CONEXPO-CON/AGG Tops 2014 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List

April 2, 2015

Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2014 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States. Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage.

The full, searchable list, sponsored this year exclusively by Expocad, can be found HERE.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG snagged the No. 1 spot on the 2014 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List with a 2,356,711 net square foot showfloor at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There were 2,111 exhibitors and 97,091 attendees at the show held March 3-8, 2014 and  those numbers broke records.

“We are honored to receive this recognition. CONEXPO-CON/AGG could not have achieved the number-one spot without the support of our membership and the industry, and their affirmation of our value and return on participation for all stakeholders,” said Megan Tanel, vice president exhibitions and events for AEM.

She added, “And we have an amazing staff of creative and dedicated professionals who truly work as a team to create such a successful event. All AEM shows are industry-run and we believe this creates a positive difference in our stakeholder relationships; we share a common vision of elevating and advancing our industry,”

A close second on the list was the annual International CES show owned by the Consumer Electronics Association and held in several venues around Las Vegas. The 2014 show had 2,060,582 net sq. ft., as well as 3,673 exhibitors and 160,498 attendees.

IMTS 2014 - International Manufacturing Technology Show was No. 3 on the list, with a nearly 1.3 million net sq. ft. showfloor at Chicago's McCormick Place, followed by PACK EXPO International/Pharma EXPO 2014, also held at McCormick with 1.2 million net sq. ft.

Once again, the city with the most shows on the 2014 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show list was Las Vegas, with 60.

“Las Vegas is proud to maintain its ranking as the No. 1 trade show destination for the 21st consecutive year,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

He added, “It is a privilege to work with our resort partners and the tens of thousands of Southern Nevadans who work hard every day to show our trade show visitors exactly what it means when we say Vegas means business.”

Orlando scored the second most number of shows on the list, with 26, followed close behind with Chicago hosting 24.

The rest of the top 10 cities included New York City coming in fourth, with 20 shows; Atlanta was 5th, 14 shows, New Orleans was 6th, 11 shows; San Francisco and Boston came in 7th, 8 shows; Denver and Anaheim were 8th, 6 shows; Indianapolis was 9th, 5 shows; and San Diego rounded out the top 10 with 4 shows.

Emerald Expositions was the show management company with the most shows on the list, by far, with 29. Coming in second was UBM, with 15 shows, followed by SmithBucklin, with 11 shows.

"Emerald’s portfolio continues to grow and we now produce more than 80 events each year,” said Emerald’s President and CEO David Loechner. “It is exciting, as well as gratifying, to see so many of our shows among the largest 250 events held in 2014.”

Other companies with several shows on the list included Penton, Reed Exhibitions and ASI Show, with 7 each; J. Spargo & Associates had 6; National Trade Productions and Informa had 5; Hall-Erickson and AMC, Inc. both had 4; IDEAg Group of American Farm Bureau, National Retail Federation and Tarsus Group had 3.

The busiest month last year for shows was March and February was second busiest with 28 shows. The slowest months were December and July, with 9 shows each.

The 2014 TSNN Top 250 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 Sam Shuster sshuster@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.