Let's Chat With Interbike Chief Pat Hus

Interview with Interbike chief Pat Hus.

On the Viva Bike Vegas ride: Hus said Interbike could not promote Saturday's Viva ride because the ride -- now put on by the Perimeter Bicycling Association of America instead of the RTC -- chose a Caesars property (The Linq) for ride bicyclists to pick up their packets when Interbike is using an MGM Resorts International property (Mandalay Bay) for the trade show. Caesars and MGM are fierce Strip competitors.

It's too bad that the Viva Bike Vegas ride event and Interbike could not get on the same page because the Viva ride would bring lots of recreational cyclists to Vegas because Interbike now is holding a consumer day on Friday (the day before the Viva ride) when anyone can pay $20 to enter the B2B trade show. As it is, the Viva ride will probably have only 500 bicyclists, compared to about 1,800 participants when RTC ran it last year and about 2,300 in 2012.

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On Friday -- Consumer Day: Hus supports the concept of letting people off the street into the show for $20 because he believes it's a good idea to let the bicycle consumers see what the bicycle industry is all about, while allowing bicycle and components makers the chance to get feedback from their customers. He also said Friday is usually a slow day anyway and that some exhibitors already let non-industry people into the show by giving them badges to enter.  Hus said there are 900 pre-registered consumers and his goal is for 2,000 on Friday though he mentioned 1,500 might be more realistic. He said SRAM is adamant about having consumers.

Some exhibitors don't like that consumers and non-industry people will be taking up time at booths on Friday because they want to use as much of their time to conduct business and take orders. Also, exhibitors are not allowed to sell anything to consumers.

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On the new Interbike industry awards dinner Thursday night: Hus likes the inaugural awards dinner because he believes it will keep company executives in town longer.

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On the move from the Sands convention hall at the Venetian to the Mandalay Bay convention center on the south end of the Strip: Hus said exhibitors have told him that the service is better at Mandalay Bay than at Sands and that moving bicycle items is easier at Mandalay Bay than Sands.

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On the red carpet inside the exhibitor hall: Hus said the red carpet sections of the trade show floor leads to the lobby.

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On the Mandalay Bay convention center deal: Interbike is committed to Mandalay Bay until 2016.

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On the numbers: About 1,400 brands and 25,000 attendees during the three days.