Justify my trip

Demonstrate How Attending PACK EXPO International 2026 Benefits Your Company

Attending PACK EXPO International makes good business sense as an investment in your company’s future. For starters:

It saves time. With 2,600 exhibitors in one place, you can evaluate cutting-edge solutions from the entire industry in a few days, in one trip.
It’s cost efficient—far less expensive than making multiple site visits to see machinery in action.
You can see machinery running live and compare options side by side before making important decisions.
You’ll meet suppliers, experts and peers who can help uncover blind spots and solve operational challenges.
For leaders, the event broadens your perspective on emerging technologies, operational trends and cross-industry innovation.

Use the resources below to explain how attending will deliver a strong return on investment.

reasons to attend

Solutions sourcing, meeting with vendors, networking and professional development are all great reasons to attend the show. Choose the most compelling reason to attend for your business goals and expand on that. Highlights of the experience include:

Exploring 2,600 suppliers in one place—for extraordinary perspective on the industry

Evaluating equipment in action and seeing materials in person

Discovering innovative crossover solutions from 40+ vertical industries

Gaining expert insight and actionable takeaways from 150+ education sessions

The One-Minute Case for Attending

Discover why your company can’t afford to miss this comprehensive industry event.

Calculating Your trip Costs

When calculating costs, take note of savings opportunities such as the early-bird registration discount, exclusive hotel rates, negotiated airline discounts, and free shuttle buses and Metra passes to and from McCormick Place. Create a comprehensive breakdown of anticipated costs and compare these to the exhorbitant expense of otherwise making individual visits to suppliers.

Costs to consider:

Priority Registration Fee: $30 (After September 25: $130)
Roundtrip Airfare/Train Fare/Mileage
Hotel (Check discount rates from our official vendor)
Transportation in Chicago (Shuttles and Metra to/from McCormick Place are free)
Estimated Per Diem for Meals

Crowded industrial trade show with people walking among booths and machinery displays.

“Anybody in the packaging field or manufacturing should come yearly just to see what’s out there. You just don’t know. It’s a good way to see so much at one time.”

Angela Whitehead

“You might need something in the future that you didn’t think you needed, but because you met them at PACK EXPO … you have that relationship to start figuring out what solution you’re going to work towards.”

Cameron Cumming

“I was amazed at how beneficial it was to attend PACK EXPO. It brought a lot of ideas on how improvements can be made for day-to-day operations in our manufacturing process. It exceeded my expectations.”

Tara Donaho

“You might need something in the future that you didn’t think you needed, but because you met them at PACK EXPO … you have that relationship to start figuring out what solution you’re going to work towards.”

Cameron Cumming

Tara Donaho

“We’re always looking for the latest and greatest technology to improve efficiencies on the line—quality, cost reduction. So each time PACK EXPO is up here, we always try to make our way to find those latest technologies.”

Justin Dabbelt

“I was amazed at how beneficial it was to attend PACK EXPO. It brought a lot of ideas on how improvements can be made for day-to-day operations in our manufacturing process. It exceeded my expectations.”

Tara Donaho

Justin Dabbelt

“Anybody in the packaging field or manufacturing should come yearly just to see what’s out there. You just don’t know. It’s a good way to see so much at one time.”

Angela Whitehead

Justin Dabbelt

“Anybody in the packaging field or manufacturing should come yearly just to see what’s out there. You just don’t know. It’s a good way to see so much at one time.”

Angela Whitehead

Cameron Cumming

See More From Past Attendees

- Cameron Cumming, Procter & Gamble

“Anybody in the packaging field or manufacturing should come yearly just to see what’s out there. You just don’t know. It’s a good way to see so much at one time.”

- Angela Whitehead, Snackcraft LLC

- Tara Donaho, Mr. Bird

“We’re always looking for the latest and greatest technology to improve efficiencies on the line—quality, cost reduction. So each time PACK EXPO is up here, we always try to make our way to find those latest technologies.”

- Justin Dabbelt, Red Gold Inc.

See More From Past Attendees

Justify my trip

Demonstrate How Attending PACK EXPO International 2026 Benefits Your Company

reasons to attend

The One-Minute Case for Attending

Planning Your Experience

Calculating Your trip Costs

Costs to consider:

OTHER PACK EXPO SHOWS