Las Vegas
Two years ago, as George W. Bush warned of an imminent economic downturn, Medtrade Spring posted a 28 percent jump in attendance. And, while Bush's prediction came true for the U.S. economy in general, Medtrade's growth continued.
This year, approximately 7,700 attendees filled the aisles of the Las Vegas Convention Center May 6-8 — more than twice as many as in 2001, according to Atlanta-based VNU Expositions, the show's organizer. Of those attendees, about 71 percent — 5,500 — were home care providers and other purchasers, VNU explained.
These positive statistics are due in part to record on-site registration, VNU said. On the morning of May 7, organizers watched in disbelief as approximately 1,500 attendees lined up to register on-site, spilling into the foyer outside the show floor. The entire Medtrade staff, including Cory Smith, VNU's group show director, pitched in to help the registration staff meet this unexpected need.
