Mid-Atlantic Portrait: Small States, Big Impression

Jillian Dauer -- Tradeshow Week, 6/11/2007

The states in the Mid-Atlantic region are rich in history. Aside from three of the original American colonies, including Delaware, the first state to ratify the Constitution, the region also contains the nation's capital. It has more to offer than just historical sites, however. Visitors can also enjoy the coastal beaches, such as those in Virginia Beach, Va., and Ocean City, Md., as well as the museums of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Tradeshow Week Associate Editor Jillian Dauer explores the exhibition industry in the Mid-Atlantic.

Bigger floors, more attendees

This year, more than 53,000 companies will send representatives to the Mid-Atlantic to display their products for nearly 2.2 million visitors across almost 18.3 million net square feet of exhibit space, according to figures supplied to Tradeshow Week.
In addition to hosting two more shows this year, 224 compared with last year's 222, the area will also see 18 percent more exhibitors, as 44,844 companies were expected last year. This increase will contribute to an anticipated 9.7-percent rise in net square footage of exhibit space. Last year, estimates indicated that shows taking place in the region would span 16.6 million sq. ft.
At the same time, projections point toward 11 percent more attendees walking the aisles, as the region welcomed slightly less than 2 million visitors to events last year.
This region holds almost 2.6 percent of the country's market share of attendance, 3.3 percent of exhibitors and 2.9 percent of net square footage.
More than 6,800 attendees will stroll through a 48,287 net sq. ft. showfloor and visit 245 exhibitors at the average Mid-Atlantic tradeshow.
The region's average public show will span 92,500 net sq. ft. with 144 exhibiting companies and attract 16,312 visitors.
At the average hybrid consumer-trade show, 158 exhibitors will present their products to 13,444 attendees over 14,167 net sq. ft.
The average booth will occupy 345 sq. ft.

Health and home are top industries

Medical and health care professionals devoted to a wide range of specialties, from dermatology at the AAD Annual Meeting to brain surgery at the American Assn. of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, will enjoy all that the region has to offer. These are just two of the 31 shows in the medical and health care sector scheduled to take place in the Mid-Atlantic region this year, more than any other industry. Home furnishings and interior design are second with 17 shows. With its close proximity to the ocean, it's not surprising that the boating industry takes third place with 12 shows.

AGI leads area managers

AGI Events will produce more shows than any other company in the region with 11, including the Richmond Boat Show and Washington Camping-RV Expo. The Intl. Gem & Jewelry Show comes in second with seven shows, while Gilmore Enterprises brings home third prize with five shows.

Earlier is better in show timing

With 34 scheduled shows (among them, FOSE, No. 152 on the Tradeshow Week 200), March was anticipated to host more Mid-Atlantic events than any other month this year. Next in line was February with 26 shows. April was showered with 25, including Summit Business Media's recently revamped Decor Spring Expo in Baltimore.

The majority of the region's shows (39 percent) took place in the first quarter of the year. As the holidays draw near, December will see the fewest shows (seven) of any month, while the warmer-weather vacation months prove not much more attractive, with only 15 percent of shows scheduled during the third quarter.

Small sector, big impact

Although only a modest percentage of the nation's events take place in the Mid-Atlantic region, its importance is apparent as two major industry meetings are scheduled in the nation's capital this year. The American Society of Assn. Executives & the Center will hold its annual Springtime at the Washington Convention Center June 14–17 and Natl. Trade Productions' annual TS² 2007 will be held at the venue July 31–Aug. 2.

With such an abundance of key players in the tradeshow industry at its fingertips, the region's appeal can only continue to grow.

Nine Busiest Mid-Atlantic Cities (2007)

City	No. of shows
Washington, D.C.	80
Baltimore	40
Chantilly, Va.	16
Richmond, Va.	16
Virginia Beach, Va.	11
Timonium, Md.	8
Arlington, Va.	7
Fredericksburg, Va.	5
Ocean City, Md.	5

Mid-Atlantic Tradeshow Week 200 Shows (2006)

Show (TSW 200 ranking)	City	Size (net sq. ft.)
BookExpo America (89)	Washington, D.C.	256,500
Assn. of the United States Army Annual Meeting (108)	Washington, D.C.	233,100
AORN Annual Congress (Assn. of periOperative Registered Nurses) (142)	Washington, D.C.	189,100
FOSE (152)	Washington, D.C.	174,090
Natural Products Expo East (159)	Baltimore	171,600

The Exposition Industry In The Mid-Atlantic

	2006 Averages	2007 Averages	2006 Region totals	2007 Region totals
Shows	NA	NA	222	224
Net sq. ft.	74,978	81,541	16,645,116	18,265,085
Exhibiting firms	202	237	44,777	53,018
Professional attendance	8,721	9,627	1,936,140	2,156,483

Eleven Busiest Mid-Atlantic Venues (2007)

Venue	No. of shows
Washington (D.C.) Convention Center	44
Baltimore Convention Center	33
Dulles Expo & Convention Center (Chantilly, Va.)	16
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (Washington, D.C.)	13
Virginia Beach (Va.) Convention Center	9
Hilton Washington	8
Maryland State Fairgrounds	8
Richmond (Va.) Raceway Complex	8
Fredericksburg (Va.) Expo & Conference Center	5
Greater Richmond (Va.) Convention Center	5
Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan Natl. Airport	5
Source: Tradeshow Week research

Tradeshow Week regularly focuses on specific regions of the United States or the world, examining issues of interest to the industry in those areas. In this issue, we examine the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes: