 5,500 attendees during the two-day event. The show has been named EN Trade Show of the Year twice, and also won AEO’s Best Trade Show. As well as featuring careers, clinical and political content, the British Veterinary Association hosted a wellbeing lounge. The lounge featured a chill-out zone, offered fresh smoothies and five-minute meditation and mindfulness exercises. Other features included a theatre of content, an exhibition space and a seating area branded with rainbows, which aimed to show support for the LGBT+ community. In addition, Vets4Pets created ‘a Hollywood cinema experience’. 2019 saw the debut of other initiatives at the London Vet Show, including the TVM & Vets: Stay Go Diversify Mentor meet-up, the Family Room, live recordings of the Podcast Borborygmi - Noise From The Veterinary World in partnership with Vet Times, and several stands hosting break-out content. The show continued their efforts to work towards sustainability and reduce waste from the event with and charity donations of leftover food and office suppliers and recycling schemes. 10 — January RUPAUL’S DRAGCON DEBUTS Name: RuPaul’s DragCon Date: 18-19 January Where: Olympia London From its conception in LA in 2015, DragCon has always aimed to be a gathering where everyone is welcome. The UK debut of the convention is said to be a ‘very British affair’. Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, co-founders of RuPaul’s DragCon and executive producers of RuPaul’s Drag Race, said: “We are very excited for the debut of our UK show…[it] comes fresh on the heels of a record-breaking debut season on the BBC.” Key features of the show will be panels on a range of issues from drag tips to politics, RuPaul himself DJing, and special guests such as RuPaul’s DragRace judge Michelle Visage, 21 US drag queens, and the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Barbato and Bailey said of the TV show’s success: “DragCon is really a party and a celebration. This is a unique opportunity for fans of all things drag to meet their heroes and – just as importantly – to meet each other.” What’s next? In addition to Drag Con Olympia, 18-19 January, the creators of DragCon will be announcing new destinations for the event soon. A SPECIAL TASTE OF SCOTLAND Name: Scotland’s Speciality Food Show Date: 19-21 January Where: SEC Glasgow Scotland’s Speciality Food Show is the only trade show in Scotland for the speciality food and drink sector. The show attracts around 150 exhibitors and 1,000 visitors per year, including buyers. It is also co-located with Scotland’s Trade Fair, which hosts 450 exhibitors and 3,000 buyers. The key features for 2020 include: the Launch Gallery, which will showcase original products from new companies; the Best Product Awards, which will be judged on the opening day of the show, with the winners on display for the remainder of the show; the Talking Gallery which will host a series of workshops and talks on topics from cybercrime to attracting tourists; and Nessie’s Den, where selected exhibitors can pitch their products to a team of retailers and distributors who then comment on the products. What’s next? Public relations for Scotland’s Speciality Food Show, Fenella Taylor, said: “It is hoped the show will continue to expand and find more innovative exhibitors and continue to attract an ever-wider number of buyers.”