August 18, 2015
The Pennsylvania Convention Center has just seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
After losing the important Lightfair International convention – the largest annual trade show for the lighting business in the world – it has lured the show back for May 2017.
Lightfair, which alternates between hosting shows on the East and West coasts each year, last held shows in Philadelphia in 2011 and 2013. But it decided to pick New York City as the venue for this year, citing high labor costs in Philly.
For example, it took 51 percent more worker hours set up and shut down the show in Philadelphia in 2011 than it did in New York in 2009, Philly.com reported.
The Convention Center signed a new agreement with four trade unions in 2014, simplifying work rules. It also brought in a new venue management firm, SMG, in 2013 to improve the customer experience.
Officials say that those changes have worked and are bringing big-ticket business back to Philly.
"To say that we are thrilled about Lightfair's decision to return would be an understatement," said Jack Ferguson, CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In a press release, the Visitors Bureau and the Convention Center boasted that winning back Lightfair is "a major win" and "a sign that changes to the business model at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority are working."
Lightfair's 2015 show in New York brought in 599 exhibitors and almost 30,000 attendees from 89 countries. The Visitors Bureau expects that its 2017 show will have an economic impact of $43 million.
