As a motivational speaker who loves speaking to Orlando trade show groups, by this time I suppose I have heard just about every single “trade show concern.”
The concerns range from “Why plan an Orlando trade show,” to “What can be my ROI on an Orlando trade show,” to “How do attendees feel about in-person Orlando trade shows all-together?”
The positive statistics about holding in-person trade shows are overwhelming. My observations as an Orlando motivational speaker have come down to one important point: it all depends on us.
Combined industry study
Toward the end of 2023, a major market research study was released on the state of the tradeshow industry. Not surprising, though Orlando’s Orange County Convention CenterOrlando’s Orange County Convention Center was opened in 1983, with more than 2.1 million square feet of exhibition space, it still remains the overall number-three choice of places to hold a trade show.
However, the facts about why attendees still want to go to Orlando trade shows cannot be denied. Consider just 7 of many of the positive reasons why the 2024 tradeshow industry outlook is so strong:
- Did you know that 81-percent of all Orlando tradeshow attendees remember at least one exhibitor they met at a 2023 tradeshow? This goes along with the fact that about 85-percent of Orlando tradeshow exhibitors went to the tradeshow to generate leads and sales!
- About 88-percent of exhibitors attend tradeshows to increase their brand awareness. Despite social media, video, podcasts and advertising, nearly 9-out-of-10 Orlando trade show exhibitors value their booths to boost product knowledge! That, my Orlando friends, is very motivational.
- About 75-percent of all tradeshow exhibitors have a positive outlook for the future of tradeshows.
- Across the board, 92-percent of tradeshow attendees are still going to tradeshows to check out new products and services. They want to see your products or services, and they want to talk to you in-person, as well as virtually. By the way, it’s been estimated that 77-percent of companies gain new suppliers after visiting tradeshows.
- Pessimism versus optimism. Here are two interesting numbers to keep in mind. Pessimism says that only 6-percent of tradeshow exhibitors feel they can convert tradeshow meetings into sales. Yet, nearly 40-percent (optimism) claim that converting a tradeshow lead is cheaper than relying on in-person sales forces.
- In Orlando and other venues, 83-percent of all exhibitors firmly believe that after meeting a potential customer at a tradeshow, they are easier to convert into a customer.
- Finally (though there are many more positive 2024 projections) a whopping 93-pecent of all Orlando tradeshow attendees consider the tradeshow an essential part of the buying process.
As an Orlando motivational keynote speaker, I completely understand the past few years have not been easy. However, the doom and gloom scenarios are inaccurate and highly pessimistic. In one form or another, the tradeshow has been around since the mid-1800s. The world has gone through an awful lot since then. In Orlando, tradeshow attendees still want to meet with exhibitors, in-person and face-to-face.
Our outlook for the future depends on us.
To contact Mike Hourigan, Orlando Motivational Speaker and Consultant, please call Mike today at (704) 875-3030 or fill out the form below.
