The International Roofing Expo (IRE) by Informa Markets is taking place from Aug. 10-12, 2021, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The event brings together construction professionals, distributors, and manufacturers from all over the roofing and exteriors industry.

Each year, the IRE pulls thousands of members of the roofing and exteriors community together to engage with the latest offering of products, services, and networking. These interactions come in the form of new and existing connections, education sessions, demonstrations, and more.

According to event organizers, IRE is the top event for exhibitions and education for the roofing and exterior construction industries. Attendees cover the entire spectrum of the industry, ranging from roofing, siding, windows, and everything in between. Attendees are encouraged to learn from industry experts’ conference sessions, speaking events, presentations, and demonstrations. These are in addition to exhibits and showcases lining the expo hall.

Bringing Together the Community

“We couldn’t be more excited to open our doors and welcome roofing professionals in less than two weeks! We have a number of new companies attending and such a high quality of attendees, we anticipate a large amount of business to be done on our show floor,” said Ray Giovine, IRE group director. “We’re bringing together the community, and we can’t wait to see the impact.”

The IRE’s goal is to help professionals improve their business through education, exhibitions, and networking. However, they note that this drive to help businesses does not stop at the event itself. While its economic impact falls largely under the radar, the trade event industry creates over $325 billion in business sales and 1.3 million jobs globally each year, providing an incredible economic boom for the industries they serve, the cities that host their events, and the small and medium sized businesses — which make up 85% of their customers.

“We have heard from contractors, builders, and manufacturers, and there is pent-up demand for reconnecting in-person,” said Reid Ribble, CEO for the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). “They are looking forward to attending the International Roofing Expo, and so are we. Informa Markets and the IRE show team has done a tremendous job putting together show that is implementing a health and safety plan to help ensure a safe environment for everyone in attendance.”

Revised Safety and Sustainability Plans

Informa Markets has already run several in-person trade shows in Las Vegas in 2021. These expos added a focus to safety and health for all parties. As such, IRE organizers say they will adhere to current U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local government guidance.

Effective July 28, 2021, Clark County has imposed a mask mandate for all individuals, both vaccinated and unvaccinated. As a result, masks will be required at the International Roofing Expo. Facemasks will be available on site for all guests, if they do not have their own.

According to IRE, each year’s event impacts the surrounding environment and communities. As such, event organizers are making strides to transform the IRE into a more sustainable event. This effort includes spotlighting sustainability on the show floor; taking steps to reduce carbon emissions; working toward offsetting unavoidable emissions; measuring impacts year over year; and more.  Regarding the trade show, these impacts are seen in a move to digital badges, the removal of carpet, and the reduction of unnecessary paper waste.

Exhibit Hall Details, Hours

IRE exhibitors include manufacturers and regional distributors encompassing all aspects of roofing and exterior contracting and construction. According to event organizers, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center provides the space and accommodations that exhibitors needs to effectively display and demonstrate their products on the show floor.

This year, the event will showcase one of the largest collections of manufacturers of building products ranging from aluminum windows to roof decks to wood siding. The Exhibit Hall will be open from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Aug. 10 and Wednesday, Aug. 11, and from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12.

“Being a part the International Roofing Expo each year is very important to our business, and this year is no different,” said Dan Tinker, president and CEO of SRS Distribution. “This show allows us to connect in-person with our customers and build new relationships. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at our booth and outside in the parking lot for our extreme tailgate event. We are also excited for our annual Raise the Roof charity concert event featuring Darius Rucker and Little Big Town.”

A complete and updated list of industry exhibitors is available here. If you’re there, make sure to stop by the CoatingsPro Magazine booth (747) and pick up some free swag!

Opportunities to Learn and Interact

There is a wide variety of ways for attendees to interact at IRE. Just by walking around the expo floor, attendees can connect directly with manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers. Meanwhile, exhibitors offer an opportunity for others to learn about the latest innovations and newest products to hit the industry.

Finally, educational sessions and speakers can help to broaden horizons by teaching new techniques and skills that run the roofing and exteriors gamut. These include live demonstrations and offers to purchase products and services that could give businesses an advantage back home.

“Our platforms create commercial and connection opportunities that are unmatched,” said Nancy Walsh, president of North American business at Informa Markets. “We help launch small businesses to new heights, educate our community on the latest innovations, create rich networking opportunities, and ensure that revenue opportunities are stimulated on and off the show floor.”

According to IRE organizers, trade shows have transformed into far more than booths displaying product. Now, they have become perennial marketplaces brought to life by educational opportunities, innovation launches, and data-driven qualified lead retrieval opportunities, which are further supported by social networking activities.

In 2020, many of the nearly 32,000 exhibitions held worldwide transitioned to digital solutions, which leveraged best-in-class technology to create those critical supply chain connections. But while digital solutions have proven invaluable to many during pandemic times, data shows that both sides of the supply chain are hopeful of moving forward with in-person events and exhibitions.

“We are in the business of connection,” Walsh said. “We have made incredible progress in providing our customers broader reach, better qualified leads, and year-round opportunities for education, innovation, and growth through digital and data solutions, but meaningful networking is not replicable in a virtual format. There is an energy to the in-person experience that we have been missing over the last 15 months. Our platforms play a really important role in rich relationship building and revenue-driving for the communities they serve, and that is rarely a one-click experience.”

To learn more about Informa Markets events, visit www.informamarkets.com. For more information on IRE, call (800) 684-5761 or visit www.theroofingexpo.com.