Attendance at The Rental Show, the annual rental industry trade show held in Orlando earlier this year, was up nearly 5% over the previous year, according to statistics recently released by show organizers.
More than 675 exhibitors participated in this year’s show, a 10% increase over the previous year. There were 80 new companies represented at the event, which was held February 9 to 12. People from 43 different countries attended this year’s show.
It was the fifth consecutive year that the show showed an increase in attendance in both the number of exhibitors and attendees, according to a news release issued by show organizers.
Christine Wehrman, CEO of the show, said organizers were pleased by the enthusiastic response to this year’s event.
“it’s been a tremendous event for the industry in every facet,” Wehrman said. “The attitude, the economic outlook and the optimism only can mean another great year of growth for the equipment rental industry. The ARA is very pleased to see a positive outlook for the future.”
Exhibitors, including Scott Smith of Ditch Witch, based in Perry, Oklahoma, also were pleased with the event.
“This has been a great show,” Smith said. “There is a lot of optimism and it feels like a better economy is more widespread. A year ago, the economy for us was very driven by the energy sector, but it feels like it is a lot broader this year.”
Next year’s show will be held Feb. 22 to 25 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.