update 1. Free Wi-Fi Issue Divides Industry A study conducted by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events finds a wide chasm between the expectations of attendees, show organizers, and facility managers when it comes to the availability of Wi-Fi in event venues, as well as the question of who pays for it. While 89 percent of attendees and 90 percent of event organizers believe attendees should receive free Wi-Fi at events, only 48 percent of facility managers agree. With a veritable explosion of tablets and smart phones, and the prevalence of free Wi-Fi hotspots growing, the IAEE report notes that facility managers and show organizers will need to address the gap if they are to remain competitive. 3. Event Planner Ranked Among Top Jobs in 2012 According to new data from U.S. News and World Report, a career as a meeting, convention, or event planner is the top business job to have in 2012, and ranks as the 16th best position overall when compared to professions in other industries in the United States. The annual report scours Bureau of Labor statistics for factors such as expected growth, availability of job prospects, and job satisfaction to rank careers and predict their future viability. Employment for meeting, convention, and event planners is expected to grow by nearly 44 percent between 2010 and 2020, which will add 31,300 new positions to the field. In terms of pay, the median wage for meeting, convention, and event planners is $45,260, with the top 10 percent earning $76,840 annually. In addition, job satisfaction for those surveyed was high. IT and health-care positions accounted for all of the careers listed in the top 10 best jobs overall, with the professions of maintenance worker and teacher the only non-computer, non-medical positions to rank higher than being an event planner. 2. Information on Top 250 U.S. Shows Contained in Report A report released by the Trade Show News Network says that ConExpo-Con/Agg, with 2.4 million net square feet, was the biggest trade show in the U.S. in 2011. It unseated the incumbent International Consumer Electronics Show by 800,000 square feet, though CES will likely return to the top next year as ConExpo-Con/Agg will not occur again until 2014. The TSNN report ranks the top 250 U.S. exhibitions based on show floor size, also detailing the most popular cities, months, and show-management companies. Shows catering to a variety of different industries rounded out the top 10 largest shows, including the International Gift and Home Furnishings Markets in Atlanta, the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition, the Winter Las Vegas Market, the Specialty Equipment Market Association show, the National Business Aviation Association show, the Global Retail Real Estate Convention, and Magic Marketplace. Collectively, the 10 largest shows boast nearly 700,000 attendees and more than 12 million square feet of show floor space, most of which is located in Sin City. In fact, of the largest 250 shows, Las Vegas was the No. 1 destination, hosting 55 shows on the list. Other popular cities included Chicago, New York, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Orlando, FL. January was the most popular month for exhibitions with 32 shows, while December was the least popular month with three shows. The report suggests there is a multitude of organizers putting on the top 250 events, as the highest number of shows planned by any single firm was just 12 by Nielsen Expositions. Because of the biennial or triennial schedule of many shows, only five of the top 10 shows for 2011 were on the list in 2010, making straightforward comparisons from one year to the next impossible. However, data released by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research indicates that participation in trade shows was up in 2011.