ALEXANDRIA, Va.—After 38 years in New York City, Vision Expo East will permanently relocate to Orlando, Florida for the February 19–22, 2025 show, The Vision Council and RX, co-owners of Vision Expo, announced today. Vision Expo East’s final show in New York, scheduled for March 14–17, 2024, will celebrate and commemorate nearly four decades of achievement and growth within the optical industry. Vision Expo East will debut at  the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando in 2025 with a reimagined show experience and abundant opportunities for exhibitors to engage with attendees in a more centralized environment, the show organizers said.

They noted that in addition to offering attendees a multi-year, preferred date pattern of Thursday–Saturday, the show venue, hotels, meeting spaces and special events will all be located within a walkable area, ensuring a better connected and community-like experience.

“We’re confident that hosting Vision Expo in Orlando will position our customers for greater success and we’re incredibly excited to deliver a brand new, elevated and connected experience there,” said Fran Pennella, vice president, Vision Expo, at RX, co-organizer of Vision Expo. “This new chapter for Vision Expo East comes with a side of nostalgia for the incredible history and opportunity that came with our nearly four decades in New York City. We are so grateful for the hospitality of New York and the Javits Center to grow our event.”

In a letter to Vision Council members and Vision Expo customers, Vision Council CEO Ashely Mills said, "Based on extensive consultation and feedback from customers, sponsors and allied organizations, hosting Vision Expo East in Orlando is in complete alignment with furthering customer wants and needs. Our industry has changed dramatically over the past few years, and as such, our shows and how we bring business together must also evolve.

"The opportunities for growth, centralization and community-building in Orlando are abundant, and we are confident that this future planning will better allow us to provide the vision care community with a world-class exhibition and educational program in a world-class venue and event destination for years to come," Mills said. 

Mitch Barkley, vice president, trade shows, The Vision Council, added, "We had the opportunity to make a change that aligns with the future of this industry, and we strongly believe that hosting Vision Expo East in Orlando will attract our existing loyal audience as well as expand audiences from the robust Southeast and international markets, re-engage legacy partners and ultimately support growth for everyone involved." 

The Vision Expo sales team will be in touch with members/customers alike in the coming weeks to share more information about space selection and additional benefits of this exciting move, the show organizers said.

For further information, contact Mitch Barkley at mbarkley@thevisioncouncil.org or Fran Pennella at fran.pennella@rxglobal.com.