When the National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show opens Jan. 22.24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center next year, it will run one day shorter, from four to three, than it has in the past.

In addition, the Produce Marketing Association’s three-day show will be one day less when that event runs Oct. 27-28 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

This year’s show, on tap Feb. 8-11 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, is expected to draw 50,000 attendees and 800 suppliers.

The show is down from a high a few years ago of more than 67,000 attendees and nearly 2,000 exhibitors after seeing tough times through the continued housing crisis and economic downturn.

“It’s all about helping our attendees and exhibitors meet with each other in a much more efficient way,” said Mark Pursell, senior vice president of NAHB’s exhibition, marketing and sales group. 

He added, “Tightening the trade show floor experience to three full days with expanded hours saves everyone money and results in a more productive experience for all.” 

Home building isn’t the only industry looking to cut down the time they are gone from their businesses.  

“We’ve answered the call of more than 90 percent of Fresh Summit Expo exhibitors who requested to streamline the expo schedule by eliminating Monday – which attracted only 34 percent of attendees,” said PMA Spokesperson Meg Miller.

She added, “This new modification allows companies to spend show time more effectively and efficiently and only reduces expo time by 1.5 hours.”

PMA's Fresh Summit and Exhibitor Advisory Committees, led by industry leaders from around the world, unanimously approved this enhancement in late 2011 and the decision was strongly supported by PMA’s board of directors, according to Miller.

Pursell added, “It’s a trend that professional convention and expo planners see in all fields – not just the home building industry. Attendees are eager to get back to their businesses and put the new knowledge about, products, services and management to work right away.”

Exhibitors will save money with fewer days on the showfloor as well.

“Dropping day four and adding an additional half hour to the schedule each day, allows exhibitors to save resources on an extra night of hotel accommodations, meals and other staffing and contractor expenses,” Pursell said.

Ending the show on a Thursday, instead of extending it into a weekend, also was something requested by show attendees.

“Surveys of IBS attendees tell us that builders prefer to be home during the weekends. Wrapping up the show on Thursday will allow everyone to do so – even those from the East Coast,” said Larry Swank, chairman of NAHB’s Conventions & Meetings Committee and a home builder from Mishawaka, Ind.

He added, “This is a great solution for all of us – and a way to stay ahead of trends in the industry."