By MARTY LEVINE
Pitt’s annual Supplier Showcase and Travel Fair will offer the chance to meet suppliers of promotional products, event production and venues, as well as travel and management advisory services, sample the wares (including food for event catering) and ask questions directly of the vendors. Register here to attend from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday Oct. 8, in the William Pitt Union’s Ballroom, Kurtzman and Assembly rooms.
Four new caterers — Elegant Edge Catering, Flavor of Puerto Rico, Sausalido and Uncle Rick's Smokehouse — will be on hand, as will two new Signature Venues (those with which Pitt has already negotiated certain terms): the Heinz History Center and Phipps Conservatory. New travel suppliers in attendance will be Drury Inn & Suites Pittsburgh Airport Settlers Ridge, Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport, The Oaklander, Pittsburgh International Airport and Uber’s ground transportation services.
Nine new promotional products suppliers will be there to show off examples of their branded apparel, infant and toddler products, hats, gifts and office and home goods: 4imprint, A.G. Trimble, Brucelli Advertising, BSN Sports, CPI Creative, Fresh Prints, Geneologie, Mercury Promotions, Underground Printing. Deloitte will be participating for the first time to offer its management advisory services as well.
“We want to ensure that people become familiar with the new promotional products suppliers, many of which are local and small suppliers participating through new University-wide contracts,” says Tom Youngs, director of Purchasing Services in the Purchase, Pay and Travel (PPT) office. Youngs says his office is preparing a storefront in the PantherExpress System for these suppliers.
“We’d encourage attendees to sample the free food from our returning and new America To Go caterers, many of which are local and small businesses,” he adds. America To Go's new company representative will be there as well to answer questions about their catering options.
Also, reps from Pitt’s Purchasing Services and Payment Processing offices will be there to talk to Pitt staffers about their needs and to promote PAT-E – a new virtual helper on the PPT website to assist travelers with common purchasing and travel questions. Staffers from Conference & Event Services, the Health Hub, Mailing & Printing Services, Pitt Global and Pitt Sustainability will also be on hand.
Overall, 65 suppliers are registered for the 2026 fair, up from 59 in 2025.
“We hope that people walk away from the event having developed strong business relationships,” said Youngs, “feeling informed of options for their upcoming purchasing and travel needs, and having some fun along the way.”
Marty Levine is a staff writer for the University Times. Reach him at martyl@pitt.edu or 412-758-4859.
Have a story idea or news to share? Share it with the University Times.
Follow the University Times on Facebook.