U.S. meeting and event volume for August was up 21% over the same month a year ago, according to data from Knowland.
Las Vegas shined among the top 25 markets with 44% year-over-year growth for event volume in August. The leading industry segments driving its growth were national association and technology. With the excitement over The Sphere at The Venetian and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, transportation and construction have emerged as the top 2019 comeback industry segments for 2023, with a 366% and 250% recapture of 2019 meetings and events volume year-to-date, respectively. The average number of attendees for Vegas was 439, and the meeting space used was more than 12,000 sq. ft.
Top five markets (by event volume growth): Following Las Vegas were Nashville, Los Angeles-Long Beach, Seattle and Chicago. The top drivers for these markets were:
- Las Vegas: National association, technology, entertainment/media, training/education and wedding
- Nashville: National association, technology, healthcare, manufacturing and training/education
- Los Angeles-Long Beach: Education, training/education, technology, charity/non-profit and wedding
- Seattle: National association, technology, wedding, education and healthcare
- Chicago: National association, wedding, technology, education and healthcare
Top markets (by percentage growth): The top overall U.S. markets by year-over-year growth in meetings and events were Greensboro-Winston Salem, NC; Michigan South; Mobile, AL; Madison, WI; and Norfolk-Virginia Beach, VA.
