ISH-NA Announces Concept Changes

The second edition of ISH North America took place in Las Vegas, Nevada from October 1-3, 2003. The event showcased industry leading products and services in Kitchen & Bath, Plumbing, PVF, Heating and Air Conditioning. The show organizers surveyed all 540 exhibiting companies and about 12,000 buyers at the recent ISH North America in Las Vegas covering many of the much debated industry topics as well as show specific details such as the seminar timings. To provide a representative base, some currently not exhibiting companies were also included.

In staying true to their commitment to listen to their customers the ISH-NA Partners carefully analyzed the findings resulting from the personal interviews as well as the written submissions. The goal of the effort was to continue refining the already successful ISH-NA concept to better meet exhibitor and attendee requirements and preferences.

When questioned about ISH North America’s importance to their respective industries both exhibitors and attendees agreed. 33% of the exhibitors expressed that ISH-NA has become their most important or one of their most important marketing platforms during its still short history. This significant group of exhibitors explained that they do not exhibit in any other, or only one other national event in the USA. In a clear vote of confidence, 66% of the attendees declared that they attend no other or only one other competing national show in the USA.

One of the much debated, “hot button” topics that the show Partners sought the advice of the event’s customers on was the question of an annual versus a biennial (every-other-year) show cycle. A clear majority of 63% of the exhibitors indicated their preference for an every other year event. Along product segment lines, the PVF sector was the strongest proponent of a biennial event with 79%. However, the majority of HVAC/Hydronics and Kitchen & Bath/Plumbing exhibitors also preferred every other year by 55% and 66% respectively. In response to this clear feedback, the ISH-NA Show Partners announced that the show will be held on an every-other-year cycle starting with the upcoming 2004 show in Boston. The next show after Boston will be in 2006.

Exhibitor and attendee top choices for show locations are be Chicago, Las Vegas, San Diego and Boston. Topics the survey participants were asked to consider in making their selection included the convenience of the respective convention centers, availability of cost-effective accommodations, readily accessible destinations, the overall attractiveness of the destination as well as the total anticipated cost of show participation. Following this guidance, the Show Partners confirmed that the site of the ISH-NA 2006 show is scheduled to be Chicago. The current day pattern covering 2.5 days received strong approval ratings from exhibitors and attendees and will remain unchanged.

During the odd years the ISH-NA Partners will host a

Combined Industry Conference. This event will include the annual meetings & conventions of the participating Partners and a comprehensive program of educational, business and social events. Rather than regular full size product exhibits, exhibits will be limited to a table-top format ("Conference Booth"), providing an organized format for vendors and service providers to "talk shop" with their customers.

It is the intent of the partnering associations to offer a program that will allow the attendees to select their choice of events to attend in a “cafeteria style”. The combined approach will offer an educational curriculum with several tracks that will include an increased diversity of topics & speakers, allowing every participant to find programs of interest. Jointly hosted social events and prominent key-note speakers will add further highlights and benefits resulting from the cooperative approach to the concurrently held events.

“ISH North America was created with the vision to provide a consolidated, comprehensive industry platform. Only logically, we put great value on our exhibitors’ and attendees’ feedback and endeavor to constantly improve the event.”, stated Roland Bleinroth, President of Messe Frankfurt, Inc. “It is our mission to listen to our customers and to make changes whenever such a need arises.”, added Ike Casey, Executive Vice President of PHCC.

“The results of our survey efforts indicated that show enjoys a strong industry base. However, when we see room for improvements, we will not hesitate to take the appropriate action”, commented Inge Calderon, Executive Vice President of ASA. Lawrence Drake, Executive Director, RPA, added: “While RPA has only recently joined the Partnership, we are excited to be part of an industry coalition that is fully dedicated to the goal of show consolidation and committed to meeting and exceeding their customers’ expectations.” "Moving to an every-other-year format provides exhibitors and attendees with an extremely focused event and dramatically reduces their cost to participate in ISH North America" added CIPH President Ralph Suppa.

The next ISH North America will be held from October 14-16, 2004 at the new Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts.