Section I: United States (continued) - Trade Show Executive

TRENDING & SPENDING
An Insider’s Perspective
How is the economy impacting the
exposition industry? This month, eight
industry experts give you projections and
early warning signs based on registration
patterns, exhibit space commitments,
long- and short-term bookings, and
discussions with peers and customers.
Together with the rest of Trade Show
Executive’s Exposition Forecasting Board,
they have insider knowledge about the
true performance of the majority of U.S.
trade shows.
And just like economists, they don’t
always agree. Their diverse opinions, however,
provide valuable insights to help you
formulate your plans.
Darlene Gudea,
PRESIDENT
Trade Show Executive
Frank Chow,
CHIEF ECONOMIST
Trade Show Executive
Aaron Bludworth
COO
Fern Exposition
Event Services
Trade Shows Will Weather the Storm
“An author one wrote, ‘As sure as the Spring will follow the
Winter, prosperity and economic growth will follow recession.’
I am bullish that this indeed is the case, however, our
winter is long and a true thaw may be a ways off. As long as
the crop could freeze, we will see resistance to long-term investment
and growth. The Fed recently put a long-term freeze
on interest rates and the debt ceiling crisis is temporarily out
of the headlines. These factors should provide some degree
of stability and contain our current levels of participation.”
Nancy Walsh
EXECUTIVE VP
Reed Exhibitions
Tom Caridi
CFO
Questex Media Group
Colette O’Donnell
GROUP CONTROLLER
Advanstar
Communications, Inc.
Jack Chalden
MANAGING DIR.
The International
Economic Alliance
Conservative Spending Patterns Will Prevail
“Continued global economic weakness, with little evidence
of improvement in the short-term, hits trade shows with the
effect being felt first in overall attendance. Corporations will
continue to act very conservatively, keeping money close to the
vest, until the economic picture becomes clearer. Job growth
will continue to be weak. Overall, too much uncertainty exists
to move the needle in a more positive direction. Happily, most
of the Fourth Quarter shows will have secured the bulk of their
exhibitor commitments well in advance, so the recent economic
news will not have much of an impact either way.”
Chris Brown
EXECUTIVE VP
National Association
of Broadcasters
Skip Cox
PRESIDENT & CEO
Exhibit Surveys
Value Ratings are Improving
“Growth in key economic indicators appears to be stagnating
a little, based on our observations of the events we analyze,
but there is still growth. The big plus is that attendee and
exhibitor value ratings in meeting their objectives have been
improving. Events achieving the best results are those that
continued to evolve and innovate their show experience for
attendees and exhibitors during the recession (despite lower
budgets) so they were poised for growth in 2011.”
Gregg Caren
SENIOR VP,
STRATEGIC BUS.
SMG
James Rooney
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mass. Convention Center
Authority
22 September 2011 | Trade Show Executive