The July–August issue in your hands is annually themed “Best in Show.” Best is really the operative term this year, as 2013’s JCK Las Vegas was truly the best show in collective memory! 

After years of “cautious optimism,” this year’s show seemed to suggest that the economy has finally turned the corner. While not everyone had their best show in years, there were plenty of exhibitors who did, and the overall excitement was palpable. When the lights dimmed at 4 p.m. on the last day of the show, the floor broke out in applause—a first in my nine years with JCK! Here’s hoping the momentum sticks and we all have an amazing second half of 2013.

As always, the week was a blur of meetings, lunches, cocktail parties, ­dinners, and spectacular events, not to mention the hundreds of casual encounters with friends from around the world. I never tire of the warmth and friendliness that defines this business. How exciting to literally bump into a buddy from Jaipur one moment and a dear friend from Tel Aviv the next.

Beverly Poppe
Adam Levine rocks Mandalay Bay.

Highlights this year were the terrific LUXURY dinner Wednesday night, the Rio Tinto cocktail soiree Thursday evening, the “family” dinner held later that night by my employer, McMURRY/TMG, and the GN Diamonds dinner Friday evening. On Saturday, I was once again graciously invited to the Plumb Club’s annual event, which this year included admission to the new Michael Jackson ONE show by Cirque du Soleil. All of it was incredible.

Sunday evening’s festivities began with the yearly Le Vian Red Carpet Revue, hosted this year by Bill and Giuliana Rancic. Next was the annual ­Jewelers for Children dinner and, finally, JCK Rocks the Beach starring Maroon 5! It was one of the most exciting evenings of my career. Everyone there was on a high from the successful show, the beach was packed, and the energy was electric. It was truly a “wow” moment and one I was so happy to share with hundreds of friends. Congrats to JCK’s group vice president Yancy Weinrich and her entire staff on putting together such a smashing success of a night and show!

Senior editor Jennifer Heebner (left), Victoria Gomelsky, and I share a laugh at the JCK beach party.

If you’d like to see for yourself, check out our video program, JCK TV Las Vegas (hosted by editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and yours truly), at ­­jckonline.
com/videos/jcklasvegas. Vic and I—along with our new production team and JCK editorial talent—had a blast making the series this year. Special thanks to the team at Mandalay Bay for making this year’s production effortless!

Next up are the LUXURY Privé New York show at the end of July, the WJA Annual Awards for Excellence, and the AGS Circle of Distinction events that same week, followed by LUXURY Privé Panama in August! Never a dull moment. See you there!