March 13, 2024
8 Insights from the Buzz Surrounding LEDucation 2024
Author: Al Uszynski
Number 7 will shock you. (Not really, but you should still check out the list.)
As the New York Hilton Midtown gears up to host LEDucation on March 19-20, the excitement within the lighting industry is palpable. This premier event, hailed as North America’s largest annual lighting industry trade show and conference, is more than just a showcase of the latest innovations in LED lighting and controls technology. It's a vibrant hub of networking, education, and industry insights, drawing professionals from across the globe.
With an impressive lineup of seminars, exhibits, and networking opportunities, LEDucation promises to illuminate the paths of industry veterans and newcomers alike, offering a unique blend of knowledge, connections, and cutting-edge technology under the bright lights of New York City.
LEDucation co-chair Burt Grant informed us that as of yesterday, March 12, nearly 8,000 individuals had pre-registered for the show, both virtual and in-person. Virtual seminars are scheduled for tomorrow and Friday.
Join us as we explore eight observations that highlight the major significance and subtle nuances of this much-anticipated event.
1. Why are we here?
One of the key benefits of LEDucation, like any industry trade show, is its ability to cater to a diverse group of attendees with varying priorities based on their jobs and interests.
LEDucation boasts an impressive lineup of educational seminars, which, despite their historical popularity, aren't the primary draw for most attendees.
In a recent informal LinkedIn poll conducted by Inside Lighting, participants were asked, "What do you find most valuable at LEDucation?" While networking was anticipated to be the top response, the margin of victory was surprising. Over two-thirds of respondents in the lighting community valued the opportunity to connect with other Lighting People as the foremost benefit.
It's clear that new products and seminars are crucial for facilitating networking opportunities, making each a valuable component of a successful event.
2. That said, numerous seminars are SOLD OUT
While educational seminars may not have been the top reason for attendance according to many poll respondents, they remain an important aspect of LEDucation.
As of this morning, sixteen in-person seminars at LEDucation are sold out. If you registered for the event early and planned to choose your educational sessions later, now is the time to act.
The sold-out sessions cover a range of topics, from scientific subjects and overarching themes to best practices in architectural design. Among the sixteen sold-out sessions are:
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Lighting Design and AI – The Future is Here, Presenters: Lisa J. Reed, Reed Burkett Lighting Design | Carla Bukalski, Focal Point
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Specifying Sustainable Luminaires, Presenter: Scott Roos, Acuity Brands
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Recommendations vs Reality: 3 million eye-level spectral measurements taken in factory and office spaces have a thing or two to teach us about lighting for human health, Presenters: Wendy Luedtke, ETC | Andrea Wilkerson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | Jessica Collier Kelly, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
SOLD OUT: List of sold out seminars »
3. Enthusiasm and Attendance: At an All-Time High
LEDucation, once a New York-centric show, has evolved into a significant national and international event, attracting attendees from across North America and the globe.
The buzz around LEDucation is palpable, with thousands of Lighting People, including many first-time attendees in 2022 or 2023, planning to return with colleagues and clients. Exhibitors are busy finalizing their marketing plans and strategies in anticipation of the event.
In a recent "5 Big Questions" interview on Inside Lighting, organizers of LEDucation projected over 10,000 attendees, which would blow away the 2023 record of approximately 8,000 attendees. Additionally, the CEO of a U.S. architectural brand who we met with in Germany last week predicted 11,500 attendees, a figure echoed by the principal of a leading lighting agency in the eastern U.S.
4. Potential Downside of Big Numbers
While large attendance numbers are often celebrated for the networking opportunities they present within our community, allowing us to interact from a business standpoint and reconnect with old industry friends, akin to a homecoming weekend, there is a potential downside to consider.
The concern arises from the possibility of overcrowding, particularly on Tuesday, which is historically the busiest day at LEDucation. The aisles could become so crowded that attendees might feel discomfort from being bumped accidentally by backpacks or experience a sense of claustrophobia similar to that of the NYC subway's 4 train during rush hour. Although LEDucation will likely find ways to manage such feedback, the risk of overcrowding remains a concern.
It's worth noting that North America's largest annual lighting show takes place in a hotel ballroom, which might sound constraining. However, the venue is not just any hotel—the New York Hilton is the largest hotel in Manhattan and boasts the largest single ballroom in the city, with the show extending across multiple ballrooms on three different floors.
5. The Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Having spent most of my twenties living in the New York Metro Area, the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade was always an event to remember. With bagpipers, inebriated spectators, and activists voicing their protests, it was never short of lively. In some years, I celebrated along the parade route, while in others, when the parade occurred on a weekday, I dodged revelers as I made my way from specification-related visits at Edwards & Zuck to those at Laszlo Bodak Engineers.
Certain Inside Lighting crew members, planning to arrive in NYC on Saturday, March 16, hoped to catch the parade on St. Patrick's Day itself. However, it turns out the parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, the day of our arrival, so we’ll miss it. This scheduling by the parade organizers seems thoughtful, allowing those who celebrate an extra day, Sunday, to recuperate and detox from any green beer festivities.
6. Light + Building Timing Gap
With this year's Light + Building concluding in Frankfurt, Germany just 5 days ago, participants have had little time to transition before heading to NYC for LEDucation, making for a particularly busy period. While not a complaint, it's an observation of the bustling schedule. It raises questions about how lighting design firms and manufacturer executives manage to maintain their regular work and meet deadlines amidst such a packed calendar of major lighting events.
Interactions with lighting designers from larger firms at Light + Building revealed a strategic approach to attendance: designating certain staff members for Light + Building and others for LEDucation. Light + Building tends to be the more sought-after assignment, possibly because it offers an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe, as opposed to "just another trip to NYC."
7. LEDucation & LightFair: Faceoff Brewing in 2027?
LEDucation has traditionally been a March event. However, due to scheduling conflicts at the New York Hilton, the show will move to April in 2026, with organizers clarifying this as a one-time change, intending to return to its March schedule in 2027.
Looking ahead to 2027, a potential scheduling conflict arises as LightFair 2027, set to take place in Las Vegas, has also planned March dates for that year, though specific dates are yet to be disclosed. This situation raises the possibility of a direct conflict or consecutive weeks of major lighting events in March 2027.
Unlike Monday nights in the fall, where television viewers can record The Bachelor while watching Monday Night Football live, trade shows do not offer such a luxury. Many Lighting People could face a challenging decision if these two major events overlap or occur in close succession.
8. Inside Lighting Audience Appreciation Giveaway
It's been nearly four years since we revitalized the dormant side project of Inside Lighting by dedicating full-time effort to it. And at some point in 2022 or 2023, Inside Lighting became the most visited media site in North America for lighting industry news and information. We want to express our gratitude to our dedicated audience — the remarkable community of Lighting People.
This year at LEDucation, we're inviting you to join us in celebration, offering a choice between a stylish cap or a sleek “Lighting Person” tumbler as a token of our appreciation to our InfoLetter subscribers. Be mindful that these exclusive items arrived in New York on two large pallets and are in limited supply, so we encourage you to come early to our booth situated near the Grand Ballroom entrance. It's our way of thanking you for making us your number one source for lighting news and information.
Which item will you take home?
