Las Vegas Shows Score Record Growth in First-half 2016

July 12, 2016

Las Vegas has a streak of good news with shows held in the first half of 2016 seeing major upticks in their numbers, with several reporting record growth.

Through May 2016, more than three million visitors traveled to Las Vegas to attend a meeting or convention. That’s a 12.1 percent, compared with the same time last year.  

CES 2016 broke its own record from last year with 2.47 million net sq. ft. showfloor, up from 2.2 million last year, taking over the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Expo & Convention Center and the Venetian, as well as the Wynn, Aria, Vdara and Cosmopolitan.

Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (formerly the Consumer Electronics Association), the world's largest technology show took place Jan. 6-9.

InfoComm International broke records for attendance, exhibitors and exhibit space in 2016. Nearly 39,000 people visited the Las Vegas Convention Center for the event.

More than 35 percent of attendees visited InfoComm for the first time while it was held in Las Vegas. The June show welcomed 1,000 exhibitors, including 211 new exhibitors, across more than 527,000 net square feet of exhibit and special event space.

Also this year, ISC West at the Sands Expo & Convention Center attracted the highest attendance and largest number and square feet of exhibits. Nearly 30,000 security industry professionals attended the event to interact with a record 1,072 exhibiting companies and brands.  

Several shows, including World of Concrete and RECon 2016, also reported the highest attendance in the post-recession era. 

The latest installment of the LVCVA’s LV360 video series highlights additional successes of Las Vegas shows in 2016.

Even with more than two decades under its belt as the No. 1 trade show destination as ranked on the TSNN Top 250 trade show list, Las Vegas works hard to maintain that ranking. The city that evolved to host people is always evolving to improve the experience and ensure its top ranking.

More than $9 billion in current and proposed development is on the books to add to the destination’s appeal, including a 5,000 seat theater at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, Wynn Paradise Park, Lucky Dragon Hotel-Casino, Resorts World Las Vegas, Alon, renovation of the Julius Tower at Caesars Palace just to name a few.

In addition, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is progressing with its Las Vegas Convention Center District project that will expand and renovate the Las Vegas Convention Center.

That project surpassed a major milestone today. According to local news reports, the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously to back a proposal that would fund the convention center project and create a seven-member oversight panel to supervise the development.

Under the recommendation, the convention center work would be funded by a 0.5 percent increase in the county room tax and by capping the local government collection allowance from room tax revenues at $25 million annually.

According to the news reports, the next step is Nevada state legislators will consider the recommendation for possible action.

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact