Interbike International Bicycle Expo and OutDoor Demo
to Remain in Las Vegas
largest cycling trade show
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – June 26, 2008 – After two years of collecting potential host city data and retailer, manufacturer and industry partner feedback, Interbike management today announced the trade show will remain in Las Vegas, and that they are currently finalizing an agreement with the Sands Expo and Convention Center to host the industry’s show for a minimum of three more years, beginning with the 2010 show.
“The decision to keep the Interbike show in Vegas comes after years of research and communication with our retailer attendees, exhibiting manufacturers and important industry partners,” said Lance Camisasca, Interbike’s industry consultant. “The data and communication we have collected, along with industry recommendations from organizations like the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) and Bikes Belong, confirm our decision to keep the show in Las Vegas.”
In identifying possible locations for the show, Interbike selected key market criteria it considered mandatory for a host venue. Interbike’s top venue requirements include:
- Contiguous exhibit space of at least 700,000 gross square-feet and ample meeting room space,
- An event location where retailer and manufacturer attendance can be maximized,
- A large and diverse selection of hotels, restaurants and entertainment options conveniently located to the events,
- An international airport located within close proximity to the event with many flight options, numerous carriers and low airfare rates,
- Relaxed labor union regulations and high quality services,
- An OutDoor Demo site with great weather, extensive cross country/downhill trails and a closed road loop, and
- An event market that is recognized as a cycling culture destination.
- 96 percent of retailers surveyed were very satisfied or satisfied with their overall show experience,
- The number one and two reasons retailers attended the show were to see new products and take in a variety of product segments,
- As of the April 2008, 88 percent of retailers are planning on attending Interbike this year.
- 45 percent said Las Vegas,
- 36 percent said Denver, and
- 19 percent said Anaheim.
“While no one city is a completely perfect fit for the show, we are confident that Las Vegas continues to be the city of choice for the majority of our members,” said Fred Clements, executive director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association. “After numerous communications with our members and board and reviewing the annual survey results, the proof is in the numbers. In addition to what shop owners and managers say to us and what they put in a survey, retailers’ loudest vote has been with their feet by attending the show.”
As a final step, armed with the numbers and data from the retailer survey, attendance history, host city research and manufacturer responses to panel discussions at the annual BLC, Interbike met with NBDA and Bikes Belong board members and presented the recommendation to keep Interbike in Las Vegas.
“Interbike did a great job of sharing their survey results and other research,” said Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong. “After so many years in Las Vegas, the simple idea of a new host city is appealing, but the data shows that retailers and suppliers still prefer this city for a variety of good reasons. Thus, we support the decision to stay for the next few years.”
“I will sleep well at night knowing that no stone was left unturned in our efforts to make the best decision for our industry’s manufactures, suppliers and retail buyers,” Camisasca said. “All of the data and research shows that by and large, retailers like Las Vegas and will continue to attend Interbike in this market. Exhibitors want strong attendance, the lowest cost of doing business and a dynamite location for the OutDoor Demo. Las Vegas delivers exceptionally well in all of these critical areas, but we will continue to evaluate potential host cities as they develop.”
For more information about the 2008 International Bicycle Expo, OutDoor Demo and/or OutDoor Demo East, please visit www.interbike.com.
About Interbike
Interbike (a business unit of Nielsen Business Media, the parent company of the Outdoor Retailer (OR), Action Sports Retailer (ASR), Health+Fitness Business, and Fly Fishing Retailer trade shows) is a full-service trade show company that creates, markets and produces high-quality expos and educational conferences. Producers of the OutDoor Demo and Interbike International Bicycle Expo, Interbike is the leading bicycle industry business-to-business event management company, bringing together top manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of cycling. Now celebrating more than 25 years of successful events, Interbike (www.interbike.com) gathers more than 1,000 cycling-related brands and close to 23,000 total attendees annually.
The 2008 Interbike trade-only events begin with OutDoor Demo (September 22-23, 2008 in Boulder City), followed by the Interbike Expo, September 24-26 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, and OutDoor Demo East, October 21-22 at Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island.