2015 CEIR Census: Total Number of U.S. Events Up 3.5 Percent in Past Five Years
January 24, 2016
In the latest Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s 5-year Census Report, the number of annual business-to-business and business-to-consumer events in the United States increased 3.5 percent to 11,427.
The 2015 CEIR Exhibition Industry Census tracked the overall number of B-to-B and B-to-C shows held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to be 13,447, accounting for just more than 107 million attendees and 1.9 million exhibitors.
"The Census, along with the yearly Index are two of the most powerful research tools offered to the exhibition industry by CEIR," said CEIR President and CEO, Brian Casey, CEM.
He added, "The information included in these reports has been instrumental in refuting perceptions that exhibitions are a thing of the past. The entire exhibition ecosystem from supplier, organizer, destination/convention centers will benefit from the information and analyses gleaned from these two very important pieces of research."
The report broke down the industry by not only sector, but also for each state in the U.S. and Mexico and provinces in Canada.
“The way it’s broken down shows where potential strengths and weaknesses may be,” Casey said. “This is very powerful information for a destination to be able to formulate and articulate a strategy. It will help sharpen sales and marketing efforts.”
In the U.S., the sector that had the most events was medical and health care, with 2,017, followed by Communications, Information Technology and Science, with 1,053. The sector with the least amount was Industrial/Heavy Machinery and Finished Business Inputs, with 161 events.
The state with the most events held in it was California, with 1,485, followed by Texas, with 1,316 and Florida, with 1,304, which saw a big jump of 23 percent in the last five years.
The city with the most events was Las Vegas, with 802, which was up 14 percent since the last CEIR Census Report.
Casey said the process to compile all of the information was initiated almost a year ago and undertaken by Vault Consulting, a trade show research consultancy.
Several companies contributed their databases to the 2015 Census, which were then carefully reviewed to eliminate duplication and ensure complete representation of the North American exhibition industry including the U.S., Canada and Mexico. All events with less than 3,000 net square feet of exhibition space were eliminated.
Additionally through the use of "intelligent" computer matching and intensive human review, duplicate events were eliminated. While approximately 75 percent of key data points were populated from the source databases, missing data points were extrapolated, when possible, to complete the 2015 Census database. After an extensive review of the data, a final 2015 Census database was approved. From this point, the final analysis of rankings, breakdowns, subtotals and totals was performed.
Casey said he hoped people in the industry realized the value of not only the CEIR Census Report, but also the CEIR Index, which tracks the health of the industry on a quarterly basis.
“These (reports) give us data that even the U.S. government doesn’t have,” he added, “When we advocate, it helps that we have hard numbers. It’s extremely important for the industry.”
To purchase your 2015 CEIR Census today click HERE.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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