A new survey of trade show managers from Expo Magazine shows Phoenix is the No. 2 U.S. destination site to hold trade shows and events, right behind Las Vegas.
The survey also shows Phoenix has come a long way in terms of its reputation as a destination.
According to Expo Magazine, “No. 2 on the list of favored cities to hold a trade show in this year is Phoenix, but if show managers had been asked the same question 10 years ago, they say it would have ranked only No. 5. That may be in large part because of the expansion of the Phoenix Convention Center and the development of several new hotels in downtown Phoenix that has taken place over the last decade.”
The top destinations on the list are:
- Las Vegas
- Phoenix
- Chicago
- Orlando, Florida
- (tie) Atlanta, Boston and New York
- (tie) Anaheim, California, and Philadelphia
- San Diego
- San Francisco
Association show managers comprised 51 percent of the survey respondents. They used several criteria to rank destinations, including ease of access, numerous flights in and out of the city, venue size, cost and reasonable hotel accommodations for attendees.