Record Uptake of 'Early Bird' Visitor Offer and 85% of Exhibitor Space Already BookedFollowing the hugely successful re-draw of last year's PLASA Show, PLASA08 is on course to break all records. A worldwide visitor pre-registration offer has attracted an unprecedented 7,000 visitors to register online - and their enthusiasm has been matched by a huge exhibitor uptake as the new PLASA08 website goes live at www.plasashow.com.
Underlining its core role in the pro audio, lighting, video, staging, special effects and systems integration market, over 85% of PLASA08's exhibitor space had been confirmed by February, a record figure in the event's 31 year history.
Several of the confirmed participating companies are newcomers to the event or returning after several year's absence, while several regular exhibitors have taken advantage of their experience with the new two-hall layout to move to new, larger positions including Stage Technologies in Earls Court Two and Robe, Studio Due, KV2 Audio and Adamson in Earls Court One. PLASA Events also expects to see this growth extend to an increase in the variety of complete system solutions on offer, reflecting industry-wide trends.
On the visitor front, a brand new offer gave visitors the chance to pre-register for free during January, and that same opportunity has now been extended to contracted exhibitors to register all their clients and contacts during March. From April 1 onwards, a 50% discount on the ticket price remains available for online registrations on at www.plasashow.com/register. Once registered, visitors will receive regular updates about the show's new products, new exhibitors, educational programmes and much more.
Many refinements to the show layout have been made, and extra visitor features added in response to detailed post-show visitor research that showed an overwhelming majority of both visitors and exhibitors enjoyed the new single-floor layout. Among the most cited improvements were easier navigation, a more business-focused environment and extended visitor facilities, including expanded meeting areas and a wi-fi zone.
The survey also strongly underlined the PLASA Show's focus as a business-making event, revealing that 99% of company chairmen who visited PLASA07 would recommend the show to a colleague; 98% of technicians would recommend PLASA08 to a colleague; 93% of visitors made major buying decisions at the show and 76% of visitors found new suppliers or new products.
"New technologies have always been the heartbeat of the PLASA Show," says Director of Events Nicola Rowland, "and all the indications are that this will remain the case in 2008. There's a huge appetite for new solutions and we expect the show to continue the tradition of being where most new products and system solutions hit the market.
"Following the radical redesign," she adds, "there's been no pause for breath - the momentum carried forward from PLASA07 has been exceptional. And the New Year free pre-registration drive, our first ever, has been a massive success.
"It all bodes very well, not only for PLASA08, but for the PLASA Events growth, with the first PLASA Regional Show in 2009 and then beyond that to other exciting ventures."