2017 IRE was the Largest, Best-attended Show in Its History

In the International Roofing Expo's 62-year history, this was the most attended event, up 19 percent over last year.

The total attendance at the 2017 International Roofing Expo® (IRE) was 11,273, which is up 19 percent compared with the 2016 IRE and is the highest number of attendees in the show's history. Forty-three percent of attendees were first-time registrants.

 "This was an amazing show to find leading-edge products, high-level education and numerous networking opportunities," says IRE Show Director Tracy Garcia, CEM. "The show floor square footage was up 9 percent over last year, exhibiting companies were up 3 percent, and total attendance was up 19 percent, making this our largest, most attended show in the 62-year history."

 The IRE featured 1,317 booths and 476 exhibiting companies; 88 were first-time exhibitors. It also included 44 educational sessions with a 39 percent increase in attendance compared with 2016.

 Attendees represented all 50 states, with the largest number from California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. The largest number of international attendees came from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Mexico and South Korea.

 "The show flow at the IRE was filled with tremendous energy this year," says Reid Ribble, CEO of NRCA, the show's official sponsor. "NRCA was able to engage with an unbelievable amount of roofing professionals, and all were extremely positive not only about the success of this year's show but about the overall future of the roofing industry."

 The 2018 IRE and NRCA's 131st Annual Convention will be held Feb. 6-8, 2018, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.