CES 2015 Scores Top Spot on 2015 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List

March 24, 2016

Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2015 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States. Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list had a record number of submissions this year and represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage.

The full, searchable list, sponsored this year exclusively by Expocad and the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, can be found HERE.

The Consumer Technology Association’s CES 2015 show snagged the No. 1 spot and spanned more than 2.2 million net square feet at the Las Vegas and Sands Expo Convention Centers, as well as several other venues around the city.

There were 3,631 exhibitors and, including exhibitor personnel, nearly 170,000 attendees at the event that was held Jan. 6-9.

“We are delighted to claim the top spot on TSNN’s Top 250 Trade Show List for the success of CES 2015, which shined a spotlight on innovation that will improve lives, connect the world and address global challenges,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, CES and corporate business strategy.

She added, “As the world’s gathering place for the consumer technology industry, the event drew international business leaders from 153 countries and introduced some 20,000 new products from global brands and budding startups alike. CES 2015 embodied the energy and innovative spirit of the industry and it was incredible to witness diverse communities come together to collaborate, build their businesses and better the world.”

Snagging the Nos. 2 and 3 spots on the list were the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market – July and Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market – January, held at AmericasMart Atlanta.

The July show spanned 1.26 million net sq. ft., and the January show was slightly smaller at 1.21 million net sq. ft. Including exhibitor personnel, the shows draw approximately 90,000 attendees to each edition.

“These results speak to the vitality of the industries we serve and the commitment of those who choose to do business here in growing numbers,” said Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and COO, AmericasMart Atlanta

He added, “It is both humbling and exhilarating to achieve two positions in TSNN’s highly respected ranking of the nation’s top five shows.”

Once again, the city with the most shows on the 2015 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show list was Las Vegas, with 54.

“It is thanks to the tens of thousands of Southern Nevadans, whose passion and dedication to providing our convention clients with the most professional and productive experience possible, that we continue to be the No. 1 trade show destination for the 22ndyear,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

He added, “In partnership with our resort community, we look forward to continuing our industry leadership with billions of dollars of new investment into the destination and the convention segment.”

Orlando scored the second most number of shows on the list, with 24, followed by Chicago and New York City, with 21.

The rest of the top 10 cities included Atlanta, with 14 shows; New Orleans, with 11 shows; Anaheim, with 10 shows; San Diego, with 8 shows; Boston, with 7; and Baltimore closing out the top wo, with 6 shows.

Emerald Expositions was the show management company with the most shows on the list, by far, with 30. Coming in second was UBM, with 12 shows, followed by Reed Exhibitions with 8 shows.

“We are pleased to see so many of our trade shows on the 2015 TSNN Top 250 list,” said Emerald’s President and CEO David Loechner.

He added, “We have a large and diverse portfolio with leading events in many different end markets, yet our day-to-day focus is to make every one of our 80-plus events in the U.S. the most important to that market’s stakeholders every time.”

Other companies with multiple shows on the list included Penton and Informa Exhibitions, US, with 7; Pennwell and Spargo, with 6; Society of Manufacturing Engineers, SME, and SmithBucklin, both with 5.

The busiest month last year for shows was March, with 31 shows, followed by November, with 29. The slowest month was December, with just 9 shows.

The 2015 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show list can be found HERE.  

The list on TSNN.com includes show name, link to show’s Web site, show dates and description, number of attendees, exhibitors, net square footage, show location and venue.

For a fuller list, please contact John Rice, jrice@tsnn.com.

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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.