LIGHTFAIR International 2017 Boasts Largest Trade Show to Date in Philadelphia
June 29, 2017
LIGHTFAIR International boasted its largest show and Philadelphia registration numbers at its most recent event, held May 7-11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference registered 27,939 attendees from 81 countries spanning 277,600 net square feet of expo space, with registration exceeding its 2016 event and increasing 7.4 percent, compared with its 2013 Philadelphia show.
“LFI 2017 was by every measure a study in superlatives with the trade show and conference eclipsing all predecessors in staging, scope and scale,” said Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and COO of LFI managing partner AmericasMart Atlanta, which produces the show.
He added, “These pivotal outcomes will accelerate LFI’s growth trajectory for 2018 and beyond.”
The event’s 592 exhibiting companies, including 59 first-time exhibitors, presented the lighting and design industry’s latest innovations and newest concepts, with two brand-new pavilions – Intelligent Lighting and IoT – displaying cutting-edge products and solutions showcased in product presentations featuring technology and connectivity innovations.
“Across every dimension of the trade show and conference, transformative innovation was pronounced and prolific,” said Shirley Coyle, president of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), which co-sponsors the show with the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD).
She continued, “LFI 2017 was all about the continuing integration of lighting, technology and connectivity.”
LFI’s expanded trade show floor featured a product mix of 46 categories that included controls, IoT (Internet of Things), decorative, alternative energy including solar power, software, site and roadway, digital signage, healthcare and hospitality.
“The worlds of lighting and design converged in Philadelphia to discover all that is new, next and emergent in practice, concept and theory,” IALD President Victor Palacio said.
He added, “LFI delivered all of that, and more, to reveal a clear vision into the future.”
Preceding and setting the stage for the show’s opening, the LFI Innovation Awards highlighted the industry’s most innovative products and designs introduced during the last 12 months, with 255 entries from 135 exhibiting companies spanning 14 categories judged by an independent panel of lighting professionals.
In addition, the event offered its popular conference component, with 73 education courses taught by 135 industry experts, as well as keynotes, unique networking opportunities and a New Exhibitor Pavilion.
LIGHTFAIR International 2018 is set to take place May6-10 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.
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