Fears that Hurricane Sandy, which recently devastated the US eastern seaboard, and the culmination of the country's presidential election could dampen attendance at this year's PACK EXPO have proved only partially true, with visitor numbers down compared to pre-show registrations, but organisers still able to point to record exhibitor and attendance figures.
Ahead of the giant packaging show, held in Chicago at the end of October, organisers had proudly pointed to a 10 per cent rise in pre-registrations for the event.
That, however, was before Hurricane Sandy bore down on the US north east.
In the wash-up after the show (and the storm), show organiser Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) reported only a three per cent rise in attendance – to 45,300 visitors, compared to the previous Chicago PACK EXPO in 2010.
Much of this was attributed to a strong showing by international visitors, including many from Australia. International attendance was up eight per cent over the 2010 event.
“While we fully expected to surpass our attendance goals, the storm’s effect on East Coast travel prohibited many from making the show. However, we still finished with the largest PACK EXPO International since 2006,” the president and chief executive of the PMMI, Charles Yuska, said.
“The increase in exhibitors speaks to the quality of business done at PACK EXPO. These exhibiting companies invest time and resources, and they have to believe that they are going to get a return on that investment.”
The four-day event, however, did meet pre-show expectations in terms of exhibiting numbers.
The expo covered more than 102,000 square metres in Chicago's McCormick Place, with 1,965 exhibiting companies, an increase of over six per cent for space and eight per cent for exhibiting companies from 2010.
“PACK EXPO International 2012 was definitely a success,” Yuska said.
“Traffic was strong, despite the storm, and the exhibitors I spoke with were very pleased with the number and quality of leads they received. I think it’s also significant that exhibitors were already planning ahead and reserving booth space for PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013.”
He said pre-bookings for next year's Las Vegas event were already 20 per cent more than at same time before the previous Las Vegas show in 2011.
International visitors helped to boost visitor numbers to this year's PACK EXPO in Chicago.
