Oceanside, CA – An elite group of shows vaulted over some 4,000 other trade shows in the U.S. by growing at least seven times the average growth rate of 2012. The 50 top performers in each of three metrics – net square feet, number of exhibiting companies and attendance – have now been identified and will be honored for their elite status at the Trade Show Executive (TSE) Fastest 50 Awards & Summit, May 8-10, 2013 at the Swissôtel Chicago. A total of 93 shows made the list, due to legendary records in multiple metrics. (See winners at the end of this article).
With so many shows and statistics, the Fastest 50 Class of 2012 shows serves as a scorecard that lets the industry know which shows are on the fast track with more exhibitors chasing bigger crowds of buyers.
These are the shows packing the aisles and filling up ever-larger floor plans – and they are not just the mid-sized shows:
- 3% were 1,000,000 nsf or larger;
- 12% ranged from 350,000 nsf to 999,999 nsf;
- 26% spanned 125,000 nsf to 349,999 nsf;
- 31% covered 50,000 nsf to 124,999 nsf; and
- 28% were 15,000 nsf to 49,999 nsf
The total exhibit space for the Fastest 50 was 19,684,257 nsf. Attendance reached 1,656,514 and the exhibitor count totaled 62,129. Those numbers boiled down to per-show averages of 211,659 nsf, 668 exhibitors and 18,203 attendees.
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Many of the Fastest 50 shows will be honored in more than one category. The American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, Coverings, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), The Rental Show and SGIA Expo (Specialty GraphicImaging Association) were among the 41 events out of 93 that were in the top 50 in two or three metrics.Some shows are fairly new and still on the small side, but they certainly appear to have captured the right lightning in a bottle and are on their way to becoming major must-attend events in their particular industry sectors. Other shows, such as the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), MAGIC Marketplace, the Mid-America Trucking Show, NPE – The International Plastics Showcase and International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo are well-known brands that are large enough to be fixtures on the TSE Gold 100 roster of largest U.S. trade shows.
A total of 48 of the 93 Fastest 50 shows were managed by associations, societies or other not-for-profit organizations. Independent organizers were behind 45 events.
They say that trade shows are a reflection of the industry they serve, whether growth or contraction, but the Fastest 50 winners served buyers and sellers in every major industry sector. The roster included shows for consumer goods, such as the International Consumer Electronics Show, Jewelers International Showcase, and a bevy of apparel events including MAGIC Marketplace and AccessoriesTheShow. The construction arena was represented by shows such as Coverings, World of Asphalt and the ArchitectureBoston Expo.
The medical and healthcare sector was well represented with a 17% market share. The American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, the American Thoracic Society International Conference, the International AIDS Conference, and the OR Manager Conference were ranked in the Fastest 50 in all three metrics.
METHODOLOGY
The criteria for nominations were straightforward and simple. Events were judged on the percentage of growth in the individual metrics. Annual shows were included as well as semi-annuals, biennials, one triennial and one quadrennial show. TSE required statistics to be verified by a senior level executive of the show management company or association.Nominations came from not only show organizers but service contractors, registration firms and venue managers who noticed the bigger crowds and larger floor plans.
No matter their overall size and target audience, the Fastest 50 shows have proven they have the combination of marketing strategies, operational expertise and sweat equity to become a household name in the sectors they serve and among their peers in the exhibition industry.
Reach Darlene Gudea, president, at (760) 630-9111 or dgudea@tradeshowexecutive.com; Diane Bjorklund, VP of events, at (630) 312-8915 or dbjorklund@tradeshowexecutive.com; or Carri Jensen, manager of directories at (541) 286-4014 or cjensen@tradeshowexecutive.com
CONGRATULATIONS to the
FASTEST 50 WINNERS
FASTEST 50 SHOWS BY NET SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBIT SPACE
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
AAP National Conference & Exhibition (American Academy of Pediatrics)
ABX (ArchitectureBoston Expo)
AccessoriesTheShow – February
AccessoriesTheShow – January
AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo
AISTech – The Iron & Steel Technology Conference and Exposition
ALOA Convention & Security Expo (Associated Locksmiths of America)
American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting
American Coatings Show & Conference
American Thoracic Society International Conference
Amusement Expo
Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics
AVIATION WEEK MRO Americas
Coverings
EVS26 – Electric Vehicle Symposium
EXHIBITOR2012
Fame
FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference)
FN PLATFORM (Footwear News) – August
FN PLATFORM (Footwear News) – February
The Great American Trucking Show
The Great West Truck Show
HydroVision International
IEEE PES Transmission & Distribution Conference & Exposition (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers/Power & Energy Society)
IMEX America
International AIDS Conference
International Consumer Electronics Show
International LCT Show (Limousine, Charter & Tour)
International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
Jewelers International Showcase – October
Mid-America Trucking Show
MINExpo INTERNATIONAL©
Moda Manhattan
MRket
National Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo
National Facilities Management & Technology Conference & Expo
National Fire Protection Association Conference & Expo
NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention (National Business Aviation Association)
The NBM Show (National Business Media)
NPE – The International Plastics Showcase
NWFA Wood Flooring Expo (National Wood Flooring Association)
OR Manager Conference
The Rental Show
The Running Event
SGIA Expo (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association)
Shop.org Annual Summit
Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show
SuperZoo
TCT – Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics
World of Asphalt Show & Conference
FASTEST 50 SHOWS BY NUMBER OF EXHIBITING COMPANIES
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
ABX (ArchitectureBoston Expo)
AccessoriesTheShow – February
AccessoriesTheShow – January
ALOA Convention & Security Expo (Associated Locksmiths of America)
American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting
American Coatings Show & Conference
American Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference
American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting
American Thoracic Society International Conference
Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics
BIO International Convention (Biotechnology Industry Organization)
Cosmoprof North America
Coverings
EVS26 – Electric Vehicle Symposium
EXHIBITOR2012
Fame
FN PLATFORM (Footwear News) – August
FN PLATFORM (Footwear News) – February
IMEX America
Interbike International Bicycle Expo
International AIDS Conference
International Boston Seafood Show and Seafood Processing America
International LCT Show (Limousine, Charter & Tour)
International Manufacturing Technology Show
International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
IPC APEX EXPO (Association Connecting Electronics Industries)
Jewelers International Showcase – October
MAGIC – August
MAGIC – February
Midwest Poultry Federation Convention
MINExpo INTERNATIONAL©
Moda Manhattan
MRket
National Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo
National Facilities Management & Technology Conference & Expo
The NBM Show (National Business Media)
NECA Convention & Trade Show (National Electrical Contractors Association)
NWFA Wood Flooring Expo (National Wood Flooring Association)
OR Manager Conference
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market
RECon, The Global Retail Real Estate Convention
The Rental Show
RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition (Risk & Insurance Management Society)
The Running Event
SGIA Expo (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association)
Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show
SuperZoo
Surf Expo – January
Texworld USA (Winter Edition)
World of Asphalt Show & Conference
FASTEST 50 SHOWS BY TOTAL ATTENDANCE
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
AACC Clinical Lab Expo (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
ALOA Convention & Security Expo (Associated Locksmiths of America)
American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting
American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting
American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting
American Thoracic Society International Conference
Annual Congress of American Payroll Association
APTA Combined Sections Meeting (American Physical Therapy Association)
ASMBS Annual Meeting (American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery)
ASPE Convention & Exposition (American Society of Plumbing Engineers)
Coverings
Firehouse World
FN PLATFORM (Footwear News) – February
GlobalShop
HELI-EXPO®
HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition (Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society)
Hospitality Design Expo & Conference
ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades)
IEEE PES Transmission & Distribution Conference & Exposition (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers/Power & Energy Society)
IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo (Institute of Food Technologists)
IMEX America
International AIDS Conference
International LCT Show (Limousine, Charter & Tour)
International Manufacturing Technology Show
International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair
IPC APEX EXPO (Association Connecting Electronics Industries)
Jewelers International Showcase – January
MINExpo INTERNATIONAL©
MRket
National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Annual Forum & Exposition
The NBM Show (National Business Media)
NCEA Convention & Expo (National Catholic Educational Association)
NECA Convention & Trade Show (National Electrical Contractors Association)
NPE – The International Plastics Showcase
NWFA Wood Flooring Expo (National Wood Flooring Association)
OFFPRICE Show
Offshore Technology Conference
OR Manager Conference
Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit International Convention & Expo
The Rental Show
Retail’s Big Show
RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition (Risk & Insurance Management Society)
Rocky Mountain Dental Convention
The Running Event
SCAA Annual Exposition (Specialty Coffee Association of America)
SGIA Expo (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association)
Society of Gastroenterology Nurses & Associates Annual Course
SURTEX
Texas High School Coaches Association Convention
Texworld USA (Winter Edition)
To register,go to https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=830
For more details about the Fastest 50 event, go to https://tradeshowexecutive.com/Fastest50
