Several trade shows rotate between Las Vegas or Chicago to capture exhibitors and attendees on the West Coast; and NYC or Orlando to capture exhibitors and attendees on the East Coast. But, is there any difference? Does one venue attract more participants than the other? [TradeShowWeek]
The folks at Trade Show Week asked exhibitors and attendees of Lightfair Intl., the annual tradeshow and conference for the commercial lighting industry, if either of their shows, NYC or Las Vegas, was more successful. Turns out, the show may have its differences city to city, but remains consistent and valid regardless of where it takes place.
AMC, producer and manager of Lightfair, narrowed the show’s rotation to just the LVCC and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York. Established in 1989, Lightfair historically moved between New York, San Francisco and Chicago before adding Las Vegas in 1998. By 2004, Lightfair had established a strict New York-to-Las Vegas rotation.
Las Vegas made sense, said Mike Turnbull, AMC senior vice president of marketing, because it was easier for people from the western third of the U.S. to attend the show.
“It’s a nice, complementary synergy,” Turnbull said. “There are certain things (in Las Vegas) you absolutely can’t do anywhere else in the world, and the same goes for New York. People have come to expect that Lightfair will be consistent wherever it is, but the flavor changes according to where it lands.”
Exhibitors and attendees alike had their opinions about the similarities and differences between the Las Vegas and New York shows.
“(The shows have) a very different attendee base,” said Mark Walsh, president and CEO of Lunera Lighting. “In New York, they come in and do their business and move on. (In Las Vegas) people have a little more social time. … It’s an easier opportunity to set up a breakfast or dinner appointment.”
“It’s imperative (to attend both),” he said. “This is the cutting edge, where you can take the pulse of the industry.”
Lightfiar Intl. management has done an excellent job making both shows viable. “(Las Vegas) has been a nice complement,” Miller said. “We operate with the same leadership team and standards in both cities, so it’s been a very fluid experience.”
Lightfair dates: Javits May 3-7, 2009; LVCC May 10-14, 2010
Source: Trade Show Week, Lisa Plummer
