The construction industry’s largest annual international trade show held February 26 to March 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada drew a record crowd this year. More than 77,000 construction professionals from 105 countries registered for the five-day event at the Las Vegas Convention Center

In both attendance and size, this was the largest World of Concrete in the show’s 27-year history. The previous record number of registrations was 62,025 at the 1999 show, also held in Las Vegas. Prior to this show, the largest WOC exhibition was in 2000 when the show has 1,430 exhibitors in 650,000 net square feet of space. The 2001 show had over 1,600 exhibitors occupying 760,000 net square feet of exhibit area.

Nearly half of all pre-show registrations were received through the Internet pointing out the importance of this media as a way of reaching customers.

The World of Concrete is also known as a show for doing business. Vendors reported that $918 million in transaction were initiated  at the annual show.

This year’s show has several “Action Exhibits” which offered attendees hands-on opportunities to try a variety of equipment and products in a 60,000 square foot area outside the convention center. Nearby, in Concrete Alley, attendees were able to see and compare a variety of placing, screeding, consolidation and finishing equipment using fresh concrete delivered to the site throughout the day.

Seminar attendance also hit an all-time high. At 28,761, the number of education program registration topped the previous record by more than 21 percent. The average of 2.5 seminars per person was valid even with the increased attendance. Twenty of the 94 sessions were sold out.

The event was cosponsored by 19 leading industry associations including the Concrete Foundations Association.

Next year’s show is schedule for January 8th – 12th in New Orleans, Louisiana. This will be the final year in New Orleans. The Show will alternate between Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida for the foreseeable future following New Orleans.