10th Annual Design & Construction Week Attracts Record-Breaking Attendance in Las Vegas

February 22, 2023

More than 200,000 housing and design professionals from across the globe recently descended upon Las Vegas for the 10th annual Design & Construction Week (DCW), the largest annual gathering of residential construction and design industry professionals.

Held Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the massive event comprised the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show (IBS) and the three co-dated industry shows: the National Hardware Show (NHS), The International Surfaces Event (TISE) and the Las Vegas Winter Market.

Boasting the highest attendance in its 10-year history, DCW’s total participation comprised 110,000 attendees and nearly 2,000 exhibitors occupying more than one million square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space.

These numbers demonstrated an impressive uptick compared to the 2022 edition of DCW, which attracted more than 70,000 attendees and 1,200 exhibitors spanning 725,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

“What an incredible way to celebrate 10 years of Design & Construction Week with this record attendance,” said Jerry Howard, CEO of NAHB. “Walking the show floor and attending the education sessions and networking events, you could feel the energy and enthusiasm from exhibitors and attendees alike.”

Individually, both KBIS, North America’s largest trade show dedicated to all aspects of kitchen and bath design, and IBS, the world’s largest annual light construction show, boasted record-breaking attendance numbers and bustling show floors.

KBIS 2023

“It’s truly remarkable what we have accomplished these past 10 years in our industry,” said Bill Darcy, CEO of NKBA. “Trade shows are back and this year in Las Vegas proves just that. You could feel the positive energy flow through the show floor.” 

As one of NKBA’s biggest and most successful shows in its 60-year history, KBIS attracted more than 40,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors to almost 395,000 sq. ft. of expo space. 

“With more programs, activations and learning opportunities than ever before, KBIS 2023 was exceptional,” said Suzie Williford, NKBA executive vice president and chief strategy officer. “There was such positive energy on the show floor by both attendees and exhibitors. Everyone was happy to be together, to attend our events and be a part of the amazing experience — an experience that will drive momentum for our industry throughout the year.” 

According to Jason McGraw, group vice president of Emerald Expositions, which produces KBIS for NKBA, the show experienced unprecedented registration growth, up 35 percent in qualified attendees versus the pre-pandemic, 2020 edition. 

“This year’s strong attendance turnout has encouraged over 300 exhibitors to already contract to exhibit at KBIS 2024, with many increasing their show presence,” McGraw said. “Early sales are up more than 12 percent versus this year’s show, with more than 88 percent of next year’s expanded show floor space secured.”

At IBS, show organizers were also celebrating. The 2023 show ended up generating its largest attendance in more than a decade, with nearly 70,000 attendees and 1,300 building products and technology exhibitors spanning more than 600,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space. 

IBS 2023

Attendees and exhibitors alike were enthusiastic about the vibrant activity on the showfloor, as well as the event’s myriad educational sessions. Joel Barkman, president and CEO of Golden Rule Builders, commented that after attending more than 20 editions of the show in the past, this year’s IBS was by far the best.

“The exhibits were certainly impressive, but what my team and I always find most beneficial are the [education] sessions,” Barkman said. “There were so many dynamic topics they covered this year – it was extremely valuable for us as a company.”

He added that he and his team were already looking forward to returning to the show next year. 

“This year’s exceptional turnout is a clear indication of the strength of the industry and its optimism about the future,” said Geoff Cassidy, NAHB senior vice president of exhibitions and meetings. “Attendees took advantage of unique networking opportunities and education sessions that delivered insight and practical guidance to grow their businesses.” 

Additionally, DCW’s three other co-dated shows drew in solid participation numbers. Also held at the LVCC, NHS drew in 17,000 attendees, while TISE, held at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, attracted 25,000, and Las Vegas Market, which took place at the Las Vegas Design Center, welcomed 50,000 attendees. 

“We expected a successful show based on the preliminary numbers, but we were blown away by the final attendance numbers for KBIS and Design & Construction Week – it was just incredible,” Darcy said. “Our goal when we created DCW with our partner, NAHB, was to become the biggest trade show in North America…and for now, we are.” 

DCW will return to the LVCC Feb. 27-29, 2024.

 

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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.