More than 6,000 HPBExpo attendees and exhibitors in the hearth, patio and barbecue industries are expected to attend Thursday-Saturday from all points of the globe, including Japan, China, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Switzerland.

The show uses most of the 500,000-plus square feet of the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, which has been fitted with gas and exhaust lines to accommodate the convention. When all is said and done, attendees and exhibitors will have booked approximately 12,000 room nights (20,000 rooms are available in the region), many in deluxe hotel-casinos. Dozens of properties are within walking distance or a short drive to the convention center.

To kick of the week of activities, attendees were greeted at Reno-Tahoe International Airport on March 18 with live music, concierge service and barbecued tri-tip courtesy of Washoe Flats steakhouse.

To read about the hearth, patio and barbecue’s leading trade show, visit them online at HPBExpo.com. To learn more about meetings and conventions in Reno-Tahoe, log on to MeetRenoTahoe.com.

- Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority Staff