Change. It's a word that stirs up mixed emotions, evoking feelings of uncertainty, apprehension, and even resistance. Yet as many of us in the ever-evolving landscape of the trade show and events industry have come to realize, change, though challenging, is an essential catalyst for growth, renewal, and improvement. It brings with it the chance to hoist oneself – and one's company – out of the deep rut of monotony and set off in a new direction full of possibility.

Few professionals are as prepared as exhibit and event marketers to embrace new opportunities. You understand the importance of adjusting strategies and embracing new tactics in order to put your brands in a more competitive position. You've witnessed firsthand how alterations in design and execution on the trade show floor can transform a simple booth into an immersive brand experience that revitalizes the way you engage with audiences.

As many of you know, Exhibitor Group recently took a page out of your playbooks and shook things up a bit. This past April, EXHIBITORLIVE made a bold move, bidding farewell to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas for the first time in 20 years and venturing to Louisville, KY. The relocation to Derby City brought its fair share of challenges. Adapting to a new venue, adjusting logistics, working with new partners, and acclimating to a different atmosphere required resilience and flexibility – after all, Sin City's pulsating energy bears little resemblance to Louisville's quiet charm. The move also sparked more than one hotly contested debate about the pronunciation of the host city: Looavul, Luhvul, Looaville, Looeyville. (It's the first option, by the way.)

However, both attendees and exhibitors witnessed how change can fuel innovation and invigorate our industry. At least, we'd like to think so. The shift also brought a slew of new experiences. And after all, trade show and event pros lead the way in experiential marketing. It was the first time I'd seen a live horse on a trade show floor, and attendees made the most of the opportunity to craft derby hats. People scarfed Hot Browns, the city's most famous dish, and I even had the opportunity to tour the historic Seelbach Hotel, visiting the banquet hall and lobbies where F. Scott Fitzgerald conjured up "The Great Gatsby" – at least according to Louisville lore. All new experiences for most of us.

The feedback we've received from attendees and exhibitors – including those who initially had misgivings about making the move – has been overwhelmingly positive. But even as we celebrate the success of the show, Exhibitor is already embracing the winds of change steering us toward the show's next iteration in yet another new location. By doing so, Exhibitor Group is signaling a commitment to continue evolving alongside the needs and aspirations of the trade show professionals we serve. And I, for one, am excited to see what fresh adventures await us.

Yes, there's risk involved in these changes – or any change, for that matter. But this is an industry that often rewards the risk-takers, and we celebrate more than a few of those daredevils in this issue of EXHIBITOR magazine. Take Sarah Moreau, who dove headfirst into the live-events industry and found herself helping plan and execute her company's presence in 16 trade shows and conferences when she was just five months on the job ("Lessons from a First-Year Marketer"). Or thumb through the Portable/Modular Awards winners to see how manufacturers and designers are pushing boundaries and transforming expectations for system exhibits through innovative solutions. Take inspiration from those who cast caution to the wind and seek bold results. Because change is the fuel that propels the industry forward and the foundation upon which we all build remarkable experiences. E