Trade Shows to Rebound or Regress?

Trade Shows to Rebound or Regress?
I have a love-hate relationship with trade shows. I love them because I enjoy seeing the industry physically come together and do business, develop relationships, and just “talk shop.” As a writer/editor, I love having access to many of the industry movers and shakers, the decision-makers who really drive the industry. I love the energy I feel as walk into a crowded, bustling trade show floor.

I hate the way my feet feel after a day of walking those carpet-over-concrete aisles. I hate having to scramble to create an e-show daily to be e-mailed to our readers, often the same day that trade show news breaks. I hate bad room-service at the hotel. I hate seeing empty conference rooms or lonely exhibitors sitting in their booths. I hate to see a trade show in decline.

This leads me to 2010. I’m very curious what 2010 will bring for trade shows and industry events of all kinds. Going into 2009, I knew it would be very challenging for any industry event -- people just weren’t going to trade shows, and the economy was a big factor. But, now that we’ve had a year to adapt to this down economy, will attendees and exhibitors return to trade shows? Some say the economy is on the rise -- slowly. Some say we’ve hit rock bottom…and we’re still there.

Regardless of the details, we should be more prepared today to deal with this economy than 12 months ago. Will that result in increased attendance at industry events, or will the numbers plateau, or even decrease? Time will tell, but that’s a potential trend I’m watching very closely.