CEIR Releases 2021 Index Report, Hosting State of the U.S. B2B Exhibition Industry Webinar Sept. 30

September 27, 2021

Last week, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released its 2021 CEIR Index Report, which analyzes the 2020 U.S. B2B exhibition industry’s performance and provides an economic and exhibition industry forecast for the next three years. Released annually, the report is a powerful tool designed to help organizers, service providers and the financial community understand the economics of trade shows, providing the context and insights needed to help inform strategic business decisions. 

Due to the pandemic, CEIR did not produce an Index Report in 2020.

As an objective measure of the exhibition industry’s yearly performance, the CEIR Index Report provides U.S. B2B exhibition industry data across 14 key sectors and measures year-over-year changes in four key metrics: net square feet of exhibit space sold; number of exhibiting companies; professional attendance, and gross event revenues.

“The CEIR Index Report is absolutely essential to the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) advocacy work in Washington, D.C. and nationwide,” said Tommy Goodwin, ECA vice president of government affairs. “Each year, the Index has the up-to-date data that we need to demonstrate to federal policymakers that the business-to-business exhibitions industry is an economic engine that drives jobs and commerce from coast to coast.”

The 14 industry sectors covered in the 2021 report include: 

  • Business Services (BZ)
  • Consumer Goods and Services (CG)
  • Discretionary Consumer Goods and Services (CS)
  • Education (ED)
  • Food (FD)
  • Financial, Legal and Real Estate (FN)
  • Government (GV)
  • Building, Construction, Home and Repair (HM)
  • Industrial/Heavy Machinery and Finished Business Inputs (ID)
  • Communications and Information Technology (IT)
  • Medical and Health Care (MD)
  • Raw Materials and Science (RM)
  • Sporting Goods, Travel and Entertainment (ST)
  • Transportation (TX)

 A CEIR Index Report forecast update was presented at the recent CEIR Predict conference, held Sept. 13-14 at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. Focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the exhibition industry thus far, the conference provided a post-pandemic outlook and possible scenarios for the next three years. 

“In the baseline scenario, the impact of COVID-19 diminishes and the exhibition industry should see a dramatic rebound in 2022, exceeding 100% year-over-year increases in all 14 sectors, albeit from a low base in 2021,” explained CEIR Economist Dr. Allen Shaw, chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates, Inc. “By the end of 2023, the exhibition industry is expected to fully recover. Nonetheless, performance by sector will diverge depending on its secular (long-term) trends and underlying macroeconomic conditions.”

To watch a video of key insights from that presentation, go here.

The 2021 report comes following a challenging 20 months that have left the trade show industry in a lingering state of uncertainty. 

“Exhibition organizers have demonstrated through health and safety measures that our events can be safely held,” said Cathy Breden, CEO of CEIR. “It is through data gathered for the Index that CEIR is able to generate economic impact figures related to the U.S. GDP. This economic impact of the exhibition industry is important for telling our story on the effect of shows on the U.S. economy.” 

To purchase the complete 2021 CEIR Index Report as well as individual sector reports, go here.

To take a deeper dive into the report’s findings and insights, CEIR will be hosting a webinar titled “Gain Latest Insights on the State of the U.S. B2B Exhibition Industry: How to Compare Your Event’s Performance to Industry Benchmarks.” Set for Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. ET, the hour-long event will be moderated by Breden and feature presentations by Nancy Drapeau, CEIR’s vice president of research, and Dr. Shaw. 

Designed for B2B exhibition organizers and executives but open to all industry professionals, this engaging and interactive session will not only explore the report’s latest forecast analysis and how to interpret the results, but also how to use CEIR’s new and improved Event Analyzer tool, which enables organizers to see how their events compare to industry benchmarks. 

Topics covered in the webinar will include:

An overview of the state of the U.S. B2B exhibition industry:

  • Performance in the first half of 2021
  • Updated forecast outlook through 2023

Details on the updated Event Performance Analyzer tool:

  • How this tool is much easier to use – less data needs to be entered
  • Understand which industry benchmark charts are available at no cost
  • Unlock premium content

 A recording of the webinar will be available on the CEIR Webinars page within 24 hours. To learn more and to register, go here.

 

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites. Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation. Reinvented Luxury Experiences The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes. New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May. Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.  A “New Wave  for Mandalay Bay A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay. Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center  is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options. From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.