The annual running specialty trade show in Austin, known as The Running Event (TRE), has again been named to the top 10 list of the fastest growing trade shows in the country. According to an analysis by Trade Show Executive magazine, TRE won in two out of three categories, winning as the country’s fifth-ranked trade show in terms of growth in net square feet, and sixth in terms of growth in total attendance, based upon the performance of the 2013 show.
This was the third consecutive year TRE made the list. Net square feet growth in 2013 was up 25.5 percent over 2012. Total attendance in 2013 was up 39.4 percent over the year before.
The Fastest 50 Award was announced in Chicago, May 20-22, during which time TRE show director Troy Leonard of Formula4Media, picked up the hardware. The Fastest 50 rankings were determined from information supplied and certified by senior executives with the association or private show organizer responsible for the event. All trade shows with a minimum of 15,000 net square feet held in the U.S. in 2013 were eligible. The top 50 performers in the categories of exhibit space, exhibitors and attendance were selected based on the percentage of growth from 2012 to 2013.
In last year’s award, based upon the 2012 show, TRE ranked first out of 50 in terms of percentage growth of net square feet of paid exhibit space, up 88 percent from 2011. TRE 2012 ranked within the top 20 in terms of growth in exhibiting companies, and total attendance.
“These awards provide a snapshot of where TRE stands within the trade show industry and whether we are doing our best to deliver value to the running specialty business,” says Leonard, TRE show director.
“New programming content, registration improvements and the creative promotions we bring back from meeting with other trade show directors helps ensure TRE precisely targets the needs of specialty retailers and the key suppliers that serve the industry.”
Leonard reports that the show is trending ahead of last year at this time in terms of exhibitor renewals.
The Running Event 2014 will be held Dec. 2-5, 2014, at the Austin Convention Center and Austin Hilton.
