Show of the Week: The Intl. Builders' Show/TecHOMExpo
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 2/5/2007
Where: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando (rotates)
When: Feb. 7–10 (annual)
Show manager: Natl. Assn. of Home Builders
General service contractor: Freeman
Who exhibits: Construction-related manufacturers and suppliers
Who attends: Builders, developers, contractors and architects
2006 show statistics: 966,700 net sq. ft.; 1,681 exhibiting companies; 77,428 buyers
Position on the 2006 TSW 200: 11
First year of show: 1944
New this year: What's new is how to deal with what's new: NextBUILD is a pavilion with more than 200 exhibitors all demonstrating technologies that builders will be able to use to adapt to the changes coming at them. Helping builders recognize what is really at the top of the heap are the first-ever Innovative Housing Technology Awards, recognizing advances and best practices in cutting-edge technology.
The bottom line: The homebuilders show should easily be the largest event Orlando will host this year, just as it was in 2006, when it began the first of a three-year visit. Last year's show went a long way to boost Orlando's credibility, as it might have helped the Florida city move past Chicago to No. 2 on the list of most TSW 200 shows. As so-called citywides go, this is about as wide as it gets: Don't expect to find a spare room in Orlando this week.
Sources: 2007 TSW Data Book, 2006 TSW 200, the Natl. Assn. of Home Builders
