Intl. Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show Just Keeps Trying
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 8/14/2006
Adding to the grab bag of changes already announced, George Little Management reports it is expanding the technology component of its Intl. Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show Nov. 11–14 at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
An announcement by show management said it will expand the number of exhibitors in its technology division by more than 15 percent to more than 200 who can supply attendees in the hotel and restaurant industry with the products and services they need.
At the same time, the show is adding a seminar track to include sessions with titles like "What to Look for When Purchasing Guest Experience Systems" and "High-speed Connections Becoming the Number One Amenity in Hotels." There will also be an online matching program for exhibitors and attendees.
News of the added technology component follows on the heels of earlier announcements this year about collocations with the hotel show: EX•TRACTS: Essentials for spa, home & travel, a beauty products show, and All Asia Food Expo and Expo Comida Latina, both ethnic food shows. Kosherfest began collocating with the show last year.
At the time of the announcement GLM officials told Tradeshow Week the collocated shows would attract 45,000 buyers and 2,000 attendees this year. If accurate, that would be a substantial increase over 2005, when a 217,000 net square foot showfloor drew 17,000 attendees and 1,200 exhibitors.
Last year, the hotel show was No. 124 on the TSW 200. That was down from its peak ranking of No. 70 in 2000, when it recorded 335,340 net sq. ft., 28,568 attendees and 1,925 exhibitors.
Intl. Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show managers did not return calls to TSW by press time. However, in a statement Show Manager Christian Falkenberg said, "Being informed of advances in technology is essential in this marketplace. (This) will help attendees stay current and on top of the competition."
