Hawaii: Business in Paradise

Hawaii, the 50th state to join the Union, offers the charms of a tropical paradise that most of its mainland counterparts have no chance of competing with.

The only state completely surrounded by water, Hawaii's isolation from the rest of the United States makes it a perfect place for a getaway.

With average temperatures in the comfortable range of 60 to 90, the obliging climate and the enticing visions of almost unrealistically blue waters; lazy, swaying palm trees; and pristine beaches attract several smaller-scale shows each year. The ever-popular tourist destination is also chockablock with hotels in close proximity to the two key exhibition centers, proof that even paradise can be practical.

Tradeshow Week Senior Assistant Editor Candice Yang surveyed the exhibition industry in Hawaii.

Hawaii's 31 shows will expect to pull in 1,079,243 net square feet of exhibition space this year. Covering the collective span of showfloor will be 236,375 attendees, exploring the wares of 4,185 exhibitors.

The average tradeshow will feature 109 exhibitors and 5,417 attendees spread over 34,575 net sq. ft. of exhibition space.

The average booth will occupy 258 sq. ft.

Douglas Trade Shows' five shows means it is allocated the top spot for most shows held in the state this year, four of them being their quarterly installments of the Hawaii Market Merchandise Expo. Pacific Expositions will hold two shows this year, while the rest of the management companies holding shows in the state decided on a one-time deal for the year.

Honolulu is at the top of a short list of tradeshow cities in Hawaii. Twenty-seven of the year's 31 shows will be held in the capital city. The Neal S. Blaisdell Center's 10 shows edges out the Hawai`i Convention Center's eight shows to claim the title of most popular venue in the state in 2008. The Blaisdell Center offers an intimate 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space that can be expanded to 85,000 sq. ft., while the Hawai`i Convention Center can accommodate some larger shows with upwards of 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space.

With four shows each, the medical and health care and the apparel sectors will hold the most shows in Hawaii this year.

As an established tourist destination, Hawaii is already tailored to handle crowds. With venues ranging from small to mid-size, the numbers coming out of the state may not be astronomical, but considering the locale, it is unlikely that show managers will rule out the island completely.

Projected statistics are voluntarily supplied by shows during TSW Data Book collection and updated throughout the year as information becomes available. Shows submitting projections vary year to year, which may affect region totals.