The economy-driven trend that has companies sending fewer employees to trade shows had a marked impact on attendance at Interplas 2002.
The five-day show at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre drew 17,441 attendees, down 33 percent from the 26,196 who attended Interplas 1999.
Repeat visitors and exhibitor personnel, for which 6,000 badges were issued, are not included in the count.
Audited numbers provided by show organizer Reed Exhibitions reveal that more than 91 percent of attendees came from within the United Kingdom.
Eighty-eight people, or 0.5 percent, came from North America. Some 550 stands occupied more than 290,000 square feet of booth space. Reed said more than half the visitors had manager titles or above.
The next Interplas is set for Oct. 10-14, 2005, again in Birmingham.
