Event numbers, feedback and re-booking rates from the 2011 event in Charlotte clearly reflect the steady comeback that the biotechnology and special chemicals industries are experiencing.
Informex, the meeting place for buyers and sellers of high-value chemistry for a broad range of applications, today announced that InformexUSA 2011 showed a 5% increase in attendance from 2010. The increase in attendance was complimented by a 14% jump in onsite exhibitor booking numbers for next year’s event over the re-booking during the 2010 event. These numbers reflected the market closely; companies are starting to see a steady increase in business that is facilitating a return to pre-recession numbers. Not only are re-booking levels at a record high with 241 exhibitors, but many companies that pre-registered for next year also opted to upgrade their presence for 2012; these companies include: Austin Chemical, Chiral Quest, PharmaAdvance, Rhodes Technologies, Survival Technologies, and Wockhardt Ltd.
The flagship event of the Informex brand, InformexUSA 2011, was hosted for the first time ever in Charlotte, North Carolina from February 7th to 10th at the Charlotte Convention Center. The area proved to be a successful location to host the event, as North Carolina is the third largest location in the USA for biotech companies and has a large chemicals community. The infrastructure also proved ideal in terms of transportation, lodging and entertainment surrounding the Convention Center.
In addition to the new venue, new programs were introduced and conference sessions expanded to offer a quality experience to all visitors. Introductions like the Chemistry Innovations Pavilion, to showcase new technologies, and the Social Media Lounge, which allowed attendees to participate in and learn more about social media, were well received. “I found that the networking event brought together people congruently seeking interest to expand their business. The environment casualness provided an opportunity to chat a bit further and build a sense of personal touch with potential opportunities. This can help facilitate better online discussions as well; I will certainly do more of it again,” noted Raj Singh Specialist, Technical Sales and Marketing Pharmaceuticals at CBC America Corp.
“Guests seemed excited to experience a new venue, and pleased by new additions,” noted Jennifer Jessup, Global Brand Director for Informex. “From an organizer perspective, it was pleasing to see that attendees took advantage of the many networking opportunities that were built into the event and that quality business interactions were going on. Exhibitors and attendees alike expressed that this was one of the best Informex experiences and the show was a success from all perspectives, in a market that is just getting back on its feet. Looking towards the future, we were extremely pleased with the re-booking rates for InformexUSA 2012 in New Orleans and are excited about the opportunity to host another record-setting event next year.”
The move to Charlotte provided a quality experience for exhibiting companies, as well as an honest reflection of the status of the industry and its projections for the future. As Susan Orr of Amysyn commented, “I thought the show was a terrific success all around. Charlotte proved to be a welcoming city, clean and easy to get around. I know it's a lot of work and not easy to please everyone, but Amsyn was very pleased.”
The resounding message at the 2011 event seemed to be that the climate in the biotech and special chemicals market is improving and will continue to move forward with a renewed focus on change and innovation. Now that InformexUSA 2011 has closed, this positive outlook is carrying over to next year as the brand gears up for New Orleans, Louisiana for InformexUSA 2012.
Informex
