Chicago, IL – Both the number of shows exhibitors participate in and the size of trade show budgets will be down 17% in 2009, according to new research from the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA).
The 2009 Exhibit Management Survey conducted by TSEA among companies that regularly exhibit, concluded that companies still consider face-to-face events to be a primary means of generating sales leads.
“What we learned from this survey is that the trade show industry outlook is far from bleak,” said Margit Weisgal, TSEA president and CEO. “While spending is down, it is not drastic because the value of trade shows is indisputable.”
The TSEA survey polled 300 professionals from 293 companies of various sizes who use trade shows or other face-to-face marketing to promote their products. The 56-question survey was conducted for TSEA by Exhibit Surveys, Inc. December 22, 2008 through January 31, 2009.
Other findings included:
- Exhibitors participated in an average of 30 trade shows in 2008 and expect to exhibit in 25 in 2009.
- Budgets for exhibiting will decrease 17% from an average $459,100 in 2008 to $381,000 in 2009.
- Spending on medical, healthcare and pharmaceutical industry events will increase 5% in 2009, but spending for technology shows will decrease 46%.
- Corporate private event spending will decrease 30% from 2008 to 2009.
Reach Margit Weisgal at (312) 949-5791 or mbweisgal@tsea.org
