Expo NY Will Move to Hilton in 2010

Hilton New YorkJUNE 3, 2009 -- In a change that promises a host of benefits for vendors and attendees, MJSA Expo New York will move to the Hilton New York hotel in Midtown for its 2010 run, scheduled for March 14-16.

The Hilton, at West 53rd Street and Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue), provides convenient access, either onsite or nearby, to everything visitors from the jewelry industry may want or need, from restaurants, hotel rooms, and entertainment to a quick trip the Diamond District on 47th Street just blocks away. Radio City Music Hall, the Rockefeller Center, and the Museum of Modern Art are across the street, and Broadway, Lincoln Center, and Fifth Avenue shopping are within walking distance.

"Next year’s Expo will be incredibly convenient for everyone," says David W. Cochran, president and CEO of MJSA. In moving to the Hilton, he adds, MJSA is returning to the scene of successful past shows, and he credits the idea to association members.

The nation’s oldest and largest trade show devoted to jewelry manufacturing and design, Expo New York was last held in a hotel in 1994, and several members suggested MJSA consider revisiting the setting, Cochran says. "They wanted to stay in New York and to maintain the March dates, and they wanted to minimize hassles, such as needing shuttle buses to get to the show site.”

The Hilton provides all of that and more. “The rooms will be in the same building as the show floor, and the Midtown location will make it much easier for buyers to get to the show,” Cochran says. “And even though the Hilton offers many more advantages than our last site, the Javits Center, we negotiated a deal that will keep the price of a booth the same as last year’s."

In addition, the Hilton is setting aside a block of rooms at a locked-in discount. Expo guests will pay less than $200 a night. (Rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.)

Cochran expects a high return rate among companies that exhibited last year. Expo New York 2009 did well despite the poor economy, especially in comparison to other shows, "and the Hilton is so much more conducive to both doing business and enjoying the city," he says. "You can take a customer out to dinner or for a drink, or just find a place to relax during the show, without even leaving the building. And later you can catch a Broadway show by walking a few blocks."

The exhibition space will be on three floors connected by an escalator. Vendors should receive renewal notices soon to secure their booths.

MJSA Expo New York 2010 will once again feature the latest in machinery, supplies, components, services, and finished products for manufacturers and retailers. For more information, call 1-800-444-6572 or e-mail MJSA.