Trade Show Industry Sees 3.1-percent Q3 Uptick, 21st Straight Quarter of Growth
December 7, 2015
The trade show industry continued its growth streak into the third quarter of this year, with a 3.1-percent uptick, compared with the same quarter last year, marking the 21st straight quarter of growth, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Index Report.
"We are very encouraged to see three very strong quarters of growth for the year," said CEIR President and CEO Brian Casey.
He added, "We will be watching with great interest how the year ends based on fourth quarter results, and anticipate growth to continue into 2016 and 2017."
The growth in the third quarter of 2015 is the third highest rate since the second quarter of 2012.
During the three years through 2014, the exhibition industry growth generally lagged the pace of GDP, but the industry has now outperformed the macro economy for three quarters straight by a wide margin.
"The strong growth of the CEIR Total Index during the first three quarters of the year, averaging 3.8 percent, and robust employment gains during the past three months should result in a stalwart performance of the exhibition industry for 2015 as a whole, as presented in the CEIR Predict conference held this past September," said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates, Inc.
All four exhibition metrics in the third quarter posted year-on-year gains. As was the case during the first and second quarters, the strongest metric was Real Revenues, which rose an impressive 4.6 percent.
It was followed by Net Square Feet, with an increase of 3.3 percent. Exhibitors increased 2.9 percent, whereas Professional Attendance rose 1.6 percent.
Some of the shows that added to the positive numbers in the third quarter were IMEX America, which was held in October in Las Vegas and drew more than 10,000 attendees and 3,100 companies, which broke records.
Two other shows that broke attendance and exhibitor records in the third quarter were the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ ICUEE 2015, the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition and PMMI’s Pack Expo Las Vegas.
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.
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