# Licensing Expo 2027 — Global Brand Licensing, Entertainment IP, Characters, Gaming & Retail Consumer Products
- **Canonical Guide:** https://conventions.com/events/licensing-expo
- **Dates:** Tue May 18 – Thu May 20, 2027 (2027-05-18 to 2027-05-20)
- **Host Facility:** Mandalay Bay Convention Center (Las Vegas, NV)
- **Host Facility Engineering Dossier:** https://conventions.com/venues/mandalay-bay-convention-center-las-vegas
- **Organizer:** Informa Markets & Licensing International (https://www.licensingexpo.com)
- **Attendance & Format:** 12,500+ Attendees | Credentialed Retail & Wholesale Trade & B2B Buyers | Trade Show & Conference
- **Labor Jurisdiction:** Union Jurisdiction
- **Hotel Compression Index:** 8.3 / 10 High Corridor Demand
- **Federal GSA Per-Diem Benchmark:** $173/night Lodging | $86/day M&IE
- **Official Housing Registry:** Informa Markets & Licensing International Official Housing Desk (licensingexpo.com, onpeak.com, connectionshousing.com)
## Executive Summary
Licensing Expo 2027 (Tue May 18 – Thu May 20, 2027) brings 12,500+ retail & wholesale professionals, enterprise buyers, and exhibiting brands to Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Compare walkable corridor hotels, GSA $173/night per-diem options, 10x10 raw-to-turnkey booth cost benchmarks ($4,100 – $5,800 Raw -> ~$13.2k – $19.5k All-In), and private steakhouse client dining buyouts.
## Key Event Benchmarks
- **Confirmed Dates:** Tue May 18 – Thu May 20, 2027
- **Verified Attendance:** 12,500+ Industry Professionals
- **Host Venue:** Mandalay Bay Convention Center
- **Badge / Pass Band:** $595 – $1,795
- **10x10 Booth Benchmark:** $4,100 – $5,800 Raw → ~$13.2k – $19.5k All-In
- **Advance Utility Cutoff:** 30 Days Pre-Show (Save 30%–35%)
## Audience Composition
- **Brand Licensing Directors / VP Product Development:** 45%
- **Directors, VPs & Retail & Wholesale Operations Leads:** 29%
- **Exhibiting Manufacturers, SaaS & Channel Partners:** 18%
- **Press, Analysts & Association Leadership:** 8%
## Arrival, Badge Pickup & Floor Timing
- **Airport & Badge Strategy:** Fly into Harry Reid International Airport (LAS — 10–15 mins to Mandalay Bay Convention Center) and collect your badge the afternoon before Day 1 to bypass opening-morning lines.
- **Peak Floor Hours:** Day 1 & Day 2 Main Expo Floor (10:00 AM – 4:30 PM) + Evening Corridor Private Dining Receptions.
- **Hand-Carry & Union Policy:** Mandalay Bay Convention Center Exhibitor Carry-In Policy (Union Jurisdiction): One exhibitor badge-holder may hand-carry personal display materials or a single rolling luggage case in one trip through main public/hotel entrances without drayage charges; two-wheel dollies, pushcarts, and crated dock deliveries route through official material-handling labor.
## Walkable Corridor Hotels (Las Vegas)
| Hotel | Access / Connection | Show-Week Rate | Off-Peak Rate | Block Status | Rooms |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino (On-Site Headquarters) | 2–3 Min Indoor Concourse Walk to Bayside & Ballrooms | ~$335/nt | ~$169/nt | Limited (<15%) | 3,209 |
| W Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Campus (All-Suite Tower) | 4-Min Indoor Campus Walk • 1,117 All-Suite Rooms | ~$375/nt | ~$199/nt | Available | 1,117 |
| Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas (Private Non-Gaming Floors 35–39) | 3-Min Private Express Elevator to Convention Wing | ~$620/nt | ~$395/nt | Limited (<15%) | 424 |
| Luxor Hotel & Casino (Indoor Mandalay Place Skybridge) | 6-Min Indoor Walk via Mandalay Place + Free Tram | ~$180/nt | ~$79/nt | Available | 4,407 |
| Excalibur Hotel & Casino (Free Mandalay Bay Express Tram) | 4-Min Free Express Tram Straight to Mandalay Bay | ~$145/nt | ~$59/nt | Overflow Block Open | 3,981 |
| MGM Grand Hotel & Conference Center | Skybridge Walk / Las Vegas Monorail South Terminus | ~$270/nt | ~$129/nt | Available | 4,997 |
| Park MGM & NoMad Las Vegas (100% Smoke-Free Resort) | 100% Smoke-Free Campus • Indoor Tram to ARIA & Bellagio | ~$275/nt | ~$139/nt | Available | 2,995 |
| ARIA Resort & Casino (CityCenter Executive Hub) | 5-Min Rideshare • Free CityCenter Express Tram | ~$420/nt | ~$229/nt | Available | 4,004 |
## Exhibitor Building Services vs. Open-Market Local Suppliers
| Service | Facility Policy | Show-Manual Rate | Local Market Benchmark | Savings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electrical Drops, Plumbing & Ceiling Truss Rigging | Exclusive Building Service | $265 – $1,450+ per drop | Exclusive Venue Provider | Order 45d Early (Save 35%) |
| Dock-to-Booth Freight Drayage (Over Hand-Carry Limit) | Exclusive Building Service | ~$71–$165/CWT (200 lb min) | $0 Hand-Carry (Within Carry-In Rules) | Save 100% on Light Kits |
| 4K Booth Monitors (55"–85"), LED Walls & Suite AV | Independent Suppliers Permitted | $1,850 – $6,800 / show (Show Kit) | $450 – $2,100 (Vetted Local Las Vegas AV) | Save 55% – 75% |
| Custom Booth Build, Turnkey Rentals & EAC I&D Labor | Independent Suppliers Permitted | $24,000 – $65,000 (Official Kit Turnkey) | $12,500 – $36,000 (Local Vegas EAC Builders) | Save 38% – 50% |
| Hotel-Delivered Tension Backdrops, Rush Print & Collateral | Independent Suppliers Permitted | $400 foamboards + CWT drayage fees | $145 – $1,200 Delivered to Hotel Bell Desk | Save 60% + $0 Drayage |
| Booth Staff, Lead Qualifiers, Hosts & Interpreters | Independent Suppliers Permitted | Flying HQ Staff: ~$2,600/person in T&E | $48 – $85/hr Local W-2 Las Vegas Talent | Save 50% on Travel & Rooms |
| Group Hotel Blocks (9–50+ Rooms) & Private Dining Buyouts | Independent Suppliers Permitted | $429+/nt + Strict 80% Attrition Terms | $199 – $339/nt Off-Block / Loop Adjacent | Save 22% – 35% |
## Private Client Dining & VIP Buyout Venues
| Venue | Cuisine | Walk / Transit | Private Capacity | Typical F&B Minimum | AV Ready |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Border Grill Mandalay Bay (2-Story Convention Patio Buyout) | Modern Mexican Cantina & Waterfront Patio ($$) | 1-min walk directly outside Bayside / Shoreline Exhibit Halls | Upper & Lower Decks (40–180) • 450 Full Buyout | $4,500–$14,000 Deck • $38,000+ Full 2-Story Buyout | Yes |
| STRIPSTEAK by Michael Mina (Mandalay Bay) | Wood-Fired Dry-Aged Prime Steakhouse & Whiskey Program ($$$$) | 3-min indoor walk from Convention Concourse | 2 Glass PDRs (16–56) • 250 Full Restaurant Buyout | $3,800–$11,500 PDR • $45,000+ Full Buyout | Yes |
| Rivea & Skyfall Panoramic Lounge (64th Floor W Tower) | French-Italian Riviera Dining & 180° Rooftop Strip Views ($$$$) | 4-min indoor walk + Express 64th-Floor Glass Elevator | Private View Salon (24–70) • 320 Full Floor Buyout | $5,500–$18,000 Wing • $55,000+ Rooftop Buyout | Yes |
| Orla by Michael Mina (Mandalay Bay) | Aegean & Eastern Mediterranean Seafood & Grill ($$$) | 3-min indoor walk along Convention Restaurant Promenade | Private Dining Suite (18–50) • 200 Full Buyout | $3,200–$9,800 PDR • $36,000+ Full Buyout | Yes |
| Retro by Voltaggio (Mandalay Bay) | Elevated Modern American & Iconic 4-Story Wine Tower ($$$) | 3-min indoor walk from South Convention Foyer | Private Salon (20–65) • 220 Full Buyout | $3,500–$11,000 PDR • $38,000+ Full Buyout | Yes |
| Bavette's Steakhouse & Bar (Park MGM — Smoke-Free) | Chicago Speakeasy Prime Steakhouse & Jazz Parlor ($$$$) | 5-min rideshare north to smoke-free Park MGM | Hidden Speakeasy Parlor (18–55) • 160 Buyout | $4,500–$14,500 Speakeasy Parlor Buyout | No |
| Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak (MGM Grand Conference Wing) | Farm-to-Table Prime Steaks & Rare Bourbon Library ($$$$) | Steps from MGM Grand Conference Center • 5-min ride from Mandalay | 3 Private Boardrooms (14–64) • 240 Full Buyout | $3,600–$12,000 PDR • $44,000+ Full Buyout | Yes |
| Carbone (ARIA Resort & Casino — CityCenter) | Iconic New York Italian-American Fine Dining ($$$$) | 6-min rideshare north to ARIA Promenade | Private Velvet Salon (14–48) • 175 Full Buyout | $5,500–$16,500 Private Salon • $60,000+ Full Buyout | No |
## Verified Logistics & Procurement FAQs
### When and where is Licensing Expo 2027 held in Las Vegas?
Licensing Expo 2027 is scheduled for Tue May 18 – Thu May 20, 2027 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV (organized by Informa Markets & Licensing International).
*Source: Licensing Expo Official Event Calendar*
### How much does a 10x10 booth cost all-in at Licensing Expo 2027?
A standard 10x10 inline space typically starts around $4,100 – $5,800 Raw, landing near ~$13.2k – $19.5k All-In once drayage, electrical, carpet, and graphics are included. Sourcing turnkey rental displays and 4K monitors from local Las Vegas EAC vendors cuts freight and decorator markups by 35%–50%.
*Source: Conventions.com Exhibitor Cost Benchmark*
### What are the closest hotels and VIP client dinner buyouts near Mandalay Bay Convention Center?
Book connected or 5-to-10-minute walkable corridor properties before the 30-day housing block cutoff (hotel compression: 8.3 / 10 High Corridor Demand), and reserve private dining rooms for 15–150+ VIP clients at least 45 days ahead.
*Source: Conventions.com Corridor Hospitality Desk*