Issue link: https://tradeshowexecutive.epubxp.com/i/58649
TSE DASHBOARD SPONSORED BY Big Crowds for Big Shows Boost January Metrics BY DARLENE GUDEA, president; CAROL ANDREWS, editor-at-large, and HIL ANDERSON, senior editor Oceanside, CA – Te New Year began with a bang in January with a large number of large shows which collectively drew more than 836,000 attendees and covered nearly 10 million net square feet (nsf) of exhibit space. Led by another banner per- formance by the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the packed lineup of 32 shows featured in the latest Trade Show Executive (TSE) Dashboard of Monthly Trade Show Metrics reflected a 3.1% gain in exhibit space and 3.7% increase in at- tendance over the previous January. Te number of exhibitors in the Dash- board was relatively flat with a (0.5)% dip; however the adjusted total of exhibitors was still 25,152 for the month. Te ad- justed totals climbed to 836,493 attendees and 9,042,469 nsf of exhibit space. Te high numbers reflected the popularity of January as a month for big shows. Tere were 17 shows kicking off 2012 that were ranked on TSE's Gold 100 roster of largest U.S. trade shows and three were part of the TSE Fastest 50. Twenty-three of the 32 events reported more than 100,000 nsf. Te adjusted aver- age size of a January show was 334,906 nsf with 932 exhibitors and 30,981 at- tendees per event. Tere were 11 shows surveyed by TSE that reported increases or no change in all three metrics while five had decreases in the three categories. Te Dashboard also included two launches — Interna- tional Disaster Conference & Expo and Dx3 Canada — that accounted for 38,300 nsf. CES Reaches 44-Year High in Net SF Te January parade was once again led by CES, which reported double-digit gains in exhibit space and exhibitors, and a lesser increase in the always huge attendance. Te Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said exhibit space jumped 12.4% to 1,861,000 nsf, which catapulted CES into the very elite group of shows that have surpassed the high water mark they reached before the recession. Te number of exhibitors increased 10.7% to 3,100 and attendance grew 2.3% to 153,000. Despite naysayers' predicted doom and gloom from Microsoſt's recently an- nounced swan song and Apple's contin- ued absence, CES set new records in net sf, riding a wave of 20,000 new product introductions at the show. "Te 2012 CES was the most phenom- enal show in our history," said CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro. He credited improving consumer confidence and an inclusive marketing strategy that tied together different industry sectors that are making use of electronics. Te healthcare, automotive and advertis- ing industries, for example, increased their presence at CES this year. Te CES iLounge Pavilion for Apple-oriented products sold 95,000 square feet of space for next year's show. "CES is the catalyst that brings execu- tives from a wide range of industries together and helps them create better ways of doing business together," Shapiro said. "Te breadth and depth of the 2012 CES is a testament to the dynamic global consumer technology industry, which will reach $1 trillion globally this year." Expanding Universe. The world of the CES keeps getting bigger. Multiple product launches and the latest gadgets in a broad range of sectors attracted a record crowd. 28 March 2012 | Trade Show Executive