WESTPORT, Conn. - With more than eight months still remaining before the 2005 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), to be held in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 7-9, 2005, the show is on pace to become one of the largest events in the history of the exposition, according to International Exposition Company, the show management firm.

The company says that 1,400 companies have reserved 321,000 net square feet of exhibit space. These early numbers indicate it could become the fourth largest event of all time. The 2005 show currently has more than 80 percent of the available exhibit space reserved.

Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company, said, "We are very excited about this overwhelming response from the industry so far in advance of the event. This is especially gratifying since this is the first time AHR Expo has been held in Florida."

The Exposition is co-sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), and the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) is an honorary sponsor. ASHRAE's winter meeting is held concurrently with the AHR Expo.

Publication date: 05/17/2004