Show officials noted the largest crowd size and amount of booth space ever for industry’s biggest event, GIE+EXPO at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, where attendance showed significant increase from 2013 in most visitor categories and a record number of exhibitors filled a record amount of space since the Green Industry Expo and the International Lawn, Garden and Power Equipment Expo merged in 2007.
“This is the biggest show we’ve ever had, we’re already looking at going into the North Hall next year,” said Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s Kris Kiser during a mid-show press conference. “The show is in high gear right now, and we’ve already got people coming by wanting to buy booths and expand what they already have for next year.”
Kiser said at the time preliminary numbers were showing registration numbers pushing a 10% increase over 2013. A few days later showed he was being modest as final figures showed an 11% increase, as 19,000 visitors from around the world made their way to GIE+EXPO 2014.
Those who made the trip were able to see a record 675 indoor exhibits—a 6% increase over 2013—and 181 new exhibitors. Counting both indoor booths and the outdoor demo area, total space for GIE+EXPO was more than 1.3 million sq. ft.—yet another record for what is one of the biggest trade shows in the U.S.
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