According to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), the trade show industry is showing seven straight quarters of positive growth. The first quarter of 2012 shows a 2.7 percent increase from the first quarter of 2011.

CEIR tracks four key metrics:

• Attendance
• Net Square Footage
• Number of Exhibitors
• Real Revenues

All four areas are showing positive trends, but attendance led the way with a 4.6 percent growth. Net square footage was not far behind with a 3.4 percent increase, and both number of exhibitors and real revenues saw a 1.5 percent increase.

It is good to see the trade show industry back on the rise and truly speaks to how effective trade show giveaways and face-to-face interactions really are to businesses.

The trade show industry can fall flat in summer months, but this August proved to be a big hit in Las Vegas, Nevada. With close to a 20% increase in convention attendees, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) was overjoyed. In addition to the increase in attendees, there was also an increase in the number of trade shows, conventions and meetings held in August this year - a jump of close to 14%.

Why the sudden increase? There are a few contributing factors to the boost in the Las Vegas trade show industry: some shows rotated back to Vegas after being held elsewhere in recent years, and there were several big shows that brought in extra bodies.

According to the LVCVA, the North American Beauty Events' Cosmoprof Beauty Show was a huge contributing factor to the rise in attendance this August. In previous years, the show has been held in July. In addition, Advanstar Communications' MAGIC Marketplace brought in a huge audience to the Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay.

It only goes to show you that you should never write off anything in this industry. Trade shows continue to rise, bringing you great opportunity for face-time with current customers as well as new business. Trust Motivators to help you make a big impression at your next event with unique trade show giveaways.