The International Surface Event 2021 concluded its first in-person show since the pandemic at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas last week.
The June 16–18 event, which is typically held in January, attracted 191 exhibiting brands to the show floor, compared with more than 800 exhibitors in 2020 prior to the pandemic. The official number of attendees was not available by press time. TISE included a virtual event option that ran simultaneously with the in-person show.
Although a smaller show floor compared with prior years, the event still offered opportunities for companies to connect, as well as educational sessions.
“We were able to see customers face to face, many for the first time in a long while, this alone made the show worthwhile,” DriTac Director of Sales David Clarkson told WFB in a statement. “Despite the reduction in exhibitors and the understandable uncertainty for many who may have decided to wait to attend a show, we were able to have valuable interactions with those who did attend.”
Jason Spangler, division manager—flooring at Wagner Meters, said the company tempered its expectations based on the event's reduced attendee estimate and floor plan.
"We made some adjustments to our booth size and personnel at the last minute to bring it in line with expectations," Spangler told WFB in a statement. "All that being said, we were very happy with the first two days' traffic; it was consistent and kept two of us busy. We are very happy we participated and got to see everyone face to face."
TISE 2022 is scheduled for Feb. 1–3 in Las Vegas.
This article was updated June 21 at 3:46 p.m. CDT.