Trade Show Executive– A SPECIAL REPORT BY –

MEDICALE I G H T H S E M I - A N N UA L

SHOWREPORT

Trade Show Executive– A SPECIAL REPORT BY –

34 March 2015 | Trade Show Executive

Oceanside, CA – Th e vital statistics for medical conferences and exhibitions that took place in the second half of 2014 were little changed from the same period of the previous year, continuing a sluggish trend that has proven as diffi cult to shake as a Winter bug. Whether due to nagging restrictions on pharmaceutical exhibi-tors or the tougher economic facts of life for the medical profession, the growth of these coveted conferences has virtually stalled in recent years.

Th e amount of exhibit space sold in the second half of 2014 backtracked (1.3)% compared to the second half of 2013, according to the Trade Show Executive (TSE) Medical Show Report. Th e number of exhibitors in the period grew a modest 1.0% over the second half of 2013. Atten-dance led the way with a 1.9% increase, a welcome development aft er a fi rst half where attendance growth was virtually fl at.

Th e blasé performance was actually an improvement over the fi rst half of the year in which attendance and exhibitor count drift ed lower while exhibit space grew 1.6%. Th e result (see sidebar) was a full year in which the medical meeting world was virtually fl at.

Th e fi nal six months of 2014 were relatively quiet compared to the fi rst half. Th ere were 18 healthcare events surveyed for the Medical Show Report compared to 33 in the fi rst half. Of that 18, six had exhibit fl oors of more than 100,000 net square feet (nsf); four gatherings were under 20,000 nsf. Only three shows were large enough to be included on the TSE Gold 100 list of largest U.S. trade shows.

Two other shows were among the TSE Fastest 50, but both reported lower attendance than in 2013.

Exhibit space sold for the second half totaled an adjusted 1,702,939 nsf, well be-low the nearly 3.5 million nsf total for the busier fi rst half. Th e number of exhibitors totaled 5,993 and attendance was a mod-est 241,638. Th e average adjusted exhibit space for shows in the last six months of last year was 100,700 nsf with 353 exhibi-tors and 15,102 attendees.

Only one show saw its metrics slip in all three categories. Another six events were happily up across the board.

RSNA – Higher Quality and Quantity of AttendeesTh e largest show of the second half produced mixed results, but with a healthy silver lining that could pay off later this year. Th e Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA) 100th Sci-entifi c Assembly and Annual Meeting was the largest show of the period with 431,400 nsf of exhibit space at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Th e exhibit fl oor was (1.4)% smaller than it was in 2013, which was likely due in part to a (1.5)% reduction in the number of exhibitors on hand. Th e 652 sellers — including 111 fi rst-time exhibi-tors — who were on the fl oor were able to take advantage of a noticeably larger crowd. Attendance at RSNA grew 3.7% to a total of 56,026.

A closer look at the registrations revealed an increase in the attendance that RSNA covets, including a higher number of over- Continued on page 36

seas visitors and a higher concentration of professional attendees. Show management said the 28,807 attendees in the professional category was a show record. Exhibitors dispatched nearly 21,000 staff members to the conference. Overall international attendance jumped 12% to 11,470.

“Professional attendance was at an all-time high and we continue to attract a growing number of international at-tendees,” said RSNA Executive Director Mark Watson. “We were very pleased with the outcome of RSNA 2014.”

Th e Golden Anniversary of RSNA (X-rays were discovered in 1895) added a new dimension to the conference. Th ere were separate exhibits of historical interest and X-ray art created by a Dutch medical physicist. Th ere was also a full agenda of courses and 1,754 scientifi c presentations. Th e expanded virtual meeting included on-demand access to 60 sessions and drew 6,076 attendees from around the world.

“We are always looking to provide a stel-lar experience for our attendees,” Watson said. “RSNA 2014 off ered nearly 5,000 sci-entifi c presentations, including posters and educational exhibits. We looked back at the extraordinary history of radiation, and in 2015 we’ll turn our focus to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Growth Leaders� Th e American Academy of Dermatol-ogy Summer Academy Meeting expe-rienced a 25% jump in exhibit space as it rotated through Chicago in August. Exhibit space increased to 17,900 nsf even though the number of exhibitors was virtually unchanged from the previous year in New York. Attendance slipped (14.2)% to 2,878. Th e meeting moves back to New York this Summer.� Th e American Psychological Associa-tion Annual Convention returned to the mainland aft er staging the show in Hawaii in 2013. Th e easier travel to Wash-ington, DC was likely the main factor in a surge of around 50% in the number of exhibitors and exhibit space. Attendance numbers were not immediately available, but the crowd likely outdid the 10,970 attendees who made it to Honolulu.

Decline in Exhibit Space Seen at Second-Half Medical ConferencesBY CAROL ANDREWS, editor-at-large, and HIL ANDERSON, senior editor

36 March 2015 | Trade Show Executive

Growth was virtually nonexistent in ex-

hibit space, exhibitors and attendance

at medical conferences and meetings

surveyed for the Trade Show Executive

Medical Show Report during the full

12 months of 2014.

But what little movement there was

pointed in the right direction. Exhibit

space crept up 0.6% and attendance

grew 0.5%. The number of exhibitors

who set up shop at the 51 events held

in 2014 was remarkably unchanged.

The slight rebound in the second

half appeared to be just enough for

the metrics to regain a toehold in

positive territory following a fi rst half

in which exhibitor counts slipped

(0.5)% and attendance waned by

(0.2)% from the fi rst half of 2013.

Metrics Steady and Barely in the Black

MEDICAL SHOWS

� OR Manager Conference moved from the East Coast to Long Beach, CA in 2014 and saw its exhibit fl oor jump 15.2% to 25,000 nsf. Attendance grew 5.5% to 1,400 and the number of exhibitors was up 6.3% at 136. Access Intelligence kept the operating room nursing crowd pointed to the exhibit hall, which was the site of the opening reception and exhibitor-spon-sored Continuing Education courses.� Th e American Association for Clini-cal Chemistry (AACC) Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in Chicago spot-lighted new lab tests under development for Alzheimer’s disease and the dreaded Ebola virus, which was plaguing Africa and threatening the U.S. at the time of the meeting. Th e Gold 100 conference reported a 2.1% increase in exhibit space to 208,300 nsf. Attendance hit 19,400, a 10.9% increase over 2013.

Continued from page 34

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Medical Show Report | JUL-DEC 2014Trade Show Executive

NSF OF PAID EXHIBIT SPACE

TOTAL ATTENDANCE

(15)%

(10)%

10%

5%

(5)%

0%

JUL - DEC2011

JUL - DEC2012

JUL - DEC2013

JAN - JUN2013

JUL - DEC2014

JAN - JUN2014

JAN - JUN2011

JAN - JUN2012

EXHIBITING ORGANIZATIONS

JUL - DEC2013

JUL - DEC2014

JAN - JUN2014

(15)%

(10)%

10%

5%

(5)%

0%

JUL - DEC2011

JUL - DEC2012

JAN - JUN2013

JAN - JUN2011

JAN - JUN2012

JUL - DEC2013

JUL - DEC2014

JAN - JUN2014

(15)%

(10)%

10%

5%

(5)%

0%

JUL - DEC2011

JUL - DEC2012

JAN - JUN2013

JAN - JUN2011

JAN - JUN2012

(1.3)NET SQ. FT.

1.9ATTENDEES

1.0EXHIBITORS

Top CitiesChicago was by far the leading host for the medical and healthcare industry shows in the second half of 2014. Four Medical Show Report events took place in the Windy City during that period, totaling 897,600 nsf of exhibit space.

San Antonio was a distant second with the 126,400 nsf provided by the Ameri-can Dental Association’s annual meet-ing. San Francisco was third with the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, which this year occupied 118,078 nsf.

Coming UpTh e volume of medical conferences in the New Year picks up momentum as Spring approaches. March features an extensive calendar led by the Ameri-can Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. Th e AAOS conference is projected at 260,000 nsf in 2015 aft er earning slots on both the Trade Show Executive Gold 100 and Fastest 50.

March will also be busy in San Anto-nio, which hosts Audiology Now!, and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering International Summit & Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design & Construction.

Cancer specialists will be in Chicago in late May for the high-profi le American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Th e 50th annual ASCO conference last year drew more than 34,750 attendees. TSE

www.TradeShowExecutive.com | March 2015 37

MEDICAL METRICS | JUL-DEC 2014Trade Show Executive

*Based on total nsf

TOP CITIES*

� Chicago

� San Antonio

� San Francisco

BENCHMARKS:

AVERAGE GROWTH

GROWTH LEADERSTOP MANAGEMENTS*

� NSF: (1.3)%

� Exhibitors: 1.0%

� Attendance: 1.9%

� APA Annual Convention

� AAD Summer

Academy Meeting

� OR Manager

Conference

� RSNA

� American Academy

of Ophthalmology

� American Association

for Clinical Chemistry

BY CAROL

ANDREWS, editor-at-large

SHOW INFORMATION 2014/2013 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014 VS. 2013

July-December 2014 Show Site Net SF of Exhibits Exhibitors Total Attendance Show Highlights

Continued on page 38

AAO Annual Meeting Orlando 68,700 6.6% 269 14.0% 8,229 5.1% The event drew more than 8,000

& OTO EXPO Vancouver, BC 64,450 236 7,827 otolaryngologists, researchers,

American Academy of academic professors, community

Otolaryngology-Head and practitioners, international societies,

Neck Surgery Foundation fellows-in-training and residents from

www.entnet.org around the world. Attendees could

participate in more than 300 hours

of scheduled continuing education.

ADA 2014 – America’s San Antonio 126,400 (1.6)% 595 0.7% 20,652 (12.0)% ADA had the largest international

Dental Meeting New Orleans 128,500 591 23,457 exhibitor contingent in 15 years.

American Dental Association This was due, in part, to the German

www.ada.org/meeting pavilion’s move from another dental

meeting to the ADA Meeting. They

will also participate in ADA 2015

in Washington, DC.

American Academy of Chicago 17,900 25.0% 135 (0.7)% 2,878 (14.2)% The exhibit hall offered the latest

Dermatology Summer New York 14,320 136 3,353 products in dermatology, the AAD

Academy Meeting Resource Center, the Industry Expert

American Academy Theater, and poster exhibits and

of Dermatology presentations.A meeting app enabled

www.aad.org attendees to navigate interactive

maps, organize meeting schedules,

search for exhibitors, access session

evaluations, Tweet and more.

AAO Annual Meeting Chicago 240,000 1.5% 620 5.3% 24,634 2.4% The 2014 show was sold out. A

American Academy New Orleans 236,500 589 24,060 Virtual Exhibition, in which exhibitors

of Ophthalmology populated their digital booths, gave

www.aao.org attendees an easy way to plan their

show visits. A Subspecialty Day

included hands-on labs, the latest

research and techniques, presen-

tations and networking opportunities.

American Academy San Diego 61,500 1.7% 347 2.4% 14,163 (8.0)% There was a record number of

of Pediatrics National Orlando 60,500 339 15,400 professional registrants at this

Conference & Exhibition year's show; professional registration

American Academy of Pediatrics increased by 11.7% over 2013

www.AAPexperieNCE.org numbers in Orlando. International

attendance hit an all-time high of

2,168; 24% of professional attendees

were international.

AABB Annual Philadelphia 53,100 (10.0)% 185 (6.1)% 5,737 2.4% The exhibit hall’s opening night

Meeting & CTTEXPO Denver 59,000 197 5,604 began with a parade and perfor-

American Association mance by Mummers musicians; Ben

of Blood Banks Franklin, who posed with attendees

www.aabb.org for photos; and Philadelphia food

specialties. VIP hours, before regular

exhibit hall hours, enabled vendors

to meet one-on-one with clients

and potential clients. An exhibit

hall networking hour was another

opportunity for exhibitors and

attendees to meet.

Trade Show Executive's

FASTEST

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38 March 2015 | Trade Show Executive

SHOW INFORMATION 2014/2013 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014 VS. 2013

July-December 2014 Show Site Net SF of Exhibits Exhibitors Total Attendance Show Highlights

Medical Show Report | JULY-DECEMBER 2014Trade Show Executive

American Association for Chicago 208,300 2.1% 770 18.5% 19,400 10.9% New this year: Free lunch for atten-

Clinical Chemistry Annual Houston 204,100 650 17,500 dees and exhibitors in the exhibit

Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo hall; an Interactive New Products

American Association Showcase; an Industry Workshop

for Clinical Chemistry Theater with cutting-edge presen-

www.aacc.org tations; and an OEM Lecture Series

Theater in the OEM Pavilion. There

were more than 200 educational

opportunities during the event’s run.

American Epilepsy Seattle 19,000 9.1% 114 8.6% 4,718 (1.7)% The show had the highest booth

Society Annual Meeting Washington, DC 17,421 105 4,800 count since the 2008 show and the

American Epilepsy Society highest exhibiting company count

www.corcexpo.com ever. There were 30 new exhibitors

for the second year in a row. The

show attracts attendees from all

over the world, including neurologists,

epileptologists, neurosurgeons

and other professionals.

American Public Health New Orleans 57,500 2.0% 575 2.0% 12,752 1.5% A new Monday General Session,

Association Annual Boston 58,700 587 12,559 featuring a former U.S. Surgeon

Meeting & Expo General, was a great success. The

American Public opening general session featured

Health Association a presentation by journalist Isabel

www.apha.org/ Wilkerson to an audience of more

events-and-meetings/annual than 5,000. Attendance was up

over 2013 and 2012 numbers.

APA Annual Convention Washington, DC 25,200 53.7% 191 43.6% N/A CU New this year was a Special

American Psychological Honolulu 16,400 133 10,970 Technology Exhibits Section. A

Association revamped career fair connected job

www.apa.org seekers with professional resources

and prospective employers. APA’s

D.C. Food Trucks Festival enabled

attendees to sample the best of the

city’s food trucks during lunch.

ASH Annual San Francisco 118,078 (3.8)% 212 (11.7)% 26,186 17.1% There was record attendance

Meeting & Exposition New Orleans 122,700 240 22,369 in the sold-out exhibit hall. Exhibitors

American Society included pharmaceutical companies,

of Hematology medical suppliers, clinical diagnostic

www.hematology.com and research-based companies,

publishers and nonprofi t organi-

zations that showcased the latest

technology and research and a

wide range of products and services.

CVC Kansas City Kansas City, MO 40,300 1.8% 220 2.8% 5,246 0.1% Show management strategically

Advanstar Communications Inc. Kansas City, MO 39,600 214 5,240 promoted exhibit hall attendance in

www.advanstar.com all convention marketing materials,

convention announcements, industry

magazines and scheduled activities.

Attendees have rated the exhibit hall

as good to excellent. Attendees also

had access to more than 500 hours

of educational programming.

Health + Fitness Las Vegas 18,750 EST. (22.4)% 73 EST. (18.0)% N/A CU Attendance was combined with

Business Expo Las Vegas 24,150 89 N/A Interbike’s attendance; attendance

Emerald Expositions for Health+ Fitness Business Expo

www.emeraldexpositions.com only is not available. Next year the

event will be included with Interbike

as a fi tness neighborhood area of

the show fl oor.

Trade Show Executive's

FASTEST

Continued from page 37

N/A = Not Available CU = Comparison Unavailable

www.TradeShowExecutive.com | March 2015 39

SHOW INFORMATION 2014/2013 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014/2013 VARIANCE 2014 VS. 2013

July-December 2014 Show Site Net SF of Exhibits Exhibitors Total Attendance Show Highlights

Medical Show Report | JULY-DECEMBER 2014Trade Show Executive

Medtrade Atlanta 96,911 EST. (13.7)% 463 EST. (9.7)% 6,189 EST. (9.9)% Exhibits showcased leading home

Emerald Expositions Orlando 112,300 513 6,870 medical equipment manufacturers

www.medtrade.com and products, including the latest

innovations in mobility, respiratory,

sleep, rehab and aids to daily living.

Attendees included HME providers,

specialty homecare providers, home

health agencies, pharmacy-based

and chain HME retailers, distributors

and in-patient facilities.

Neuroscience 2014 Washington, DC 101,600 (1.9)% 537 (5.3)% 31,228 2.5% More than 31,000 researchers,

Society of Neuroscience San Diego 103,600 567 30,469 clinicians and advocates took part

www.stn.org in the show. There were more than

16,000 poster presentations in

the exhibit hall and a Meet-the-

Expert Series gave attendees the

opportunity to talk to respected

neuroscientists about their research

techniques and accomplishments.

OR Manager Conference Long Beach, CA 25,000 15.2% 136 6.3% 1,400 5.5% New for 2014: A Masters Series for

Access Intelligence National 21,700 128 1,327 experienced operating room mana-

www.ORManager Harbor, MD gers. Topics included A Strategic

Conference.com Approach to Managing Advanced

Practice Providers, The Good,

the Bad and the Ugly: A Look Into

Co-Management Agreements, and

Innovations in Shared Governance:

Transforming Governance Structures

for Maximum Staff Engagement.

RSNA Scientifi c Assembly Chicago 431,400 (1.4)% 655 EST. (1.5)% 56,026 3.7% RSNA celebrated its 100th Annual

& Annual Meeting Chicago 437,675 662 54,008 Meeting with a 9% increase in

Radiological Society professional attendance. For the

of North America fi rst time, international registration

www.rsna.org exceeded 10,000. RSNA’s Virtual

Meeting attracted more than 5,700

participants. The economic impact

of the show to the City of Chicago

is estimated to exceed $135 million.

TAHPERD Galveston, TX 18,500 (7.5)% 90 EST. No 2,200 EST. (4.8)% With a focus on health education, the

Annual Convention Dallas 20,000 90 Change 2,311 event brought together professionals

Texas Association for with expertise in activity-based pro-

Health, Physical Education, fessions. The convention enabled

Recreation & Dance practitioners to share their knowledge

www.tahperd.org with other professionals in the fi eld.

Attendees, who are teachers, had

the opportunity to receive CEUs.

Total 1,728,139 6,184 241,638(Sum of all fi gures submitted by show management) 1,741,616 6,066 248,123

Adjusted Total 1,702,939 5,993 241,638(Excludes outliers and shows in which an 1,725,216 5,933 237,153

apples-to-apples comparison is not possible)

Averages 100,173 353 15,102(Based on Adjusted Totals) 101,483 349 14,822

Percentage of Growth (1.3)% 1.0% 1.9%(Based on Adjusted Totals)

DASHBOARD ANALYSIS: Net SF of Exhibits Exhibitors Total Attendance

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