The 2006 TSW 200: When Is Big Big Enough?

Just as it has every third year since 1999, the giant CONEXPO-CON/AGG once again tops the Tradeshow Week 200 as the United States' largest tradeshow in 2005. And while the usual suspects may get all the attention, there is movement further down the 2006 TSW 200 list that is sure to make things interesting in years to come.

Although last year's CONEXPO-CON/AGG was almost 32,000 net square feet larger than in 2002, show director Megan Tanel said the event is growing in ways that can't be defined by square footage.

"Our international attendance continues to increase, and that will be a factor in future growth," she said. "We also continue to increase the product areas and target markets within the show to be sure we are reaching our entire audience."

The March show at the Las Vegas Convention Center occupied 1.8 million net sq. ft., with 1,965 exhibiting companies and 97,913 attendees.

Tanel said the show's revenues go straight back to the industry. "Essentially, an investment in CONEXPO-CON/AGG is an investment in the industries we serve. Our exhibitors and attendees see that, and it's another reason to support the show," she said.

Following CONEXPO-CON/AGG is Intl. CES, the largest annual show for the fifth consecutive year. CES took up 1.5 million net sq. ft. spread out over three Las Vegas venues, an 11-percent increase over 2004. The biennial ICUEE, spanning 1.1 million net sq. ft., closes out the top three.

There is one newcomer to the top 10 this year: The Annual Natl. RV Trade Show moved up to No. 9, from No. 17 last year.

"We would have been in the top 10 sooner, but we didn't have enough space in the facility," said Mike Hutya, vice president of meetings and shows for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Assn.

The RV show grew by 17 percent, from 773,319 net sq. ft. in 2004 to 904,657 in 2005.

The 2005 show took advantage of a 166,000 sq. ft. expansion at Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center and used all of the added space, "plus everything else they have," Hutya said. "We had to allocate and cut back space that exhibitors were asking for, because we didn't have it."

She added, "Being one of the largest shows garners a lot of attention, but being the biggest is not a problem – it's not being big enough (that is)."

The Assn. of the United States Army Annual Meeting made its debut appearance on the TSW 200 at No. 112. The show was also recognized in October at TSW's Fastest 50 weekend in Las Vegas as the overall fastest-growing show.

"We're very excited to have been honored and excited to watch the growth from the two-hotel scenario to the convention center," said Joseph Hollis, director of industry affairs for the association.

The show, which takes place each year in halls A, B and C of the Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, has become so large it's had to restrict the amount of space its industry companies can buy. Now their booths cannot exceed 4,000 sq. ft.

"We could use halls D and E in the center if we had them, but they're not available until 2011," Hollis said.

But he isn't worried this will upset his exhibitors. "If they can't go out, they'll go up and build tiers."

The show's exhibitors are 80-percent industry and 20-percent government, a mix the association tries to maintain. With 85 companies on a waiting list, the size restriction allows small- to medium-sized and new companies a chance to exhibit.

"What we'd like to have is all the companies participate as exhibitors if they want to," Hollis said.

Overall, the largest shows in the United States experienced growth across the board. Among those U.S. shows listed in the TSW 200, net square footage saw a 3.2-percent increase, the number of exhibiting companies was up 1.5 percent, and attendance grew 3.5 percent.

In Canada, on the other hand, the 50 largest shows experienced a 2.6-percent decrease in net square footage, while exhibiting companies remained stable. Attendance was flat.

Las Vegas is still the most popular tradeshow destination for the largest U.S. shows, just as Toronto held onto the same title in Canada.