NYC & Company Welcomes Back International Vision Expo East to New York City for 26th Year
NYC & COMPANY WELCOMES BACK INTERNATIONAL VISION EXPO EAST TO NEW YORK CITY FOR 26TH YEAR
—25,000 Visitors Expected to Attend the International Eye Care and Eyewear Conference and Exhibition March 22 to 25—
New York City (March 19, 2012)—NYC & Company, the City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today welcomes the return of International Vision Expo East for its 26th annual event at the Jacobs K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from March 22 to 25. The four-day trade-only show will feature a wide-ranging conference program with experts from various fields, exclusive continuing-education courses, and an exhibit hall of innovative products and cutting-edge technology. With more than 570 showcasing exhibitors from 24 countries, roughly 25,000 exhibitor personnel and visitors are expected to attend the conference later this week. The industry event will generate 10,700 hotel room nights for the City during the course of the week, contributing to its hotel occupancy rates—among the highest in the country.
“We are happy to once again host one of the largest ophthalmic trade events in the world—a privilege we’ve secured through 2015,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “International Vision Expo East draws global visitation to New York City on a yearly basis and has helped develop our reputation as a leading destination for optical industry expertise. We anticipate 2012 will be no exception and forecast a footprint of $13.5 million in economic impact.”
“There’s no place we’d rather be hosting the industry’s largest gathering of ophthalmic professionals than NYC,” said Tom Loughran, vice president for Reed Exhibitions. “Recognized as the fashion capital of the world, New York City provides the perfect balance of energy and international style that our guests have come to expect. As the leading fashion and medical eye care event, International Vision Expo East is thrilled to have the global city as the backdrop for our event.”
For the first time, International Vision Expo East will present an interactive Ultraviolet (UV) Symposium informing eye care professionals about the effects of UV damage, what they can do to protect their patients and ways to promote the message of UV protection to various communities. For the second year, the industry event will offer expanded programming for optometry students from schools throughout the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, designed for networking and practice management. Available for free download before arriving at the Javits Center is Vision Mobile Directory. The digital tool will feature information about exhibitors, sessions and events, show news, floor plan, new products, show specials and what's new.
Roughly 14 percent of International Vision Expo East attendees are traveling to New York City from 100 countries around the world. Approximately 40 percent are first-time visitors to the trade event.
For details on visitor registration and a complete catalogue of events, visit visionexpoeast.com.
About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com.
About International Vision Expo:
International Vision Expo, the worldwide conference and exhibition for eye care and eyewear, is a trade-only event that draws more than 30,000 eye care professionals each year. Co-owned by Reed Exhibitions and The Vision Council, International Vision Expo gives back to the entire ophthalmic community. Proceeds from International Vision Expo are used by The Vision Council to educate consumers about the importance of vision care and the options in eyewear and other related products. In 2011, The Vision Council reached millions of consumers with its messages through marketing materials, public relations outreach and strategic partnerships.
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Contact: Francisca Ovalle/NYC & Company 212 484 1270
Stephanie Sikorski/The Vision Council 703 740 2248