Post-show Recap: Equip Expo Breaks Attendance Records Again in Louisville, Ky. with 28,500 Registrants
November 12, 2024
Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living, and equipment exposition held Oct. 15-18, broke attendance records for the third year in a row, with more than 28,500 registrants and more than 1.2 million square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
The four-day event featured 1,000 exhibits and hundreds of educational opportunities. Attendees could mow, dig, mulch, saw and more with the latest outdoor power equipment in the 30-acre Outdoor Demo Yard, as well as pilot a drone in the Drone Zone.
As one of the largest trade shows in the U.S., Equip Exposition has been held every October in Derby City for 41 years, bringing more than $25 million annually in economic impact to Louisville, according to a press release.
What they are saying: “For the third year in a row, Equip Exposition is breaking records,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which has owned and managed the trade show outright since 2022. He noted that the show broke records in 2022 with 25,000 attendees and again last year with 27,000. “Equip is bigger and better every year in new ways. As the industry grows and expands, we are helping people grow their businesses and keep up with the latest trends.”
Back story: Since assuming management of the trade show in 2022 that draws hundreds of manufacturers and suppliers for the outdoor services industry, OPEI has worked to energize Equip Exposition's offerings for attendees, while delivering more of what attendees appreciate. Exhibit space sold out in 2024, with the last available spot purchased more than two months before the show opened, according to organizers.
Sponsored attendee draws: This year's trade show featured a keynote address by This Old House host and home improvement expert Kevin O'Connor, sponsored by Kress. Attendees also took in the second-ever arena concert at the KFC Yum! Center, featuring Trace Adkins, sponsored by Senix, Toro, Bobcat and Gravely, as well as a Welcome Reception at iconic Churchill Downs, sponsored by CAT.
Deeper dive: With co-location partner Hardscape North America (HNA), the trade show fully occupied the North, East and South halls of the Kentucky Exposition Center with expanded square footage in the West Wing. Equip attendees had complimentary access to HNA indoor and outdoor Hardscape House exhibits, as well as the opportunity to cheer on and watch the teams competing in the HNA Installer Competition.
Looking ahead: In 2025, Equip Exposition will launch a boutique, small-batch bourbon produced exclusively for the trade show, which will return Oct. 21-24 to Louisville. Plans for 2025 are already under way, including a welcome reception at Churchill Downs and another arena concert at KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville. The Outdoor Demo Yard will be reconfigured, shifting the UTV track to a larger space due to popular demand, and closing some of the A Lot parking to provide a unique, dedicated space for boom trucks, lifts, and other large vehicles.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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