TPIE Back to Its (New) Old Home

Chris Beytes

The annual Tropical Plant International Expo, held January 17-19 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was back in its long-time home, the Broward County Convention Center, after a two-year visit across the state in Tampa (and one year off for the pandemic).

The 51st edition of the colorful event set a high bar, with more than 7,600 registered attendees—an excellent number and nearly approaching the best-ever. Credit the continuing enthusiasm for houseplants and patio tropicals, evidenced by 128 first-time or returning-after-a-hiatus exhibitors at the show. I moderated a panel discussion on “Shipping 101” and asked the audience if any were first-time attendees. Fully 75% of the room held up hands.

The trade show hall is bigger, offering up to 350,000 sq. ft. of space. TPIE used 227,000 of that, for 1,000 exhibit spaces and 430 companies, up 800 spaces and 380 exhibitors the last time the show was in Fort Lauderdale.

Still, from the air, you can see there’s work left to be done. The county is adding a 65,000 sq. ft. ballroom and meeting/function spaces, restaurants, a waterfront plaza and a 29-floor, 800-room Omni Hotel. The planned completion date is Q4 of 2025. But mark your calendars for January 15-17, 2025, for the next TPIE. GT