The format changes for the ISH North America trade show and conference come following a post-show survey of all 540 exhibitors and thousands of buyers who participated in the second ISH North America in Las Vegas last October. Comments were also sought from non-exhibiting companies.

When questioned about ISH North America's importance to their respective industries, 33% of the exhibitors said ISH-NA has become their most important or one of their most important marketing platforms and that they do not exhibit in any other, or are in only one other, national event in the United States. Among attendees, 66% said they attend either no other or only one other competing national show in the United States.

When questioned about an annual vs. a biennial show cycle, 63% of the exhibitors supported an every-other-year event. While 79% of exhibitors in the PVF sector endorsed the biennial format, 55% of HVAC/hydronics and 66% of kitchen & bath/plumbing exhibitors also preferred every other year.

The top choices for show locations among exhibitors and attendees were Chicago, Las Vegas, San Diego and Boston.

The current day pattern covering 2.5 days received strong approval ratings from exhibitors and attendees and will remain unchanged.

The ISH NA partners seek to offer a program that will allow attendees to select their choice of events to attend in a “cafeteria style.” The educational curriculum with several tracks will include an increased diversity of topics and speakers.

In other news, Jennifer Jones, who was named to replace Neil Stalker as show manager at Messe Frankfurt, will coordinate the marketing and sales efforts for ISH North America. She has more than 18 years of trade show experience.