Demand at North American convention centers increased 2% in the last year and more than 18% since 2004, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
“In the past several years, we really have seen the big rebound in demand that some in the industry claimed would never occur,” said Robert Canton, a director in Price’s Hospitality and Leisure Practice.
Total attendance at conventions and trade shows increased 3.8% between 2005 and 2006, said the report.
The study compared survey data from about 50 convention centers in North America, most of them within the US.
Of those 50 centers, nearly 60% reported demand equal to or greater than 1999 and 2000 levels. Those years set meeting records, said Mr Canton.
Report by David Wilkening
