It’s been a couple of weeks since I returned from this year’s LUXURY and JCK shows in Las Vegas, but my head is still spinning with thoughts of what an amazing week it was.

Many congratulations to Reed Exhibitions’ Yancy Weinrich and her team, including LUXURY event director Sarin Bachmann and Katie Dominesey, industry vice president for JCK Las Vegas. Yancy recently assembled the team, but you’d never know it from the smooth and successful way they executed this year’s show.

As you probably noticed, the entire show floor was rearranged and ­redesigned to be smarter, cleaner, more elegant, and easier to navigate. The camel and tan color scheme and the newly named pavilions achieved just that. While many of our exhibitors had expressed concerns about the changes, all seemed delighted by the improvements.

My week was a typical eight-day, nonstop extravaganza of meetings, meals, cocktails, and events, plus all the wonderful impromptu moments of conversation and friendship that happen at a show like this.

High points included the second annual Diamonds in the Sky gala, ­celebrating and supporting the Diamond Empowerment Fund. Congrats to DEF executive director Nancy Orem Lyman—as well as Phyllis Bergman, the indefatigable president of the organization’s governing board—on another great edition!

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky joined me, outgoing group sales director Bill Furman, and Katie Dominesey at the LUXURY pool party.

Friday’s highlight (indeed a highlight of the week) was attending this year’s Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association’s annual gala, where our very own Yancy Weinrich was honored with the Doyenne of the Year Award. Yancy and I “office” together, and I can assure you there’s no one who cares more about this industry and pours more blood, sweat, tears, and passion into her job.

On Saturday, we held our annual “family dinner.” That’s when nearly the entire group of people who bring you JCK magazine, JCKonline, our supplemental publications, and all the show publications gather for an evening of cocktails, food, laughter, and celebration. I was delighted that my newest supervisor, McMurry/TMG’s Keith Sedlak, was able to join us this year. No other moment on the calendar better illustrates the friendships and support that distinguish this great team.

Sunday’s highlights were, as always, the Le Vian Red Carpet Revue fashion show, the annual Jewelers for Children dinner, and the JCK Rocks the Beach event later that evening. Kudos to Eddie LeVian, JFC executive director David Rocha, and the JCK team for these successful editions. Winding up the evening in bare feet in the sand, surrounded by hundreds of friends and listening to Gavin DeGraw, was just what the doctor ordered!

Congratulations again to everyone—from the attendees who traveled far to shop the aisles, to the exhibitors who arrived days in advance to build their booths, to the industry organizations and associations who threw events, to the educators who filled the sessions at JCK Talks—on a great week!