CONEXPO-CON/AGG Snags Top Spot on 2017 TSNN Top Trade Show List

March 19, 2018

Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2017 TSNN Top Trade Shows list in the United States.

Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage.

The full, searchable list, sponsored exclusively by Expocad and the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, can be found HERE.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 show snagged the No. 1 spot and spanned more than 2.67 million net square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

In addition, there were 2,375 exhibitors and more than 128,000 attendees (including exhibitors) at the event that was held March 7-11 last year.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized and is a tribute to AEM’s members and the support of our industries that make this show the gathering place every three years,” said Sara Truesdale Mooney, show director for CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 and AEM vice president of strategy and business development.

She added, “Our new immersive Tech Experience amplified the technology in the exhibits and was just one example that underscored our team’s commitment to deliver an unparalleled show experience and content to inspire and inform attendees about what’s next.”

Coming in at the No. 2 spot on the list was the Consumer Technology Association’s CES, which was No. 1 in 2016.

The January show spanned 2.6 million net sq. ft., also at the Las Vegas Convention Center and other venues in the city, and drew more than 182,000 attendees, including exhibitor personnel.

"It is an honor to be recognized by Trade Show News Network for the success of CES 2017, the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, CES and corporate business strategy.

She added, “CES 2017 was a platform for innovations across every industry and drew global business leaders from 158 countries. Each and every year, we strive to provide the highest quality show experience for our exhibitors and attendees, and this ranking from TSNN reflects that promise.”

Once again, the city with the most shows on the 2017 TSNN Top Trade Shows list was Las Vegas, with 47.

“Las Vegas has long been considered a top destination for business travel and 2017 proved to be another astounding year,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

He added, “Last year, a record-breaking 6.6 million people traveled to the destination for business and with a number of high-profile projects like the Las Vegas Convention Center District in the works, in addition to new meeting and convention space being added across the destination, Las Vegas is well-positioned to continue the momentum for decades to come. It’s an incredible honor to top TSNN’s coveted ‘Top Trade Shows in the United States’ list for the 24th consecutive year and we look forward to welcoming more shows to Las Vegas in the future.”

Orlando scored the second most number of shows on the list, with 24, followed by Chicago, with 21, and Atlanta, with 20.

The rest of the top 10 city rankings included New York, with 13 shows; Indianapolis, with 10 shows; San Diego, with 9 shows; Boston and New Orleans, with 8 each; and closing out the top cities with Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., with 7 each.  

Last year, Emerald Expositions was the show management company with the most shows on the list, by far, with 30. This year, all of their shows were pulled from the list by request of the company when it was publicly listed.

In 2017, Informa and UBM tied with 14 shows each on the list. For the 2018 list, this duo might just be on top as a single company under Informa, pending a shareholder vote in April.

“We’re proud of the performance of Informa’s US exhibitions during 2017. We entered the year having just on-boarded Penton’s trade show group, and the integration has gone quite smoothly,” said Informa Exhibitions’ CEO Charlie McCurdy.

He added, “I believe the healthy performance of the overall US portfolio reflects the market-defining nature of our leading events, the quality of our show teams, and the health of the underlying markets they serve. And, we’re looking forward to an eventful 2018!”

Scott Schulman, CEO, UBM Americas, said, "We are honored to have 14 of our UBM Americas events included on the TSNN Top Trade Show List. These events are driven by our commitment to producing events that deliver strong customer experience, connect industry leaders and help businesses grow.”

He added, “It’s exciting to see that our events in a wide variety of industries were recognized including advanced manufacturing, fashion, licensing, the cruise industry and pharmaceuticals. We’re proud to be a big part of an industry that plays such an important role in driving global commerce, and we congratulate the many other great events on the list.”

Other companies with multiple shows on the list included SmithBucklin and Spargo, with 12 each; AmericasMart Atlanta, with 10; Reed Exhibitions USA, with 10; and PennWell, with 6.

The 2017 TSNN Top Trade Show list can be found HERE.

The list on TSNN.com includes show name, link to show’s Web site, show dates and description, number of attendees, exhibitors, net square footage, show location and venue.

For a fuller list, please contact John Rice, jrice@tsnn.com.

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.