ISC West Concludes 2022 Edition With Record-Breaking Growth

May 31, 2022

The International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC) West recently wrapped up the first major security and public safety event of the year, boasting record-breaking attendance growth. Held March 22-25 at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas and hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA), the leading annual comprehensive and converged security trade show and conference in the U.S. had an 88% increase in participation compared to its 2021 West event, which took place July 19-21 at the same venue.

According to officials from RX, which owns and produces ISC Security Events, an undeniable energy permeated the entire show, with nearly 20,000 total security and public safety industry professionals and more than 550 exhibitors displaying the most advanced security products and technology. Just under 12,000 dealers, installers, integrators, end-users and consultants were in attendance, many for the first time since pre-pandemic times. 

“Clearly the security and public safety industry is ready to get back to face-to-face meetings, as the show floor was packed and the electrifying energy consistently included positive messages throughout the week, such as ‘exceeded our expectations,’ ‘feels like 2019’ and ‘ISC West is back,’” said Mary Beth Shaughnessy, event director of ISC Security Events. “This industry is resilient, dedicated and passionate, and without our customers’ support and participation, we could not have put on such a successful event. We are excited about the positive momentum and are already looking ahead to future success and further growth.” 

She added that the industry the show serves heavily supported the event’s return to an in-person format this year. 

Alongside more than two dozen special events and keynote series sessions, ISC’s education program also experienced a sizable uptick in participation—a 119% growth rate and double last year’s attendance. According to show officials, nearly 1,000 security professionals took advantage of the show’s 65 Education@ISC and 15 sponsored sessions, which covered a gamut of security-related topics, including the latest security trends, evolving strategies and tactics and emerging challenges. 

Additionally, many of the show’s collaborative events this year focused on honoring and supporting women in security, attracting new young professionals as the future of the industry and showcasing vertical market trends, such as artificial intelligence, cloud storage, cybersecurity certifications and more. 

Out on the bustling 214,000-square-foot expo were a host of new or updated show floor components, including the revamped SIA New Products & Solutions Awards program, which showcased more than 70 participating products and solutions next to The Bridge (Powered by Intel), an updated space in the middle of the show floor featuring curated complimentary education sessions focused on industry megatrends. There were also reimagined Featured Area gateways designed to modernize the look and feel of the show floor. 

“We really focused on creating an elevated experience this year,” Shaughnessy explained. “We brought The Bridge stage to the event, and it really became the heartbeat of the show. The content and special events happening right in the middle of a completely packed expo floor had everyone who attended this week buzzing. People were definitely excited this week, and they’re already talking about next year.” 

She added that many exhibitors have already booked their space for ISC West 2023, which is set to return to Venetian Expo March 28-31.  

“SIA was inspired by the outstanding growth seen at ISC West 2022, and by seeing the energy and dedication on the show floor, in the conference sessions and at events taking place throughout the week,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “This year’s show saw exceptional turnout for SIA’s signature events, including our Market Leaders Reception, RISE happy hour and Women in Security Forum breakfast and keynote, and great enthusiasm for the SIA Education@ISC conference program and SIA’s training offerings during the show.” 

He added, “We were thrilled to help bring the industry together for an exciting opportunity to learn, explore cutting-edge technologies, network and collaborate.” 

Up next is the show’s sister edition, ISC East 2022, the Northeast’s leading security and public safety event, also hosted in collaboration with SIA and in partnership with ASIS NYC. Set for Nov. 16-17 at New York’s Javits Center, it will collocate once again with the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo, a comprehensive trade event dedicated to the preparation, response and recovery of physical and human assets of public and private organizations. 

 

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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.