InfoComm International executive director and CEO Randal Lemke says there are no plans to shift to a new model with smaller shows in light of Extron’s decision to drop out of InfoComm 2012 and Integrated Systems Europe 2013.

Lemke, in his first interview since Extron’s announcement, says show organizers will soon begin calling those with the most seniority and square footage to fill the space Extron had reserved for this summer’s annual gathering in Las Vegas. The process is well-organized and fairly routine, he says. Da-Lite is first in priority points for Extron’s space.

“Cancellations are part of every trade show, so this isn’t unusual,” Lemke says, noting there were 36 cancellations of booth space last year. “Extron has been an exhibitor with us for a long time, so that’s what makes it unusual.”

Lemke harbors no ill will toward Extron president Andrew Edwards, who called him yesterday to tell him he was pulling out of the shows. Extron still plans to have booths at InfoComm shows in China, India and other foreign countries, Lemke says.

In the U.S. and in some other places, Extron plans to host its own training and product showcases at its own facilities. Lemke doesn’t begrudge Extron’s decision, and he compared it to Microsoft’s decision to pull out of the Consumer Electronics Show. The demand for that prime real estate on the show floor was high and he’s already heard from many exhibitors wanting to take a chunk of Extron’s space.

“There’s certainly a movement toward these private events, but for us and for our customers - both the manufacturers and the attendees - a trade show is a very competitive marketplace. Attendees can see a lot of different companies’ products and compare them for themselves,” Lemke says. “Attendees want to be in a place where they can talk to a number of companies in a short period of time rather than be taken away from their families for several of these small private events.”

If Extron decides to return in 2013, they will be welcomed back, Lemke says.

“Other companies have tried this and come back,” he says. “For some, it works. For others, it doesn’t. If there were animosity between us and Extron, I’d be much more worried about it. There’s always turnover. When Extron first started exhibiting with us, Kodak was our biggest exhibitor. They left, and it didn’t work, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for Extron.”

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D. Craig MacCormack

Craig MacCormack is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years experience covering local and national news and sports as well as architecture and engineering. He joined Commercial Integrator in January 2011. Follow him on Twitter: @CraigMacCormack.

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