The Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show wrapped up another successful year, drawing thousands of buyers and more than 600 exhibitors in 1,300+ booths to the Las Vegas Convention Center Sept. 16-19. According to Clarion Events’ Group Show Director April Holinek, the mood on the show floor was overwhelmingly upbeat, with both buyers and vendors praising the quality of connections and the new elements added to the 2025 event.
“The vibe this year has been great,” Holinek said. “People overall are so happy. They’re thrilled. The quality of buyer is here, they’re seeing huge accounts, so everyone’s very happy.”
Among the highlights of this year’s show was the debut of the Store Design and Tech Pavilion, designed to make the event a true one-stop shop for retailers. “Not only can you go buy all your products, you can also buy the displays to go with them. You can buy your credit card systems, POS — all the things,” Holinek explained. “We’ve now made Vegas Souvenir a one-stop shop, which I think people really love.”
The show also expanded its Lifestyle and Made in America sections, bringing in fresh companies and brands to diversify offerings. The emphasis on domestic manufacturing resonated strongly with attendees, according to Holinek.
Education played a larger role than ever before at this year’s event. Building on positive feedback from 2024, when the show introduced two education sessions, organizers doubled the lineup to four. “Those were so well received,” Holinek noted. “Everyone felt like they learned something new heading home to their stores.”
Buyers came from across the country, with strong representation from national parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, hotels and casinos.
Buddy Knoebels, owner of Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, enjoys attending the show. "It's very good – we love the show. I will say it’s very big and too short, and I wish we had more time! But we walked a lot of the aisles and talked to many people."Exhibitors, Holinek noted, were enthusiastic about the caliber of attendees. “I’ve heard multiple times that the quality is here, and the buyers are loving the show this year,” Holinek said. “I think it’s probably one of the biggest shows we’ve had.”
Exhibitors also noticed shifts in buyer behavior. Jewelry maker Melissa Lew, who has been exhibiting at the show since 2019, said she’s seen attendees arrive with more focus than in past years. “It seems like buyers are buying with intentional research,” she explained. “They’re basically doing the research before they hit the show floor, so they’re not running all over the place. They’re just very targeted.”
That preparation has translated into strong interest in her line. Lew noted that buyers are drawn not only to her designs but also to the flexibility she offers. “Price point seems to be biggest,” she said. “Custom, and especially with low minimums, it’s a possibility.”
Buying habits are also changing in the wake of tariffs and other factors. Holinek noted that some retailers were placing orders earlier than usual, aiming to secure inventory before potential tariff changes. “They’re trying to make sure that they have their ducks in a row and they’re ready before any potential price increases,” she explained.
Attendance figures were still being finalized at press time, but Holinek expected the show to reach around 4,000 attendees, consistent with past years. The strong turnout, coupled with positive energy on the floor, sets a promising tone for the year ahead.
Holinek predicted a positive conclusion to the year’s remaining trade shows hosted by Clarion, including Smoky Mountain Gift Show, Ocean City Resort Gift Show and Grand Strand Gift and Resort Merchandising Show. “Overall, I think everyone is happy, ready to shop,” she said. “Going into the market for fall and our fall show schedule, I think it’s going to be positive, and I think traffic is going to be great.”
In 2026, The Las Vegas Souvenir Resort Gift Show returns to an October schedule, running Oct. 6-9.
