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According to the US-based Tradeshow Week’s Quarterly Report of Tradeshow Statistics, tradeshows held in the first quarter of 2002 across the world and in all industry sectors reported declines in every measure of growth, including attendance, experiencing an 8.1 percent drop compared with 2001.
However, despite these statistics showing an overall decrease in trade show attendance worldwide (something only too keenly felt here in the UK), the Interbike International Bicycle Expo, held last week in Las Vegas, closed the show with all-time record attendance.
Preliminary figures show approximately 22 000 industry personnel converged on the Sands Expo and Convention Center for Interbike 2002, representing 9500 buyers from 4500 retail
storefronts.
Of the overall attendance, Interbike execs estimate that about 20 000 individuals had attended by the end of day one.
"Sunday was the single largest day of attendance in show history. As of the close of the first day, more people had attended the event than any other single day," said Michael Baker, marketing manager for VNU Sports Group.
Part of the reason for the crowds was the compressed nature of the show: instead of a four day expo (plus Outdoor Demo day), it was a three day show (plus Outdoor Demo day).
Complete 2002 attendance and demographic show statistics will be released in November.
Interbike 2003 will take place in Las Vegas, October 11-14th.
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