NSS show changes go beyond name, location

WASHINGTON - While the International Security Conference show has been around for decades, there will be more that’s different about this fall’s event than just its new name and location. Now called the National Summit on Security, an ISC Expo Event, this month’s show in the nation’s capitol will not only attract a new group of attendees, but draw upon never seen before exhibitors, such as companies in the IT arena and network security space. But one of the most familiar names – GE Interlogix and its 4,500 square feet of combined booth space between its multiple companies in the security industry – will be absent from this fall’s show. The product manufacturer is not alone in its decision to sit this show out. Rapid Response, a contract monitoring company known for its booth filled with black leather sofas, has also chosen not to exhibit. Security camera manufacturer Sanyo will also be absent. According to Reed Exhibitions, the show’s producer, the NSS show is expected to attract more than 375 vendors, with a show floor of 85,000 square feet. Of those vendors, 105 companies have been labeled new exhibitors since they did not exhibit at last year’s ISC Orlando Show. That event drew 430 exhibitors spread over 100,000 square feet. Dean Russo, industry vice president, ISC events, said the NSS show will be a different event, but that is by design. The show’s producers worked for about a year to revamp the event’s focus and content to better address the evolving security market. Bringing the show to Washington for the first time also provided an opportunity to attract government agencies both as attendees and vendors. That government market is what appeals to first time exhibitor Global Technology Systems Consortium, an IT consulting firm that offers a visitor badging management solution. “We’re in our sweet spot,” said Richard Sommese, sales manager for GTSC of Alexandria, Va. “Our sweet spot is the federal and metro agencies.” But for GE Interlogix, the timing and location was not right for the company to exhibit at NSS. “We’re trying to be judicious where we put our money,” said Jay Pinkert, director of communications for GE Interlogix. “This year stacked up in favor of (ASIS and ISC West) shows.” But the company’s lack of booth space does not preclude company executives from attending the show, said Pinkert, who noted that Ken Boyda, president and chief executive officer of GE Interlogix, and many other executives will in fact be at the event. Nor does it preclude the company from exhibiting at next fall’s event, slated for Nov. 2 – 4, 2004 in New York (see related story). Despite a different make-up of exhibitors and smaller show floor, Russo said the NSS event was drawing a larger pool of attendees when compared with ISC Orlando last year. Prior to press time, Russo said preregistration was up 20 percent when compared with the same period for the Orlando show. And, the dynamics of the exhibitors are shaping up differently as well, he said. So far, 10 percent of preregistrants are coming from the government market, while 20 percent are from the corporate end-user side of the market. Dealers and integrators comprise of 45 percent of preregistrants, whereas the remaining mix includes consultants and manufacturers. Russo said it was too early to tell whether the fall show will make a return to Washington in future, but all indications point to this first go around as being a positive move. “We haven’t experienced the first year in D.C., so it’s tough to say we’re going to continued to do it here,” he said. “All indications however, are that we are going to have a successful event.” Related stories More NSS coverage NSS New Products