Reports from the Road: Team Grapevine Attends National Trade Shows to Attract Recreation Options

The staff at Grapevine Economic Development has a busy Spring planned, attending conferences and trade shows across the country to promote the city and identify potential growth opportunities. These in-person events can open the door to deeper conversations in the weeks that follow, with Grapevine, Texas, staying top of mind for many real estate companies and entertainment organizations.  

“Trade shows create an environment where conversations happen organically with decision makers,” says Dallas Snow, Commercial Outreach Manager for the City of Grapevine. “There are opportunities for spontaneous introductions and immediate connections to form.”

See where Grapevine has gone so far this year, and where the team is headed. There are bright things on the horizon as the community works to make the city a family-friendly entertainment destination.

The Year Started With ICSC Red River

In mid-February, Team Grapevine attended the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Red River in San Antonio, Texas. This real estate-focused trade show connects developers with communities across Texas. Many of the companies in attendance want to expand into Texas and are deciding where to bring their businesses.

“A lot of national brands attend ICSC,” says Snow. “And everyone is trying to figure out what they can do to attract these brands to their cities.”

Grapevine is an entertainment destination, so the brands the economic development team met with focused on creating family-friendly experiences for residents and visitors. There is certainly a focus on adding amenities, but this is driven by the long-term vision of making Grapevine a recreation hub in the region.

Then Came EEE Los Angeles 

After returning from ICSC Red River, the Grapevine team continued on to Entertainment Experience Evolution (EEE) in Los Angeles. This conference focuses on the future of retail entertainment, highlighting unique trends and concepts that can elevate dining experiences, shopping, and recreation.

“One of the cool things about this conference is you can gauge the reactions of attendees to different concepts or experiences,” says Snow. “When companies introduce new ideas, we can feel the excitement in the room.”

For example, the conference featured the “PanAm Experience” that allows diners to eat on an authentically restored plane, enjoying a meal reminiscent of the Golden Age of Flight.

The Grapevine team uses this conference to consider what concepts would be a good fit for the community. While immersive experiences are popular right now, it’s important to focus on what makes sense for Grapevine in the long run.

Grapevine was a Platinum Sponsor and lunch sponsor for this conference. This allowed the team to speak directly about the benefits of bringing entertainment opportunities to the city. EEE is also an international conference, and many foreign companies were excited about Grapevine's proximity to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – the second busiest in the United States.

Next Up is ICSC Las Vegas 

Come May 18-20, the Grapevine economic development team will be headed back out on the road for ICSC Las Vegas. Not only will Grapevine have a booth at this event, but several local leaders plan to attend, including:

• RaDonna Hessel, CEO for the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce
• Richard Wales, 2026 Board Chair for the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce
• Sean Shope, Grapevine City Council Member

This cohort allows potential brands and real estate companies to speak directly with local leadership in a focused, in-person setting. The follow-up conversations are more seamless because everyone already has strong relationships with each other and is on the same page.

“People love Grapevine,” says Snow. “We have conversations all the time with people who visited for events or attended conferences and enjoyed the community.”

The Grapevine team is always trying to attract strong restaurant brands and destination entertainment concepts that residents can enjoy. They are currently also focused on providing entertainment to family members while their loved ones are attending conferences.

The Future of Grapevine is Entertaining 

Attending ICSC and EEE gives the Grapevine team early access to emerging products and trends. These events keep everyone forward-facing and ahead of the curve. Conferences also allow for in-person discussions and productive meetings that are harder to achieve with cold calls and digital communication. The long-term results of these events include more restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options for Grapevine’s residents and visitors. This creates jobs and increases tax revenue – while making Grapevine more fun.

Grow with Grapevine this year. Contact us to talk about your entertainment business or real estate ideas. We can continue to make Grapevine a top destination in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, if not the entire state of Texas.