Convention and Trade Show Management NAICS 561920

Nov 19, 2025 - Trade Shows Drive Revenue to Hotels and Hospitality

• Large conventions and trade shows are major revenue drivers for US hotels and the hospitality sector. For example, Orlando’s Global Pet Expo (March 2025) drew about 20,000 attendees from 105 countries, generating over $45 million in local economic activity, largely through hotels, restaurants, and transport. Similar domestic events routinely push nearby hotel occupancy near full capacity and allow average daily rates to spike 20-60% above normal, sometimes doubling typical pricing. Hotels closest to venues see the greatest benefit, making proximity, dynamic pricing, and targeted amenities, like shuttles or flexible check-in/out, critical strategies. These events also boost revenue per available room and ancillary spending, underscoring the outsized impact conventions have on US hospitality markets. For hotel operators, aligning operations with the convention calendar can yield substantial gains in both occupancy and profitability.
• Trade show organizers who use personal streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music for event background music are unknowingly violating U.S. copyright law. Without the proper licenses, this practice exposes organizers to legal risks, including potential penalties anywhere from $750 up to $30,000 per infringement. So far in 2025, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers has filed at least 15 federal lawsuits against venues and event hosts for unauthorized public performances of copyrighted music. These cases targeted all kinds of venues, from bars to restaurants and event spaces that ignored repeated outreach. Music can be a critical element of a convention, setting the tone for the event, getting attendees excited and fired up, and generally enhances the trade show experience. To mitigate legal risks, organizers should obtain the necessary licenses for public music use.

• Trade show organizers should start thinking smaller to capitalize on a growing trend of increased profit margins from more intimate B2B conferences, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). CEIR’s benchmarking data shows that two-thirds of events with smaller budgets and attendee bases are more profitable than their larger, big-name counterparts. Smaller shows have to be more financially creative and frugal with budgets, which makes content, interactivity, and enhanced services crucial to putting on a successful event. Smaller events, as well as virtual conferences, have been a bright spot in an industry that suffered significantly due to the pandemic and is still finding its post-Covid footing. Despite the success, industry experts are cautious about the rest of 2025 with the threat of inflation, recent US travel dips, and tariff policies all potentially affecting late-year profitability.
• The US convention industry has seen a precipitous decline in attendance in early 2025, particularly from Canada, Europe, and Central Asia, according to research from the American Society of Association Executives. The decline in attendance is attributed to tough economic conditions, higher costs, and an unwelcome political environment in the US for foreign attendees. Canadian attendance declined the most with a 41.5% drop. Professional associations experienced a 56% decline, while trade associations fell 35.5%. Participation by exhibitors and sponsors has remained steady despite these challenges, with 66% reporting no attendance changes. Industry experts note that those contracts were signed before Trump policies were put into place and future events will likely have a bigger drop if the economy fails to improve. Associations are trying to compensate with more virtual/hybrid events, shrinking show schedules, and renegotiating venue contracts.