Industry News

Registration open for ATA webinar: Woven Narrow Fabrics | Kevlar EXO Development

August 3, 2026

Registration is open for the Woven Narrow Fabrics: Kevlar® EXO™ Development webinar Aug. 12, 1–2 p.m. EDT. Hosted by Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), attendance is free to ATA members and $39 for nonmembers. The webinar will highlight the development process of DuPont’s Kevlar EXO fiber, its properties and how it can benefit the U.S. textile …

Features

2026 Premier Product Showcase

August 1, 2026

Customization, fast installation, easy handling and style—these are the qualities that tent and event rental companies demand. For the annual InTents Premier Product Showcase, we asked our contributors to send us information about their latest products and services that help companies save time and labor, perform safer installations, and turn a profit.  This issue includes …

News

Safe Tenting Professional Certification Workshop in Georgia

August 1, 2026

The Tent Rental Division (TRD) of Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) is offering the Safe Tenting Professional (STP) Certification Program Aug. 26–27, at Classic Tents & Events in Norcross, Ga. This program will bring together all three essential in-person certification courses at a single location. The new workshop format is designed to provide greater flexibility and …

News

Industry leaders examine evacuation planning and liability

August 1, 2026

Recent events in the tent and event industry have renewed focus on one of the most important aspects of event safety: emergency preparedness. As industry professionals continue to evaluate best practices for protecting guests, staff and vendors, attention has increasingly turned toward evacuation planning, risk mitigation and liability management. While every event presents unique challenges, …

Covered conversations

Fall protection & PPE

August 1, 2026

When building a tent structure, use of tools like ladders, platforms or boom lifts are necessary. From a tent as small as a 10-by-10-foot up to a 50-meter-wide structure, the way we use these tools must be carefully thought out to ensure that no one gets hurt or drops anything on a person below.  In …

Projects

Project showcase: Woodland wonderland

August 1, 2026

When the host of a weeklong conference for event planners decided on its theme—a “crystal palace” deep within the forest of a luxury resort—the planners knew they wanted the highest-quality tent equipment and event planning services available. Nemacolin resort in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands opted for Stamford, Conn.-based Stamford Tent & Event Services to bring its …

Features

Protection above & below

August 1, 2026

With approximately 100 installers on its field operations team working at heights varying from 10 to 50 feet, Memphis, Tenn.-based Sunbelt Rentals® Temporary Structures has a lot of employees at risk of falling. And given that the company averages 50 installs per month, with the most commonly deployed structure putting workers 25–50 feet off the …

Features

Wrangling the warehouse chaos

August 1, 2026

From profitability to customer satisfaction, warehouse management affects every part of an event rental business. Companies doing it well continually fine-tune their processes for inventory oversight, equipment tracking and overall organization to keep chaos under control and create a strong foundation for growth. Accurate inventory is essential to maintaining efficient workflows, but managing the many …

Business

More than “just a business”

August 1, 2026

How many times have we said this as business owners? “I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but…it’s personal.” We are taught to keep a hard line between personal and business. I could lie to you and say that it’s easier to separate the two if you aren’t the owner of a company, but that’s …

Business

A succession solution

August 1, 2026

What happens to an owner’s company when they retire and no successor is available to take the reins? The answer might be all around them—on the shop floor, among the sales staff or within human resources, finance and legal departments. Through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), business owners can turn over their companies to …

ATA News

Discounted registration rates available for Advanced Textiles Expo 2026

July 10, 2026

Through Sept. 3, get early bird registration rates for Advanced Textiles Expo®, Nov. 3–5 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., and the Emerging Technologies (ET) Conference Nov. 2. Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) members get in for $69, nonmembers $169. For the ET Conference, early bird rates are $525 for members and $725 …

ATA News

Judge applications open for 2026 International Achievement Awards

May 14, 2026

Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) is now accepting applications for judges for the 2026 International Achievement Awards (IAAs). The IAAs are an annual competition that celebrates the best projects in the specialty fabrics industry, showcasing ATA members’ technical skills and accomplishments. Judges will have the chance to recognize excellence in textiles and influence the future of …

ATA News

Registration opens for Advanced Textiles Expo

May 13, 2026

Registration is open for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2026. The show returns Nov. 3–5, 2026, in Orlando, Fla., at the Orange County Convention Center (West Building). Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) expects 4,000+ attendees and 300+ exhibitors. Exhibit booths are still open as well. Expo programming Attendees can look forward to show floor education with hands-on learning, …

Expo News

Innovation, insights at Advanced Textiles Expo and Emerging Technologies Conference 2025

August 30, 2025

The textile industry is evolving fast, and Advanced Textiles Expo® in Indianapolis, IN on November 5–7 is the place to be. This year’s event brings together industry experts covering sustainability, technology, business strategy and regulatory updates. Before the expo, Emerging Technologies Conference kicks off on Nov. 4 at the Indiana Convention Center. This one-day conference …

ATA News

Registration now open for Advanced Textiles Expo 2025

May 1, 2025

Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) is excited to announce that registration is now open for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2025, taking place November 5–7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. As the industry’s leading trade show for specialty fabrics, advanced textiles, and shade and weather protection, the Expo draws thousands of professionals for three days …

Expo News

Plan your stay: Official housing for Advanced Textiles Expo 2025 now open

March 11, 2025

We are pleased to announce that Site & Stay has been selected as the official housing partner for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2025, taking place Nov. 5–7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. Hotel booking is now open, offering attendees and exhibitors exclusive access to discounted rates at our official host hotels—all conveniently located …

Expo News

Advanced Textiles Expo 2024 brings more than 4,200 attendees, showcasing innovation and collaboration

October 17, 2024

Advanced Textiles Expo® 2024, the largest event of Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA), concluded with resounding success Sept. 24–26 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Once again held in conjunction with Sun Shading Expo North America—organized by Messe Stuttgart, founders of R + T and the world’s largest trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun shading …

Expo News

ATA negotiates lower rates for exhibitors at Advanced Textiles Expo

August 14, 2024

The Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) has renegotiated its General Services Contractor contract for the 2025–2027 Advanced Textiles Expo® shows. By selecting Freeman through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, we have secured rates that significantly lower the cost burden on our exhibitors. RFP process Key achievements This successful negotiation translates directly to cost savings for …

Expo News

IFAI Expo 2022 call for presentations

December 20, 2021

The Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting proposals for presentations at IFAI Expo 2022. IFAI Expo will take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., with education Oct. 11-14. IFAI is accepting proposals for 50-minute classroom sessions in several categories: Advanced Textiles Shade & Weather Protection Specialty Fabrics Marine …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: Leveraging rental tents during and after the pandemic

November 4, 2021

Jim Reyen, business director at Johnson Outdoors Inc./Eureka! Big Tents Division, presented the campfire session “Leveraging Rental Tents During and After the COVID Pandemic” at IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn. During the session, Reyen explained the changing demands for tents throughout various stages of the pandemic. “The first wave of tent demand ran from March …

Features

2026 Premier Product Showcase

August 1, 2026

Customization, fast installation, easy handling and style—these are the qualities that tent and event rental companies demand. For the annual InTents Premier Product Showcase, we asked our contributors to send us information about their latest products and services that help companies save time and labor, perform safer installations, and turn a profit.  This issue includes …

Features

Protection above & below

August 1, 2026

With approximately 100 installers on its field operations team working at heights varying from 10 to 50 feet, Memphis, Tenn.-based Sunbelt Rentals® Temporary Structures has a lot of employees at risk of falling. And given that the company averages 50 installs per month, with the most commonly deployed structure putting workers 25–50 feet off the …

Features

Wrangling the warehouse chaos

August 1, 2026

From profitability to customer satisfaction, warehouse management affects every part of an event rental business. Companies doing it well continually fine-tune their processes for inventory oversight, equipment tracking and overall organization to keep chaos under control and create a strong foundation for growth. Accurate inventory is essential to maintaining efficient workflows, but managing the many …

Features Members only content

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst

June 1, 2026

Despite his company’s decades in the industry and his employees’ collective tenting experience, Ed Knight, president of EventQuip, Montgomeryville, Pa., leaves nothing to chance when it comes to installs. Rather than assuming everything will proceed smoothly, Knight and his team focus on all that could go sideways. The process kicks off with the client meeting, …

Features Members only content

Successful site visits

June 1, 2026

A recent project at a local university seemed straightforward to Steve Campbell, general manager at L&A Tent & Event Rentals in Hamilton, N.J. The client had requested the team’s most cost-effective option: a white pole tent anchored by stakes. Installation was underway, with roughly one-third of the stakes driven and the tent laid out, when …

Features Members only content

How to create a grand tentrance

June 1, 2026

In the world of real estate, the mantra of “curb appeal” is paramount as it tends to set the tone for what’s to come inside the home. In the world of event tents, the entryway or formal “tentrance” of a tent is a similar concept—giving attendees the first and most lasting impression of an event’s …

Features

Doing dishes

April 1, 2026

As event clients increasingly seek streamlined services under a single provider, dishware and tabletop rentals have evolved from nice-to-have offerings into a strategic extension of the rental business. For Darren Randle, chief operating officer at Houston Tents & Events, adding dishware and tableware rentals started the same way most tent expansions do—with client demand. In …

Features Members only content

Dramatic draping

April 1, 2026

Statement-making draping is reshaping expectations for tented events. As event planners use this technique more intentionally to define celebratory spaces, the bar for both design and execution is rising. When done well, dramatic draping appears effortless, making it all the more captivating to clients. But every sculpted swoop requires a series of deliberate fabric and …

Features Members only content

Tripping the light fantastic

April 1, 2026

For many people, possibly even most, a wedding without dancing is almost as unthinkable as one without an open bar or a multitiered cake. In fact, the desire to get down and get funky is so ubiquitous as to make dance flooring an essential decor element. And it’s not just at weddings; almost any event—be …

Features

2025 Premier Product Showcase, part 2

December 2, 2025

Customization, fast installation, easy handling and style—these are the qualities that tent and event rental companies demand. For the annual InTents Premier Product Showcase, we asked our contributors to send us information about their latest products and services that help companies save time and labor, perform safer installations and turn a profit.  This issue includes …

Industry News

Registration open for ATA webinar: Woven Narrow Fabrics | Kevlar EXO Development

August 3, 2026

Registration is open for the Woven Narrow Fabrics: Kevlar® EXO™ Development webinar Aug. 12, 1–2 p.m. EDT. Hosted by Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), attendance is free to ATA members and $39 for nonmembers. The webinar will highlight the development process of DuPont’s Kevlar EXO fiber, its properties and how it can benefit the U.S. textile …

News

Safe Tenting Professional Certification Workshop in Georgia

August 1, 2026

The Tent Rental Division (TRD) of Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) is offering the Safe Tenting Professional (STP) Certification Program Aug. 26–27, at Classic Tents & Events in Norcross, Ga. This program will bring together all three essential in-person certification courses at a single location. The new workshop format is designed to provide greater flexibility and …

News

Industry leaders examine evacuation planning and liability

August 1, 2026

Recent events in the tent and event industry have renewed focus on one of the most important aspects of event safety: emergency preparedness. As industry professionals continue to evaluate best practices for protecting guests, staff and vendors, attention has increasingly turned toward evacuation planning, risk mitigation and liability management. While every event presents unique challenges, …

Covered conversations

Fall protection & PPE

August 1, 2026

When building a tent structure, use of tools like ladders, platforms or boom lifts are necessary. From a tent as small as a 10-by-10-foot up to a 50-meter-wide structure, the way we use these tools must be carefully thought out to ensure that no one gets hurt or drops anything on a person below.  In …

Industry News

Houston Tents & Events acquires Jaacked Event Rentals

July 30, 2026

Houston Tents & Events announced the acquisition of Jaacked Event Rentals, expanding the company’s operational footprint into West Texas and strengthening its ability to serve customers across the state. The acquisition establishes the newly formed Houston Tents & Events – West Texas Division. Jaacked Event Rentals owners Jomar Alcala and Priscilla De Luna Alcala have …

ATA News

ATA Japan hosts Annual Meeting, elects new leadership

July 29, 2026

ATA Japan, a member group of Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), held its Annual Meeting July 22. The meeting also included a forum and networking reception. At the meeting, members approved activity and financial reports, elected new leadership, approved amendments to ATA Japan bylaws, and approved the business plan and budget for the coming fiscal year. …

Industry News

In memoriam: John Newberry

July 23, 2026

John Albert Newberry, 90, Quincy, Mich., died April 15, 2026. He was the owner of Canopys R Us in Quincy, which his sons continue to operate. Newberry is survived by his children, Kevin (Sandra) Newberry, Karol Booher, Kendall “Ken” (Lora Snider) Newberry and Kelli (David Siler) Wheatley; life partner, Rhonda Fargo; brother, Leo Newberry; grandchildren, Kimberly, Eric, Jason, …

Company News

Curated Events acquires Montana Party Rentals

July 23, 2026

Curated Events, Charleston, S.C., a national luxury event rental and production company, has acquired Montana Party Rentals, a Bozeman, Mont.-based specialty rental company. Founded in 1996 by Jill Redmon, her brother, Troy Redmon, and their friend, Scott Schwartz, Montana Party Rentals began as a home-based rental business. The company has grown to become an event …

ATA News

ATA accepting independent nominations for board of directors positions

July 15, 2026

Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) announced that the association’s leadership development committee has recommended the appointment of four individuals for board of directors positions beginning in November. There is, however, still an opportunity for additional candidates to be considered. Those interested can submit an independent nomination to ATA through Aug. 27. Independent nominations due Aug. 27 …

ATA News

Discounted registration rates available for Advanced Textiles Expo 2026

July 10, 2026

Through Sept. 3, get early bird registration rates for Advanced Textiles Expo®, Nov. 3–5 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., and the Emerging Technologies (ET) Conference Nov. 2. Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) members get in for $69, nonmembers $169. For the ET Conference, early bird rates are $525 for members and $725 …

Industry News

Join the National Safety Stand-Down May 6−10

May 1, 2019

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 366 of the 971 construction fatalities recorded in the U.S. in 2017 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data). The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country to stop fall fatalities and injuries. What …

On the Job

Codes set for adoption

December 1, 2016

Code revision process reaches final voting stage. A proposal to regulate outdoor events regardless of the presence of tents or special event structures was approved at the Public Comment Hearing of the International Code Committee (ICC) in October. This proposal (F310-16), submitted by the Fire Code Action Committee, had been disapproved at the code committee’s …

On the Job

Site survey equals site safety

December 1, 2016

A thorough site survey communicates event needs and flags potential safety issues. Ensuring the safety of tented event participants and the tent installation crew starts at the beginning of the job. Before a single rental item is loaded onto the truck, a site survey should be completed by a qualified professional with set-up experience. A …

On the Job

TopTec training goes on the road

December 1, 2016

TopTec Event Tents, Moore, S.C., is taking its long running tent installation and safety training program on the road in 2017. The first Tent School On The Road session will be held at Rent-E-Quip in Colonial Heights, Va., March 7–8. “Our goal was to make Tent School more accessible to our customers across the United …

On the Job

Tent inspections before events ensure safety

October 1, 2016

Inspections will help avoid disaster and add years to the life of a tent. The tent is up and the event is underway. But there may still be work to be done. Especially for installations that will be up for any length of time, inspection and maintenance are top priorities for keeping the tent as …

On the Job

IFAI’s Tent Rental Division works toward standard

October 1, 2016

IFAI’s Tent Rental Division looks to write an industry standard for tent anchorage. With final voting on tent-related code revisions for the 2018 Model Code set for late October, IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD) is looking ahead to writing an industry standard that could be taken up in the 2021 code cycle. “As the 2018 …

On the Job

Moving on up with multiple locations

August 1, 2016

Expanding to multiple locations offers numerous benefits, if the timing is right and both will and cash flow are strong. Delores Crum didn’t see that she had a choice. Sure, her party, tent and wedding rental store in south Austin, Texas, opened in 2000, was doing well. But up in north Austin, another rental company …

On the Job

OSHA fines increase

August 1, 2016

New law directs U.S. Department of Labor to “catch up” penalties to inflation. Fines assessed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) increased by 78 percent as of Aug. 1. OSHA’s top penalty for serious violations rises from $7,000 to $12,471, and its top penalty for willful or repeated violations rises from $70,000 to …

On the Job

Collaboration yields successful code revisions

August 1, 2016

F-CAC work group is a key factor in the code revision process for tents, membrane structures and outdoor assembly events. The International Code Council (ICC) Committee Action Hearings were held in Louisville, Ky., in April. During the International Fire Code (IFC) hearings, stakeholders representing IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD), the ICC Fire Code Action Committee …

On the Job

Ballasting for safety and safety when ballasting

June 1, 2016

Learning to ballast with concrete? Follow these steps to ensure safe and efficient jobsite practices. My crew has forgotten how to use a sledgehammer. Well, not really, but it could happen. In my local tent rental market, ballasting is common. So common that the top priority for my management team has been to figure out …

Projects

Project showcase: Woodland wonderland

August 1, 2026

When the host of a weeklong conference for event planners decided on its theme—a “crystal palace” deep within the forest of a luxury resort—the planners knew they wanted the highest-quality tent equipment and event planning services available. Nemacolin resort in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands opted for Stamford, Conn.-based Stamford Tent & Event Services to bring its …

Showcase

Inside job

June 1, 2026

When event insiders and best friends Dakotah Terrace, owner of full-service floral provider Jardiniere Events in Hilton Head, S.C., and Devin Van Bortel, owner of Amazing Event Rentals in Hardeeville, S.C., decided to wed, they knew they could use their expertise to make their wedding day exactly what they wanted it to be. They also …

Projects

Project Showcase: Big D Party Rentals’ tents withstand helicopter downwash

December 2, 2025

Tent and event companies are used to calculating wind ratings on engineered clearspan structures to ensure they can withstand possible storms. But when helicopters landing near the structure is going to cause wind shear, the installation must resist exceptionally heavy strain on its walls and roof panels. For the launch of Robinson Helicopter’s new R88 …

Installation Spotlight

A glowing jewel on the green

December 2, 2025

Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev., is located on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. This area sees all types of weather, from thunderstorms in summer to snowstorms as late as June. When hired to stage a wedding ceremony and reception there, Hensley Event Resources, based out of San Francisco, Calif., was tasked with …

Projects

Project Showcase: Tentickle Miami tents the Miami Concours

October 1, 2025

In the heart of the 2025 South Florida event season, the 8th annual Miami Concours took place over a February weekend at the iconic Jungle Plaza in Miami’s Design District, a stunning urban backdrop for the intersection of auto, art and fashion. The event that showcased a collection of hypercars and rare vintage supercars on …

Projects

Project Showcase: Tents for Rent

August 1, 2025

When Scranton Rent-All in Throop, Pa., was hired to make wedding dreams come true for a family living on the edge of a golf course in the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania, the company reached out to long-time partner Tents For Rent in Lititz, Pa., to help make it happen. “We have a long-standing relationship …

Installation Spotlight

Installation Spotlight: Circus Sarasota

August 1, 2025

Barnum and Bailey would marvel at Mexican-based architect Hector Mendoza Uribe’s forward-thinking 2023 redesign of the tent for Florida’s Circus Sarasota. Seeking a new design, structure and complete equipment overhaul, Mendoza Uribe worked with Carpas Y Lonas El Carrusel to create an eye-catching big top, completely redesigning and manufacturing the main tent, an entrance tent …

Showcase

Project Showcase: Arena Americas tents the U.S. Open

June 1, 2025

Steeped in tradition, North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort has hosted more golf championships than any other site in America—and providing structures to uphold that kind of history calls for nothing less than tenting excellence. As a provider of event rental solutions, Arena Americas, based in Oak Creek, Wis., specializes in tenting, flooring, seating and event management …

Projects

Project Showcase: Element Event Solutions

April 1, 2025

Each summer at Sobeys Stadium, Toronto, Canada, Tennis Canada hosts the National Bank Open presented by Rogers (formerly Rogers Cup)—a tournament that hosts the world’s best tennis players from the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tours. And for at least the past 20 years, the team at Element Event Solutions …

Installation Spotlight

Tenting a transformation

April 1, 2025

In the summer of 2024, Houston Tents & Events (HTE) joined the producers of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to film a special episode in the Houston, Texas, area. The episode, featuring HTE’s behind-the-scenes contributions, aired Jan. 30 on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu.  Known for transforming the lives of deserving families …