Retail's Big Show Scores Record-breaking Attendance in New York City
February 11, 2014
The National Retail Federation’s Retail’s Big Show broke attendance records, with 30,000 people, an uptick from 27,500 last year, Jan. 12-15 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York.
There also were 555 exhibiting companies, up from 494 last year, and 205,000 net square feet, up from 168,000 net sq. ft. last year.
“We are incredibly fortunate to be in an industry that is changing on a daily basis,” said Susan Newman, NRF’s senior vice president of conferences.
Driving that change is technology and all the ways that consumers are buying products, whether it be in-store, online or on their mobile phone.
“Retailers constantly are needing to figure out what’s next,” Newman said. “Our show is the place to go.”
One of the fastest-growing aspects of the showfloor is the mobile component, she added. “Mobile is obviously huge. It’s the biggest area of growth.”
The show featured areas, such as the Innovation Lab, at which new products were brought in that would create some ‘buzz factor’, Newman said. One of those products included a gum that came out of China that when chewed would make someone’s entire body smell like a certain flavor.
Also to bring added excitement to the showfloor, there was a lot of education offered not only in exhibitors’ booths, but also on the main NRF Expo stage, where there were 800 seats and standing-room only crowds for hot topics, Newman said.
Of the 30,000 attendees from 86 countries, the biggest contingent, 1,652, was from Brazil. “They are hugely loyal to our show and very interested in new technology,” Newman said. Canada had the second-biggest group there with 1,124 attendees.
Other international delegations attended from France, Japan and Mexico, to name a few.
One of the surest signs that exhibitors were happy with this year’s show? “We’re 94 percent rebooked for next year,” Newman said.
Here are some of the fun stats put out by NRF after the show:
· 9,600 Krispy Kreme doughnuts were served
· 200 miles were walked by just five members of NRF’s logistics team
· 4 driver’s licenses and a wedding band were turned into lost and found
· there were 278 speakers, and one former president – George W. Bush.
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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