Trade Show News Network Releases Top 50 Canadian Trade Shows List

November 8, 2011

Trade Show News Network is pleased to announce the debut release of the TSNN Top 50 Canadian Trade Shows list of rankings.

Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top 50 trade shows held last year in ranked by net square footage in Canada. The full list can be found at http://www.tsnn.com/datasite-cdn.

Snagging the No. 1 spot was Regina Exhibition Association’s Western Canada Farm Progress Show, with a whopping 1,189,783 net square foot showfloor. Despite overall negative economic trends, the showfloor grew in 2010 from 969,783 sq. ft. at the 2009 show.

Last year’s show, which serves the agricultural industry, was held in June at Evraz Place in Regina, Saskatchewan, and drew 715 exhibitors and more than 40,000 trade show professionals.

“We’re very proud of the ranking,” said Rob O’Connor, Western Canada Farm Progress show manager. “This show has really grown over the past several years.”

He added, “The economy in agriculture actually has been quite good, especially in Western Canada.” In fact, O’Connor said, there is a waiting list to get into the show, so they’d like to grow it even more in the future.

The No. 2-ranked show was dmg :: events’ biennial Global Petroleum Show that was held in Calgary’s Stampede Park in June last year and had a 540,070 net sq. ft. showfloor. Despite a drop in size from its 2008 show, it still attracted 1,430 exhibitors and nearly 14,000 attendees.

Dmg :: events also runs the Oil Sands Trade Show & Conference, which was ranked No. 18 on the list.

The No. 3rd- and No. 4th-ranked shows, the semiannual CGTA Toronto Gift Shows, both are run by the Canadian Gift & Tableware Association and were held at the International Centre in Toronto and the Toronto Congress Centre.

CGTA’s summer show last year spanned 429,136 net sq. ft and the winter show spanned 428,751. As a result of the prolonged economic downturn, the retail industry has suffered, but, according to Karen Bassels, vice president of CGTA Toronto Gift Shows, the events still are thriving.

“It’s always a pleasure that we have hit milestones in this difficult economy,” Bassels said. “Business is still happening for us.”

CGTA also runs the semiannual Alberta Gift Shows, which ranked Nos. 7 and 9 on TSNN’s Top 50 Canadian Trade Shows list, as well as the Montreal Gift Shows that ranked Nos. 16 and 17.

With exactly half the shows on the list coming to the city, Toronto hosted the most TSNN Top 50 Canadian Trade Shows by far, with Montreal coming in next, with seven shows, and Vancouver hosting six shows.

“We congratulate the show organizers and are thrilled Toronto has a role in their success,” said David Whitaker, Tourism Toronto president and CEO.

He added that the trade show business, though overlooked by some, has a significant impact on the overall economic health of the city.

“These … trade show visitors stay in our hotels, shop in our stores, eat in our restaurants and take our taxis” Whitaker said. “We’re proud of (Toronto’s) ranking on the list. It speaks to the importance of the trade show industry to our city.”

The busiest month last year on the TSNN Top 50 Canadian Trade Shows list also was one of the coldest – January – with eight shows, followed by one of the hottest – August – with seven shows.

November was the third busiest month, with six shows, and the quietest month last year for trade shows in Canada was July, with no shows at all.

For a full list of the Top 50 Canadian Trade Shows last year, please visit: http://www.tsnn.com/datasite-cdn.

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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.