NBAA has changed the name for its largest annual U.S. event from “Annual Meeting & Convention” to “Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition” (BACE), the association announced yesterday. The new name for NBAA’s flagship event brings it into alignment with the other dedicated, business-aviation-only shows that the group co-hosts around the world, including EBACE in Europe and ABACE in Asia.

“NBAA’s largest U.S. show has up to this point been referred to as an ‘annual meeting,’ but in recent decades it has grown in size and importance to be much more than just a meeting, and this change reflects that reality,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “The change also strengthens the overall brand for NBAA’s shows, underscoring their status as world-class events produced by the association. At the same time, the new name retains the term ‘convention,’ which is familiar to everyone in the industry.”

The event that would evolve into NBAA’s modern U.S. convention was first held in September 1947. Since then, it has grown into an event that ranks fifth in size for all U.S. trade shows, according to Trade Show Executive magazine. The event now draws approximately 25,000 attendees–about a quarter of them from outside the U.S.–and more than 1,000 exhibitors each year. It also features aircraft static displays. The 66th NBAA Convention will be held October 22 to 24 in Las Vegas.