Thirty Years in B2B & B2C

Shawn Samson, Chairman & CEO of Expo City, was the President of Triple Five International, which starting in 1989 developed and operates the Mall of America, the largest B2C destination in the U.S., with more than 40 million visits a year.  He was also a co-founder, co-developer and partner in World Market Center (WMC), launched in Las Vegas in 2005. At more 5.5 million square feet of B2B showrooms for the home furnishings, home décor, and gift industries, it is the largest trade show venue in Las Vegas.  He is also a co-founder and partner in International Market Centers (IMC), which in 2011 along with Oaktree Capital and Bain Capital, acquired WMC and the key showroom properties in High Point, NC. At a combined 12 million square feet, it is the largest trade show platform in the U.S. for the home furnishings industry. In 2017, the partnership successfully sold IMC to Blackstone Capital.