Chicago, IL, November 1, 2006--The fourth annual NeoCon East, the premier exposition in the Mid-Atlantic region for the design and management of the built environment, proved to be the most successful show to date with an increase in attendance and a record-breaking exhibitor re-sign rate for the 2007 show.
Held at the Baltimore Convention Center October 11-12, total attendance for NeoCon East 2006 was 7,700 attendees, an increase of 17.5 percent from the 2005 show. In addition, 86 percent of exhibitors at NeoCon East re-signed for the 2007 show.
For the first time ever, NeoCon East 2006 expanded to five exhibit halls within the Baltimore Convention Center-a total of more than 215,000 square feet of exhibit space compared to 185,000 square feet in 2005. NeoCon East also featured more than 40 educational seminars and association forums, as well as three exceptional keynote addresses.
"This year's event proved to be our largest and most successful event ever, with attendees and exhibitors alike enthusiastic about the valuable and profitable business that takes place at NeoCon East," said Mark Falanga, senior vice president, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). "As evidenced by the strong attendance and exhibitor re-sign numbers, NeoCon East is the place where show-goers can experience the latest in new product offerings, top-name seminars and speakers, and discover the trends of tomorrow in the contract furnishings industry."
NeoCon East featured four show components including: Government Interiors; Buildings Show; GREENlife: Products for Sustainable Environments; and the Architectural Stone and Ceramic Tile Exposition. NeoCon East sets the pace for the East Coast contract furnishings industry. NeoCon East is the ultimate show for architects, interior designers, facility managers, government specifiers, government designers, space planners, distributors, manufacturers and real estate executives, attendees who rely on the event for innovative ideas and the latest trends.
Top manufacturers from throughout the contract industry also offered high praise for NeoCon East:
"This show is a great opportunity to really connect with the attendees," said Casey Bond of Herman Miller. "We had a really steady flow all day Wednesday."
"We really enjoy this show. It is very manageable," said Jim Kemp of Steelcase. "It's all about the connections and we can make them here."
"Traffic here is just as strong as at the Chicago show and we get just as many leads," said Shanna L. Korzon of Leland. "We get a lot of GSA business here, I've made 4-5 contacts already this morning! It is a great show because you can really take the time to build strong relationships."
NeoCon East will be held Oct. 17-18, 2007, at the Baltimore Convention Center. For more information about NeoCon East, please visit www.merchandisemart.com or call 800.677.6278 (MART).
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
