WASHINGTON, D.C. — AFCOM’s Data Center World, produced by Informa Tech and held April 15-18 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, increased in attendance by 35%, exhibitor-count by 14% and revenue by 46% this year.
“Data Center World in a relatively short period of time has become the must-attend data center event of the year,” Tara Gibb, Senior Director of HDI, ICMI and Data Center World said. “The industry really comes together to celebrate all that is trending, and to connect and network, and it was just really exciting to feel that energy and urgency, and really embrace the opportunity ahead for the data center industry together.”
Growth Factors
Gibb attributed this growth in part to Data Center World’s relocation to Washington, D.C. this year, because the region houses 35% of global data centers and approximately 50% of U.S. data centers.
According to Gibb, the industry’s health was also a key growth factor: “The data center industry is itself growing tremendously… with the explosion of AI and the demand for data accessibility and data capture.”
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which Gibb called “a really beautiful, well-run facility,” could accommodate an increased number of attendees when compared to previous venues, and an influx of late registrants, bolstering attendance further.
Lastly, Gibb explained that the show’s premier content drove attendance. “We really invest in the quality of the conference… [and] we have the largest data center expo in the country, so it is the place to be in April.”
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New Additions
Data Center World added two new Diamond Sponsors in 2024: DDC Cabinet Technology and VoltaGrid, with the latter representing a heightened focus on alternative power resources that was seen on the show floor.
Other additions to the show included more coverage of AI, a Data Center Knowledge news desk and an interactive lobby lounge. Additionally, a “Map Your Data Center” program and an AFCOM member reception were introduced to further enhance networking.
Data Center World also worked to increase diversity and inspire the industry’s future workforce by introducing a program where students from the Northern Virginia Community College could volunteer at the event.
“It was really great to have those students on-site, and they were able to go to the conference when they weren’t volunteering. It was a really great addition to the event, and we’re really trying to show the industry how they too can be supporters of that next generation of data center professionals,” Gibb said.
As part of this effort, Data Center World held their PowerUp Program for the third consecutive year, inviting STEM students from socioeconomically challenged D.C.-area high schools to the show.
Looking Ahead
Data Center World will return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center April 14-17, 2025.
Gibb expects more opportunities for federal, state and local government data center professionals, further exploration of alternative power sources, new activations and networking opportunities, and more.
Reach Tara Gibb at Tara.gibb@informa.com
Photo Credit: Data Center World and AFCOM.
