Trade Show TrendsThat Impact Convention Sales Professionals

BY DANICA TORMOHLEN, contributing editor

danicat@tradeshowexecutive.com | (816) 803-8103 | Twitter: @DanicaTormohlen

A Look BackJanuary 2010 – January 2013

In the Black. Exhibit space grew a modest but still solid 2.1% in January. The adjusted numbers included

several large shows and totaled more than 8.2 million nsf.Source: TSE Dashboard, March 2013

A Look BackJanuary 2010 – January 2013

Down but Not Out. Trade show attendance in January was down (1.6)% from 2012. The dip continued a

softening trend in the monthly metrics that began in the second half of last year.Source: TSE Dashboard, March 2013

A Look BackJanuary 2010 – January 2013

Up and Down. The number of exhibitors in January was up 2.4% over January 2012. The past two years have

seen plenty of twists and turns in the monthly exhibitor counts.Source: TSE Dashboard, March 2013

A Look BackJanuary 2010 – January 2013

Respectable Growth. 2012 took the trade show industry on the same moderate growth path as 2011. Of the

three metrics, attendance growth was in the lead. Source: TSE Dashboard, March 2013

Industry ForecastMonth, Quarter and Full Year of 2013

Source: TSE Trending & Spending, March 2013

Medical Trade ShowsJanuary 2011 – December 2012

Quiet Close. Medical meetings appeared to stall in the second half of 2012. The metrics were lower in

attendance and exhibitor count and exhibit space was a mere 0.3% higher than the first half of the year.

Source: TSE Medical Show Report, March 2013

Medical Trade Shows2012 Consolidated Overview Medical Shows vs. All Trade Shows

Trade shows serving all sectors were healthier than medical shows. It was the second year in which trade

shows in general outperformed medical and healthcare shows.

Source: TSE Medical Show Report, March 2013

Government Trade Shows

• Fallout from GSA

and VA scandals

• Overall government cutbacks

on travel and spending

• Potential impact

of sequestration

TSE Gold 100 Largest Trade ShowsMost Popular Months

Source: TSE Gold 100 Directory, October 2012

TSE Gold 100 Largest Trade ShowsLeading Cities

Source: TSE Gold 100 Directory, October 2012

TSE Gold 100 Largest Trade ShowsTop 6 Revenue Generators

Source: TSE On the Margin, December 2012

TSE Fastest 50 Fastest-Growing Shows in Attendance, NSF, Exhibitors

Source: Trade Show Executive, February 2013

93showsmade the list in 2013

88Fastest-growing

show grew %

Growth was at least

the average in 2012

7x

TSE Fastest 50By the Numbers (Net Square Feet)

Source: Trade Show Executive, February 2013

3% are 1,000,000+ nsf

12% ranged from 350,000

to 999,999 nsf

26% spanned 125,000

to 349,999 nsf

31% covered 50,000

to 124,999 nsf

28% ranged from

15,000 to 49,999 nsf