Company News

Element Event Solutions introduces nine new design themes

April 1, 2026

Element Event Solutions, a Canadian provider of rentals, tents and event services, launches its newest collection, the company’s boldest and most extensive product release in its more than 115 years in business. Featuring more than 200 new pieces, the collection introduces nine thoughtfully designed themes that bring together furniture, linens, tabletop elements, decor, and drapery, …

News

Tent Expo 2026

April 1, 2026

Between the golf tournament, Soapbox Derby, hands-on training and certification courses, and several acres of tents, exhibit booths and rental equipment to visit, attendees at this year’s Tent Expo were doing anything but “wasting away” at the Margaritaville Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.  “ATA Tent Expo continues to show just how strong and connected our industry …

Business

Company profile: Made in the Shade Tent Rental

April 1, 2026

Whether it’s a huge concert, street festival, corporate gala or other large event where a sea of tents suddenly materializes to house the festivities, Made in the Shade Tent Rentals (MITS), based in West Sacramento, Calif., specializes in this kind of practical magic. “A lot of engineering and planning goes into these temporary structures,” says …

Business

Firing family

April 1, 2026

“I can’t fire them—they’re family” can be a dangerous phrase in a family business. This deep-seated loyalty can create complications in the business if loyalty over performance is prioritized. Among the many excuses for not parting ways with family are: “It’s not a good time”; “This will end my relationship with them”; or “It will cause …

Business

Busy doesn’t always mean profitable

April 1, 2026

Every spring, it starts the same way for tent and event rental companies across the country. The phone rings nonstop, inquiry forms flood inboxes, and weekend calendars fill faster than crews can load trucks. From backyard ceremonies to vineyard receptions and large-scale event installations, wedding season arrives in a wave of demand that feels both …

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

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

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 …

Industry News

New Mexico approves PFAS labeling requirement for consumer products

March 30, 2026

On March 23, New Mexico’s Environmental Improvement Board approved rules requiring manufacturers to label consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS. The board also approved a state law, which phases out and prohibits the sale of certain products containing PFAS. The labeling requirement strengthens the state’s PFAS Protection Act, which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed in …

Company News

Point of Rental Software acquires The Owl

March 20, 2026

Point of Rental Software, Fort Worth, Texas, has acquired The Owl, a rental data insights platform founded by Anthony Durante and John Feliciano. The company said the move represents a strategic investment in deep rental industry knowledge and leadership. Durante — co-founder and former CEO of Durante Rentals in New Rochelle, N.Y., and a contributor …

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 …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: How to outsell your competition

November 3, 2021

During the education session “Outselling Your Competition: Four Activities Your Sales Team Must Be Doing Post-COVID” at IFAI Expo 2021 in Nashville, Tenn., James Auerbach, vice president—event segment for the American Rental Association, shared four measurable and respectable pillars that all salespeople must excel at in order to outsell their competition. Referred to as the …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: Shade sail engineering software

November 2, 2021

On Nov. 2, 2021, at IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn., Timothy Akes, representative for the Americas, MPanel Software Solutions, and Andrew Askwith, senior software developer, MPanel Software Solutions, presented the education session “Shade Sail Engineering—It’s Not Just a Bunch of Numbers.” According to Akes, there is a tendency for shade sail engineering to be relegated …

ATA News

Messe Stuttgart’s Sun Shading Expo North America moves co-location debut with IFAI Expo to 2022

July 6, 2021

Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …

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

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

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 …

Features Members only content

Decoded: Code changes impacting the industry

December 2, 2025

Tent professionals thrive when they pair code knowledge with professional relationships.” This piece of wisdom is from Ethan Pretsch, president of WatchDog Robotics in Jackson, Wyo. In this article, Pretsch and other leaders in the tent industry discuss ways to stay on top of code changes and offer insights into obtaining permits and navigating requirements …

Features Members only content

Social media do’s and don’ts

December 2, 2025

A social media presence has become ubiquitous for nearly every type of business. And while that constant presence may be beneficial, social media interaction can become stale, routine and consequently less effective. For a company that has been engaged with social media for multiple years, it may be time to take a fresh look at …

Features Members only content

Raising the bar on safe tent installations

October 1, 2025

Wrangling tents can be a dangerous occupation—a reality that for tent and event rental operators presents a real vulnerability in terms of safeguarding workers and profits. Consequently, skillfully executed tent anchoring plays an integral role in achieving these important objectives. Risky business Consider the potential consequences of inexpert anchoring. For example, an improperly anchored tent …

Features Members only content

Power up: rightsizing generators

October 1, 2025

From selecting the appropriate generator size and evaluating its environmental impact to ensuring safe installation, providing the electricity needed for lighting, sound, entertainment and culinary needs at outdoor events requires an in-depth understanding of the nuances involved. Size matters When most people think about power, they may assume “more is better.” After all, what could …

Features

2025 Premier Product Showcase

October 1, 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 …

Features Members only content

Luxury linens

August 1, 2025

In an era inundated with online inspiration, event planners and their clients are continually seeking new ways to stand out while staying on trend—and they’re increasingly turning to customized linens. When every detail makes a difference, a personalized tablecloth pattern or strategically positioned emblem on a napkin or seat cover can help elevate the entire …

Company News

Element Event Solutions introduces nine new design themes

April 1, 2026

Element Event Solutions, a Canadian provider of rentals, tents and event services, launches its newest collection, the company’s boldest and most extensive product release in its more than 115 years in business. Featuring more than 200 new pieces, the collection introduces nine thoughtfully designed themes that bring together furniture, linens, tabletop elements, decor, and drapery, …

News

Tent Expo 2026

April 1, 2026

Between the golf tournament, Soapbox Derby, hands-on training and certification courses, and several acres of tents, exhibit booths and rental equipment to visit, attendees at this year’s Tent Expo were doing anything but “wasting away” at the Margaritaville Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.  “ATA Tent Expo continues to show just how strong and connected our industry …

Industry News

New Mexico approves PFAS labeling requirement for consumer products

March 30, 2026

On March 23, New Mexico’s Environmental Improvement Board approved rules requiring manufacturers to label consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS. The board also approved a state law, which phases out and prohibits the sale of certain products containing PFAS. The labeling requirement strengthens the state’s PFAS Protection Act, which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed in …

Company News

Point of Rental Software acquires The Owl

March 20, 2026

Point of Rental Software, Fort Worth, Texas, has acquired The Owl, a rental data insights platform founded by Anthony Durante and John Feliciano. The company said the move represents a strategic investment in deep rental industry knowledge and leadership. Durante — co-founder and former CEO of Durante Rentals in New Rochelle, N.Y., and a contributor …

Company News

Quest Events launches strategic organizational realignment

March 20, 2026

Quest Events, Frisco, Texas, a national event rental company, announced a strategic organizational realignment. The company said it’s designed to sharpen market focus and strengthen the long-term growth of its rental and scenic brands within the live events industry. Following the acquisitions of EventWorks and Marquee Event Rentals, along with the integration of Drape Kings, …

Industry News

Captivate Event Rentals acquires Valley Event Lighting

March 20, 2026

Captivate Event Rentals, Tempe, Ariz., has acquired Valley Event Lighting (VEL), a Phoenix-based event lighting provider. VEL provides services such as bistro lighting, uplighting, stage lighting and custom projections. The company’s capabilities will be combined with Captivate Event Rentals’ existing inventory of event furnishings, décor, flooring and staging. “This acquisition allows us to elevate what we offer …

Industry News

USTR launches Section 301 investigations, U.S. and Mexico begin USMCA joint review

March 16, 2026

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer announced on March 11 the launch of investigations into Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974. Additionally, Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard announced the first round of discussions in preparation for the joint review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Section 301 investigations The investigations will …

Industry News

24 states file case challenging tariffs imposed by President Trump

March 9, 2026

Twenty-four states filed a case in the U.S. Court of International Trade against U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and others on March 5, 2026. The lawsuit challenges President Trump’s imposition of global tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The states argue …

Industry News

Judge issues tariff refund order, U.S. CBP says it needs 45 days

March 9, 2026

On March 4, Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton ruled that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must refund money collected in reciprocal tariffs imposed last year by U.S. President Donald Trump. The judge ruled that U.S. CBP must immediately liquidate all unliquidated entries without International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs and must …

Company News

Lyle Shipley joins Herculite as Director of Innovation

March 3, 2026

Herculite Products announces that Lyle Shipley is joining Herculite as the new Director of Innovation. In this role, Shipley will focus on advancing Herculite’s innovation strategy, developing new products and solutions, and supporting growth across the organization. With over 25 years of experience in the plastics industry, Shipley has a strong background in film formulation, …

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: 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 …

Industry News

CORT Events reveals top event design trends of 2025

February 3, 2025

CORT Events, Chantilly, Va., a furniture rental company for the exhibition and events industry, has announced its top design trends for 2025. “Modern event design is more than just aesthetics. It’s about creating an environment that achieves objectives that resonate with attendees. Every piece of furniture, every detail and every color plays a role in …

Showcase

Project Showcase: Tenting on ice

December 1, 2024

When a Toronto, Ontario-based marketing firm contacted Fiesta Tents Ltd., out of Montreal, Que., Canada, with a request to install a clearspan tent in February on a frozen lake north of Montreal, it sparked the team’s interest. Each year in the winter, Automobili Lamborghini Canada hosts a multiday on-ice driving program—Esperienza Neve—where preeminent customers across …