Rachel Wimberly
Rachel Wimberly is Executive Vice President of Business Development at Tarsus Group, US. Follow her on Twitter @TSNN_Rachel.
What Economic Downturn? Shows Going Gangbusters
February 16, 2012
First of all, I haven’t blogged on TSNN in too long of a time.
As important as it is to stay connected to the community in this way, it seems like the hardest thing in the world to find time for. I’ll try harder.
I’ve written on the trade show industry for seven years now. I started at Tradeshow Week in 2006 before coming to Trade Show News Network in 2010.
During that time, I wrote about the go-go days, where shows were booming, mergers and acquisitions deals were happening every which way you turned and it seemed the sun couldn’t shine any brighter.
The good times came to a screeching halt when the economic reared its ugly head though and wreaked havoc not only in the world economy, but also the trade show industry.
There was a period of time when it seemed like all I was writing was one story after another about President Obama telling companies not to go to Las Vegas and the city losing 400 events in the blink of an eye; shows ‘attendance, number of exhibitors, net square footage dropping, sometimes to dangerous levels; other shows cancelling altogether; and there were even companies who shut their doors.
In other words, it was pretty bleak, and even if the economy still is fragile, I honestly have been shocked recently by the number of shows I’ve written about that have had increases in attendance, exhibitors and showfloor, and, more importantly, some of those numbers have been RECORD-breaking.
Case in point is the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, owned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and produced by Reed Exhibitions, which had record-breaking numbers, with more than 61,000 attendees visiting a 630,000 net square foot showfloor and 1,600 exhibitors Jan. 17-20 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
The National Association of Music Merchants’ NAMM Show also broke a 110-year-old attendance record when it attracted 95,709 attendees Jan. 19-22 to the Anaheim Convention Center, a 6-percent increase compared with last year’s event.
That’s not all.
The Winter Fancy Food Show, the Professional Convention Management Association’s annual meeting and the National Retail Show, all of which ran since the beginning of the year, also broke records.
I actually was on the phone with someone the other day who joked that if I wasn’t known in the business as a reporter with some integrity (or at least I hope so!) people might think I was making these stories up.
I promise – they all are true and are a fraction of the news from shows that I haven’t had the space to run that also are experiencing boon times right now.
Even shows that that went through some really tough times the past few years, like Hanley Wood Exhibitions’ World of Concrete, saw increases in their numbers this year.
I have no doubt this trend will continue.
The trade show industry is a resilient one, and the value of face-to-face couldn’t be any clearer with the success shows are having right now.
Partner Voices
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
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