LAS VEGAS — 2023 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Manufacturers’ Exhibition (IBS), which was held from January 31 to February 2 in Las Vegasbroke attendance records and saw significant growth in attendance, exhibitor numbers and exhibition space during the 2022 show.
This year, IBS attracted nearly 70,000 homebuilding professionals, a 45% increase from 2022, and more than 1,300 exhibitors, a 43% increase from the 2022 edition of the show. More than 200 exhibitors were new this year. The show also increased in size by 26% from 2022, covering just over 607,000 net square feet this year, compared to 480,000 net square feet in 2022. The 2023 edition was one of the most successful events in recent NAHB history.
Design and Construction Week (DCW), the co-location of IBS and the National Kitchen and Bath Association‘s Kitchen and Bathroom Industry Showattracted nearly 110,000 attendees and nearly 2,000 exhibitors in total. DCW spanned more than one million square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space Las Vegas Convention CenterThis year marked the 10thth anniversary of the co-location of broadcasts under the DCW name.
“This year’s exceptional turnout is a clear indication of the industry’s strength and optimism about the future,” said Geoff Cassidy, NAHB senior vice president of exhibitions and meetings. “Attendees took advantage of unique networking opportunities and educational sessions that provided insights and practical advice to grow their businesses.”
More than 100 training sessions were attended at IBS, with 70% of the educational content being new. New features included the IBS Education Super Sessions and Learning Labs, which offered a new learning experience for show attendees and included town hall meetings, two new live demo areas, interviews with industry leaders and panel discussions.
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The show also featured a dedicated area for new start-ups, with 20 companies showcasing innovative technologies to the industry for the first time. Companies also took part in a quick competition as part of the training sessions.
This year, IBS offered professionals fun and lively networking opportunities, such as the DCW Closing Concert, sponsored by LG, featuring Sheryl Crow. Some networking events focused on young professionals, including the U40 & Young Professionals Meet-up and Young Professionals Party, and the sold-out U40 Leadership Summit for Pro Builders & Remodelers, helped get newcomers excited about the IBS experiences.
“From a marketing perspective, our industry has been deemed essential and our members have been building homes throughout the pandemic,” said the NAHB vice president. Event, product and brand marketing, said Denise Miller. “They were excited to come back to Las Vegas and connect with their colleagues. For many of them, it had been three years since they had met in person. We have hosted highly specialized networking events in what we call “Centrals.” Each Central addresses the needs and concerns of our builder segments—remodeling, multifamily, design, etc. Part of our success is our focus on what’s new at the show and our ability to respond to issues and changes happening in the industry.“
The 2024 NAHB International Builders’ Show is scheduled for February 27-29 in Las Vegas.
Contact Geoff Cassidy at gcassidy@nahb.org; Denise Miller at dmiller@nahb.org