InfoComm 2016 Officially the Largest on Record
A record 1,000 exhibitors, including 211 new exhibitors, occupied the north and central halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center last week for InfoComm 2016. The annual audiovisual trade show and conference took up 527,105 net square feet of exhibition and special events space — also a show record.
More than 38,833 visitors attended InfoComm 2016, June 4-10, which was 4.8 percent more than the last time the show was held in Las Vegas in 2014. More than 35 percent of attendees were visiting InfoComm for the first time, the trade association said.
However, this year’s total attendance did not set a record. About 39,105 attended last year’s InfoComm in Orlando, FL, InfoComm spokesman Brad Grimes said.
Attendees this year registered for more than 12,000 seats at InfoComm University sessions throughout the week, more than double the number participating in training and education in 2015.
About one-third more unique attendees took InfoComm University training at the conference than in years past. The spike in training interest was reportedly driven in part by the 2,620 seminar and workshop packages sold. InfoComm 2016 was the first time attendees could pay one price and attend any of more than 100 courses taught during exhibition days.
“The AV industry’s commitment to advancing technology and showcasing it at InfoComm has never been stronger,” said Jason McGraw, senior vice president of expositions for InfoComm International, in a prepared statement. “The market is constantly changing and we’ve been pleased to introduce new features at InfoComm, such as drones, the Internet of Things and content creation and streaming, which reflect the dynamic nature of commercial AV.”
McGraw said 91 percent of space was rebooked for next year, when the trade show will be held June 10-16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
“This is a thriving, growing, busy industry — especially this time of year — and the fact that so many professionals continue to gather in one place, including new faces and dedicated Info-Comm attendees, underscores the important role that the show plays in the success of their businesses and their careers,” said David Labuskes, executive director and CEO of InfoComm International, in a prepared statement.
InfoComm continues to expand as a venue for professional development and certification. A record 252 attendees registered to take a certified technology specialist (CTS) exam during InfoComm 2016, and 186 received their certification. Professionals earned more than 30,000 renewal units toward maintaining their CTS credentials.
InfoComm International, which organizes InfoComm each year, is the global trade association representing the commercial AV and information communications industries. Established in 1939, InfoComm has more than 5,000 members, representing over 70,000 AV professionals worldwide.
InfoComm also produces trade shows in China, Europe, India, Latin America and the Middle East. More information is available at infocomm.org.
About the Author
Richard Chang is associate editor of THE Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].