LAS VEGAS – While it may seem like every year officials call the International Security Conference (ISC) West the “best ever,” they may have had good reason to call it that in 2004. The future was evident in DVRs and biometric security equipment, as there was much more than ever offered at the 2004 ISC West at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas from March 31 to April 2.
There was a 17-percent increase in attendance from 2003, with more than 19,439 filling the convention floor. The greater amount of attendees had a greater amount of booths to see, with 730 companies at the show, including 282 companies making their first ISC appearance.
“Just general feedback that I’ve gotten from exhibitors is this is one of the best ISC shows ever. This year has really taken a step up in terms of the quality of attendees on the floor and obviously the volume that are here this year,” says Dean Russo, executive director of show organizer Reed Exhibitions. “The improving economy means more people are traveling … improving economy means more people are buying. There’s more business happening.”
Russo says a majority of the booths, especially those of the newer companies, were dominated by those offering access control and CCTV. However, the largest growth this year was seen in biometric companies, which Russo says are starting to emerge from a reputation of being here one year and gone the next. “Three years ago, there were a lot of small, start-up companies that had venture capital money that were on the bubble of ‘Am I going to make it, or am I not going to make it?’ What I’m seeing now in the biometrics space … I’m seeing them become more established. Bigger companies taking bigger spaces, investing in booth space, and it’s a good thing to see for that segment.”
