INDA leaders explain the decision to move IDEA®27 to Kansas City and discuss what the new venue, lower costs and collocated RISE® conference will offer exhibitors and attendees.
Miami Beach has hosted the IDEA® nonwovens trade show since the early 2000s apart from one edition held in Boston during renovations at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Now, the long-running triennial nonwovens event is preparing for a change of scenery. Event organizer, INDA — the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry based in Cary, N.C. — will hold the 2027 edition of IDEA in Kansas City, Mo., March 23-25. In addition, the organization will collocate its RISE® technical conference in Kansas City.
In a conversation with IFJ, INDA President and CEO Tony Fragnito, Director of Business Development and Membership Dan Noonan, and Director of Education & Technical Affairs Dr. Matt O’Sickey addressed the reasons behind the move and what attendees can expect from the show’s new venue and the addition of the RISE conference in 2027.
Reasons Behind The Move
IFJ: After decades in Miami Beach, why was 2027 the “right” time to move IDEA to a new location? How did feedback from exhibitors and attendees impact the decision to move?
Tony Fragnito: One of the things I heard consistently from our members and customers at IDEA in 2022, was the cost and logistical challenges related to the Miami Beach Convention Center and surrounding area. Hotels were scattered, meals and entertainment were expensive, and the cost and logistics of exhibiting in Miami were high. I also heard folks loved the beach, no surprise. I was also told that these sentiments were expressed to INDA many times and that INDA doesn’t listen to its members. I wanted to show I was listening, and that INDA was willing to try something different.
IFJ: Did INDA consider any other cities, and what ultimately distinguished Kansas City?
Fragnito: INDA’s main consideration was first the conference facility and available hotel and entertainment options, especially within walking distance. My personal experience with other organizations told me that exhibitors and attendees are looking for a good place to do business, but also a pleasant place to unwind afterwards. Two major hotels connected to the venue, a modern airport and lots of restaurant and entertainment options should make this location both productive and memorable. Kansas City has been very accommodating, and I am convinced will welcome our event with the full resources the city has to offer. The venue, the restaurants and the hotels will be very competitive, increasing the return on investment (ROI) for all participants.
IFJ: Some longtime participants may see Miami Beach as part of IDEA’s identity. What would you say to those who are disappointed or skeptical about the move?
Fragnito: I say let’s talk again after Kansas City. This is not a forever shift. This is INDA listening to member concerns and attempting to address them.
IFJ: What would a successful IDEA in Kansas City look like in terms of results and feedback?
Fragnito: For me it’s better ROI for our customers. Concentrating the audience within the conference center and connected venues will provide more opportunities for both formal and casual exchanges and a better sense of the community. Everything our customers and attendees need for the week will be steps away, versus a cab ride away.
The Exhibitor & Attendee Experience
IFJ: What measurable savings can exhibitors expect in Kansas City from booth and other exhibitor expenses to accommodations and dining?
Dan Noonan: There are three major expenses when exhibiting at a trade show — the floor space fee; booth costs including structure, labor, and shipping; and costs for a team to travel. The move to Kansas City will help exhibitors with those latter two charges. In Miami, for every two laborers hired to help build the booth, a union laborer was added. That’s not the case in Kansas City. This difference should lower the labor costs by at least 33 percent. In addition, INDA negotiated with a new general services contractor to provide a shipping/material handling rate that’s drastically lower than what our previous contractor charged in Miami.
IFJ: INDA has cited overall hotel savings for Kansas City compared with Miami Beach. Can you share some examples or information about these savings?
Noonan: There are two major hotel-related savings. First, the nightly rates for the seven hotels INDA added to the attendee block — covering all major hotel brands including Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Loews — range from $189 to $279 before taxes and fees, which is significantly lower than prices in Miami Beach. Second, all the hotels are within two to three blocks of the main entrance to the convention center so exhibitors and attendees will save not only on room nights, but also on rideshare and taxis to and from the building.
IFJ: How accessible is Kansas City for domestic attendees? How about for international attendees, especially those accustomed to flying into South Florida?
Noonan: Kansas City International Airport offers nonstop service from major U.S. hubs and is served by several major airlines. Kansas City should be no different for U.S.-based attendees than Miami. For international travelers, there may be an extra flight from a U.S. airline hub, but once in Kansas City, there should be a better and faster experience to pick up baggage and get to the hotel. The Kansas City airport opened a new terminal in 2023, and it feels brand new.
IFJ: What does the area around the Kansas City Convention Center offer in terms of walkability, hotels, restaurants and places for informal business networking?
Noonan: The area around the convention center and hotels is very easy to get around. There is a free hop-on/hop-off streetcar that runs from the riverfront area to South Plaza with stops in between at art museums, the Crown Center for shopping, the Power & Light District for restaurants and bars, and the City Market.
IFJ: How will the Kansas City venue change the exhibition floor experience?
Noonan: The show floor design will be different for this edition of IDEA. The hall is on the third floor of the convention center, so attendees will come up to access the show floor. With only two columns in the exhibit hall, attendees and exhibitors will have largely unobstructed views across the show floor. In addition, INDA has designed a “Main Street” aisle on the floor. It’s 20 feet across and runs the length of the hall. From that main aisle, attendees will be able to see every exhibitor to the outer walls, which are only about 100 feet from the aisle.
There are quite a few additions that we’re making with this venue. The first major change for IDEA 27 is the collocation of the RISE conference. The conference area will be housed on the show floor so attendees can go back and forth from the conference to the exhibits quickly. The show floor will also house an area to showcase our Innovation Awards finalists. Attendees will be able to see the finalists before we announce the winners. The setup for food in Miami was also odd because the venue didn’t have concession stands and so food carts were brought in that took up valuable floor space. In Kansas City, there are concession stands spread throughout the exhibit hall and we’ve added multiple seating areas for convenience.
IFJ: For a company deciding whether to send a large team to IDEA, what can sales, technical and executive personnel each gain from attending?
Noonan: The sales group will find that the entire supply chain is at the show. INDA has already heard feedback that many companies are planning to send more staff than usual due to the lower hotel and attendance rates.
For technical staff, the RISE conference has been a top technical conference in the industry for many years. Attendees rave about the sessions, speakers and content. The ability to attend the RISE sessions and then quickly hop back on the show floor is a great benefit.
For executives, we know that IDEA is a place where deals are made. It’s a chance to meet with other decision makers in the industry, network and walk away with new contacts and fresh ideas, and that doesn’t change with the move to Kansas City.
INDA also recognizes the economic pressures and market uncertainty the industry is facing. To facilitate our members’ ability to convene and connect, source solutions and identify new opportunities, INDA members can receive a show floor pass at no charge in 2027.
IFJ: Is there anything first-time visitors to Kansas City should make time to experience beyond the convention center?
Noonan: Two words — bourbon and barbecue. Kansas City is world-renowned for its barbecue and INDA will feature Kansas City barbecue among the food options available during the Welcome Reception.
Kansas City also is home to a few dozen distilleries that offer tasting tours available after show hours.
In addition, there are a couple of major sporting events in Kansas City during the week of IDEA 27. The Kansas City Royals open their 2027 season on Thursday, March 25, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional begins March 26.
Education And RISE®
IFJ: What influenced the decision to move the RISE conference and collocate the event with IDEA 27?
Dr. Matt O’Sickey: We had a very successful, well-attended and thematically focused conference at IDEA 25. While considering ideas for a similarly focused topic area for RISE, one idea that came up was “Enabling Technologies for Long Life Nonwoven Products.” This content has historically been underrepresented in INDA’s programming versus its prevalence in the nonwoven industry as a whole. However, at IDEA there is usually a good representation from industry providers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) replacements, flame retardants, antistatic treatments, weather- and ultraviolet (UV)-resistant materials, composites and acoustic materials, for example. It just made good sense to lean into an expertise base that will be present at IDEA to make focused conference content more easily available to the thousands of attendees that typically go to IDEA.
IFJ: How will the RISE program complement the technologies and conversations taking place on the IDEA show floor?
Dr. O’Sickey: RISE will provide the deeper, more technical discussions related to the long-life and durable nonwoven products market segments, while our show floor content will be limited to short, largely promotional introductions of new products from exhibitors. If you want a five-minute snapshot of the latest and greatest, you can catch that on the show floor. If you want to know why the technology works and how it best fits your needs, the conference is the place for you.
IFJ: Will attendees be able to participate in both RISE and IDEA without missing important conference sessions, exhibits or meetings?
Dr. O’Sickey: While some programming will be running concurrently, INDA saw at IDEA 25 that visitors were able to manage both the exhibit floor and conference without issue. We also found that choosing a focused theme for the conference meant many companies saw value in sending one or two technical staff to specifically attend the conference. On occasion, those attendees had to step away for a customer meeting, but also had time during the lunch break and end-of-day period to visit exhibitors.
IFJ: Are there any emerging technologies, issues or topics that will be highlighted during RISE?
Dr. O’Sickey: RISE this year will be focused on the technologies related to long-life or durable nonwoven products such as transportation, geotextiles, building materials, garments and medical products, among other topics. We anticipate discussions surrounding the state-of-the-art in PFAS coating replacements, stain repellency, flame retardants, weather- and UV-protection chemistries and antistatic treatments.
IFJ: What would you say to a technical professional who has attended IDEA before but has never considered attending RISE?
Dr. O’Sickey: RISE provides a glimpse into the state-of-the-art technologies of today as well as a peek into what’s coming tomorrow. As such, it’s been a unique opportunity to fill a company’s technical investigation pipeline. As one longtime RISE attendee told me, RISE has provided his company with a first-to-market advantage in applying new nonwoven technologies. By bringing RISE to IDEA, we hope to support a broader section of the industry.
Closing Thoughts About IDEA®27
IFJ: Complete this sentence: “IDEA 27 in Kansas City will be different because …”
Fragnito: It will be an efficient week filled with strong industry connections.
Noonan: It will provide exhibitors and attendees a stronger ROI.
IFJ: What is the single strongest reason for an exhibitor to participate? What is the biggest reason for an attendee to come?
Fragnito: The IDEA show is the largest nonwoven-focused trade show in the Americas — or anywhere — based on the number of unique visitors and exhibitors.
IFJ: Are there any misconceptions about Kansas City or the venue that you would like to correct?
Fragnito: That Kansas City is not a modern city and is difficult to reach. Kansas City was chosen as a host city for the World Cup and is home to major national sports teams. It also has a modern airport and is easy to travel in and around.
IFJ: When attendees leave IDEA 27, what do you hope they will say about the decision to move the show?
Noonan: Kansas City is ready to welcome the nonwovens community, and I know visitors will have a great experience. I hope that participants leave with the realization that valuable connections with customers and suppliers are not determined by geography.
