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October 21, 2024 – GES To Be Aquired by Truelink Capital

LAS VEGAS and LOS ANGELES, Oct. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — GES, a leading provider in the global exhibition and event industry, announced today that its parent company, Viad Corp, and Truelink Capital, a Los Angeles based private equity firm, have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Truelink will acquire the GES business. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of 2024, subject to applicable and customary closing conditions.

Derek Linde, GES President said, “This is an exciting time for GES. The business has tremendous momentum, and our team is driving strong revenue growth, margin expansion, and client service. The publicly traded Viad conglomerate has been a great home to GES for decades and we are excited to start a new chapter as a private company with Truelink, who believes in our ability to continue delivering industry leadership, innovation and growth.”

With over 2,600 employees and thousands of active union partners across the globe, GES and its companies have a decades-long history supporting the world's leading brands and events in robust business verticals, including healthcare, aerospace & defense, financial services, manufacturing, technology, and retail, in a variety of event marketing capacities.

“GES is a trusted brand with a proven track record of delivering best-in-class services to the global exhibitions and experiential marketing verticals. We look forward to collaborating with this talented team to help the company realize its full potential,” Truelink's Co-Founder and Managing Partner Luke Myers said.

Included in the acquisition are GES Exhibitions, a major provider of global exhibitions & logistics services; Spiro, a leading global experiential agency; and onPeak, SHOWTECH, and Visit, which provide event accommodation, power/lighting and registration services. Upon closing, GES will become a privately-owned, stand-alone company within Truelink's business portfolio and continue to deliver a range of best-in-class and value enhancing experiential solutions to clients.

Derek Linde, current GES President, will assume the role of President and CEO following the closing. He will be joined by Jeff Quade, GES NA Exhibitions President; Jason Stead, GES EMEA Exhibitions President; and Jeff Stelmach, Spiro President, who will continue leading the operating businesses post transaction.

Linde continued, “We remain dedicated to delivering extraordinary experiences to our clients across the globe. This partnership with Truelink will enable us to intensify our focus on innovation and enhance our capabilities across our differentiated global platform.”

About GES:

The GES business entity is a dynamic collective of industry-leading companies and their distinctive specialties—GES Exhibitions, Spiro, onPeak, SHOWTECH and Visit—that deliver comprehensive experiential, strategic, creative, event management and accommodation, meeting planning and logistical solutions, as well as registration and engagement solutions. We empower brands to engage their audiences and elevate customer experience, using what we believe is today's most powerful channel in an ever-competitive landscape: experiential marketing. Whether scaling together or independently, our companies strategically partner with brands and event organizers to transform business imperatives into measurable results that drive meaningful customer connections & bottom-line impact.

www.ges.com

www.thisisspiro.com

www.onpeak.com

www.showtech.ca

www.visitcloud.com

About Truelink Capital

Truelink Capital is a middle-market private equity firm based in Los Angeles.  Truelink pairs deep industry experience in the industrials and technology-enabled services sectors with a commitment to building partnerships that drive long-term value through an operationally focused strategy. Truelink partners with management, corporate sellers, and founders to accelerate growth through the execution of strategic initiatives and transformative add-on acquisitions.

Contacts:
Marianne Szczech
630-220-6102
mszczech@ges.com

February 6, 2025 – Downtown Winnipeg BIZ And RBC Convention Centre Unveil “Returning to Our Roots” Indigenous Mural Spanning 200 Feet

January 2025, Treaty No.1 Territory, Winnipeg, MB – The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, in partnership with RBC Convention Centre, is pleased to unveil Returning to Our Roots, a large-scale mural by local Indigenous artist Justine Proulx. The mural, totalling approximately 200 feet in length and nine feet in height, is located on an exterior wall of the RBC Convention Centre – one of Winnipeg’s most prominent gathering places – along St. Mary Avenue, between Carlton and Edmonton streets. Composed of four interconnected panels, Returning to Our Roots is a visual exploration of Indigenous teachings and values. It reflects the sacred number four in many Indigenous cultures, with each panel representing a different season, direction, medicine, and overall, the circle and seasons of life. “I’m hoping this mural inspires a feeling of interconnectedness and becomes a meeting spot to pause and reflect on peoples’ own relationship with the land,” says Justine Proulx, mural artist. “It’s also a call to action – to return to your roots, no matter what background you’re from.” Justine Proulx is a young Métis tattooist & mural artist from Winnipeg and Treaty No. 1 territory. Justine has an impressive portfolio, having painted nearly 35 murals in many schools throughout Winnipeg and surrounding areas. Her art – specializing in the Woodlands style – explores the connections between spirit, animal, nature and people. Justine brings a modern twist to ancient motifs, noting each piece is a call to action and a reminder of the vibrant spirit and legacy of Indigenous peoples. “Reconciliation is an opportunity for us to come together, to listen and learn from one another,” says Kate Fenske, CEO of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. “Public art, like Returning to Our Roots, plays an important role in that process. It sparks meaningful conversations and builds understanding and appreciation for Indigenous culture, while also making our downtown a more vibrant, inclusive and welcoming neighbourhood.” Recognizing the significance and scope of this project, a community-based, Indigenous-led committee was established by the BIZ to provide guidance and oversight, including project objectives, timelines, and the artist selection process. Returning to Our Roots is the largest mural project undertaken by Downtown Winnipeg BIZ to date, marking another milestone in the organization’s public art initiatives and ongoing commitment to honour and celebrate Indigenous culture through its programming. “We are proud to partner with Downtown Winnipeg BIZ to bring this powerful piece of Indigenous art to our downtown community and the place where hundreds of thousands of people come from all over the world to meet and gather every year,” says Drew Fisher, President and CEO of RBC Convention Centre. “This mural not only beautifies our downtown neighbourhood, but also promotes a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures, which is essential as we work together toward reconciliation.” Fenske and Fisher extended their gratitude and appreciation to the committee and all partners involved in bringing this significant public art project to life, adding vibrancy downtown for generations to come.

March 4, 2025 – CAEM President’s Message

As we step into 2025, I’m proud to say the year is already off to a strong start for CAEM and our industry. At their core, shows are about making the right connections—bringing the right people together, at the right time, to create meaningful opportunities. And 2025 is shaping up to be another year where Canadian shows shine.

This year, CAEM is doubling down on delivering value to our members, and one of the biggest ways we’re doing that is through our Annual Conference. I’m thrilled to announce that registration is now open! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Fredericton, NB will be an incredible host city—a perfect backdrop for learning, networking, and celebrating our industry. As the only Canadian event designed exclusively for show professionals, the CAEM Annual Conference is being purpose-built to deliver real value. Every session will provide actionable insights to help trade and consumer show professionals build stronger shows, drive success, and take away strategies that benefit both members and their employers.

But that’s not all—we’re also bringing back one of CAEM’s most cherished traditions: the Awards of Excellence Program! This is our chance to recognize and celebrate the individuals and organizations that go above and beyond to make our industry stronger. This well-deserved celebration will be a highlight of the conference, and we can’t wait to honor the incredible talent in our community. Submit your nominations today!

Membership Matters – It Fuels the Work We Do!

As we continue to grow and strengthen our industry,membership is more important than ever. If you haven’t renewed your CAEM membership yet, please take a moment to do so today. And if you know a show professional who should be a member but isn’t yet, give them a nudge!

Being part of CAEM means joining a community that is shaping the future of exhibitions in Canada.

Maximize your membership! If you haven’t yet joined one of our webinars or Show Managers’ Meetings, I highly encourage you to do so. The CAEM office and the Education Committee are doing an outstanding job curating relevant, high-value content, and as a member, these sessions are completely free to you!! So take advantage of the resources available and make the most of the opportunities ahead.

Looking forward to seeing many of you in Fredericton!

Warm regards,

Melissa Arnott
President, Canadian Association of Exposition Management

March 31, 2025 – Remembering Laurie Paetz

The CAEM community is grieving the loss of our precious friend and colleague, Laurie Paetz.  True to her unwavering spirit, Laurie fought a brave battle with an aggressive form of cancer – never giving up hope or backing down.

The outpouring of heartfelt stories and beautiful messages, in the wake of this devastating news, is a testament to the incredible mark Laurie made on our industry and beyond.  Words cannot express our collective pain, and we know our entire tradeshow community is saddened by this immense loss.

Laurie was an accomplished professional with a mile long list of admirable strengths and virtues.  Her superpower was an unmatched ability to genuinely connect with everyone in her circle – from teammates and suppliers to clients and friends.  With her warm hugs and her glowing smile, she made us all feel special.  She was magnetic.

Talented, creative, caring and kind, Laurie was a force of nature.  She was a role model on how to be influential and effective, while still leading with compassion. Laurie will always be remembered for her vision, determination, innovation, and ambition, elevating every event she oversaw to new heights.

Her impact – on CAEM and the entire show industry – has been tremendous. A dedicated CAEM board member, committee chair, speaker, and more, she contributed countless hours to championing our sector.  She believed wholeheartedly in the value of our Association and cherished the many friends she made throughout her exceptional 20+ year career in show biz.

Our hearts and thoughts are with her beloved family and partner during this difficult time.  Her memory will live on through all of us who knew her and the incredible legacy she leaves behind.

In lieu of flowers, Laurie’s family has asked (those who can) to honour Laurie by donating blood or doing a kind gesture for someone in-need.  A celebration of life, or as Laurie has proudly planned and named “My Last Show”, will be held in the future. Details and invitations will be shared with Laurie’s CAEM family.  Like Laurie herself, it will be the most fun-loving celebration, of a sparkling woman, who cherished her yesterdays, dreamed her tomorrows and lived her todays – to the very fullest.

Rest in peace Laurie, until we meet again.

XOXO