Show organizers for Outdoor Retailer, the largest summer and winter outdoor gear, apparel, accessories and technology tradeshow, announced today that they will be extending their contracts with Salt Lake through Summer 2018. Both Winter and Summer Market shows have been in Salt Lake City since 1996.
To ensure all options and concerns were considered regarding a potential move, Outdoor Retailer surveyed more than 6,000 specialty retailer attendees and exhibitors. Over two-thirds, an overwhelming majority, indicated their preference for keeping the show in Salt Lake City. The highest majority of the responses came from specialty retailers, which show organizers considered to be the most critical indicator.
When posing the question to Outdoor Retailer exhibiting brands regarding the future location, the Salt Palace Convention Center and Salt Lake, continue to be the favored location. The cost of doing business in Salt Lake for exhibiting brands is favorable in comparison to other considered locations and was one of the key reasons exhibitors, too, favored Salt Lake as the preferred location.
“Salt Lake, and the State of Utah have proven to be wonderful hosts to the Outdoor Industry and to Outdoor Retailer over the years,” said Marisa Nicholson, VP and Outdoor Retailer Show Director. “The community is welcoming, supportive and we feel at home during our two weeks in town. We are pleased to work with the Visit Salt Lake team, various elected officials, and the housing and business communities to continue to make the Outdoor Retailer Markets the most significant events for the industry.”
“For over two decades the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City has played an important role in the convening and growth of the industry, said Amy Roberts, Executive Director of Outdoor Industry Association. “Outdoor recreation is an important economic driver in Utah and we look forward to continuing the dialogue with the state of Utah around public lands issues. Additionally, we will support continued efforts to increase hotel accommodations and local infrastructure to ensure the city continues to provide a positive attendee experience especially for specialty retailers.”
“Outdoor Retailer is key for our buying and marketing initiatives and allows us important face time with companies that we do not get elsewhere. The show is vital to our efforts to find new, exciting up-and-coming brands that help us differentiate ourselves,” said Brendan Madigan, Alpenglow Sports, Tahoe City, CA. “Having Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake is key for our business. The show comes during a very busy time of year, if it were anywhere else we would likely not be able to attend.”
“We’re excited that our partnership with Outdoor Retailer will continue and we’re pleased that so many participants prefer Salt Lake County as the location for the tradeshow. Soon we will be “on the street” with a new bid request for a headquarter hotel, including public meeting space as well as room accommodations adjacent to the Salt Palace. I believe we will find a great private sector partner and that everyone—Outdoor Retailer attendees, businesses, and Utah residents—will benefit,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams.
“Our founding friends, fans, and partners, who are our most important relationships at KEEN, first met us in Salt Lake City at the Salt Palace. KEEN’s literally grown up there as a brand and we’re proud of the contributions we’ve been able to make to help grow this amazing industry right in Salt Lake City,” said Steve Meineke, President of KEEN Footwear. “We’re very pleased to have launched Live Monumental at Outdoor Retailer two weeks ago, and happy to know that we’ll continue to have the opportunity to gather as a community in Salt Lake.”
Future show dates for both Summer and Winter markets are as follows:
Winter Market 2016 – January 7-10
Summer Market 2016 – August 3-6
Winter Market 2017 – January 7-10
Summer Market 2017 – July 26-29
Winter Market 2018 – January 6-9
Summer Market 2018 – July 25-28
Outdoor Retailer’s leadership team has worked closely with local community representatives to creatively address accommodations and transportation to and from the Salt Palace Convention Center.
“We value our long-standing partnership with the Outdoor Retailer team and are pleased the show has chosen to remain in Salt Lake,” said Scott Beck, President and CEO, of Visit Salt Lake. “Visit Salt Lake will continue our work to guarantee that all attendees have a positive experience at the Outdoor Retailer Markets, including ensuring all can secure accommodations during their time in Salt Lake and access amenities like the light-rail transit system that provides transportation from the airport and throughout the city, much of it in the convention district’s ‘free fare zone.’”
“The Outdoor Retailer Markets are at home in Utah. After nearly 20-years our communities, citizens, local business owners and elected officials feel a deep sense of responsibility to deliver exceptional experiences. Those experiences are rooted in Utah’s unique and accessible recreational assets.” Said Brad Peterson, Executive Director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation. “Together we have developed a trusting and collaborative relationship that fosters a long-term commitment to the Show’s continued success. And in return, the Outdoor Retailer show has had a profoundly positive effect on our booming recreation economy, and understanding of the overall importance of our expansive public lands. The State of Utah and Salt Lake are excited about the future of the Show.”
