Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show Sets A New Record

(Long Beach, CA) - Unicomm LLC, organizers of the nation's largest series of travel shows, announced today that its 9th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show® held at the Long Beach Convention Center February 8-9, set a new record with over 33,000 travel enthusiasts and travel trade attending to meet with over 3,000 travel experts manning the show's 450 exhibitor booths, making it the largest travel show in the United States.

Says John Golicz, CEO of Unicomm, "We were simply blown away by the reception we received from the LA metro marketplace this year. We know LA travelers have a choice of shows and we are thrilled that they chose ours. It's exciting to see the tens of thousands of travelers who come to hear speakers, talk to experts and gather information about the places they are interested in, especially since so many of them book great show-only trip deals."

For the exhibitors, attendee quality is as important (if not more so) as the quantity of the show-goers. The Long Beach show continues to attract a higher quality demographic due to its strategic location, drawing both L.A. and Orange County consumers.  Many exhibitors reported active bookings, hot leads and expected future business.  Early survey results show an increase in median household income of 4% to $115,323, with over 89% of attendees finding a vacation option to book, or that they intend to book, with an exhibitor at the show. Average time spent at the show increased to 4.93 hours per attendee with a record 1,300 person standing room only attendance at many main stage sessions.  "This has become the nation's 'go-to' event for travel marketers and a valuable sales channel," added Golicz.

Many of the Golden State's own destinations return to the LA Travel & Adventure show year after year because of one thing - results! Says Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau Director of Sales Julie Fullmer, "This is one of the best shows of the year and the Los Angeles show is not to be missed.  The attendees seem to be the types that are ready to go on a vacation.  All different ages were represented, and the Long Beach show seems to draw out a better quality and better educated consumer."

Other exhibitors echo the sentiment. Leisa Carr from the Belize Hotel Association had this to say; "We didn't have time to breathe or eat because it was so busy... The visitors to our booth were totally serious shoppers - that's why we choose this show over any other in L.A."

Matt Greenham, Air New Zealand Vacations adds, "This was a brilliant show!  The quality of leads and the audience have been great!   We will be following up on hundreds of hot leads for people ready to travel to the South Pacific."

Exhibitors voted with their pocketbooks as the 2014 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show® enjoyed a record 2015 exhibitor renewal program with many exhibitors increasing the size of their booths to allow for the increased attendee volume and interaction - ensuring the return of top quality travel providers, destinations and sponsors in 2015.

Exhibitors like Loren Knowles from the Kern Co. CVB can attest to type of attendee the Los Angeles show attracts. "People who come to this expo are 'doers.'  They are more specific in what they are looking for - people come to the show looking to find destinations to visit."

The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show's® four stages were filled to attendance capacity at every session, many with standing room only.  On the 1,000 seat main stage sponsored by Travel Channel, legendary travelers Rick Steves, Samantha Brown, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz, and Don Wildman  were on-hand to offer inspiration and detailed travel information.

The Show Organizers announced that they have contracted the entire convention center floor for the 2015 LA Travel & Adventure Show. "The exhibit floor sold out three weeks ago, and we simply could not add more exhibitors and left quite a few on a waiting list, " stated Jim Forberg, COO of Unicomm. " We are very engaged with our attendees and exhibitors year round.  They are asking for more exhibits from different parts of the world, more content, and even wider aisles to better navigate the show.  And exhibitors are asking for larger booths. So in 2015, our plans include an expanded show floor, new regional pavilions and an additional education theater geared to smart travel tips."

In 2015, The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show will return to the Long Beach Convention Center February 21-22 with the same caliber of high-quality speakers and the largest exhibit floor in the U.S.

ABOUT UNICOMM LLC

Unicomm LLC is an independent business-to-business communications company specializing in originating and managing world class trade shows and conferences. Unicomm's properties include the nation's largest and longest running series of travel events, the Travel & Adventure Show™ in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and San Diego.