In a dreary time for the exhibitions industry, medical meetings provided one of the few bright spots in 2008.

According to the CEIR Index annual report for 2008, published by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, the medical and healthcare sector of the exhibitions industry grew 1.3 percent last year, making it one of only four (of 11) sectors to see growth. Overall, the exhibitions industry declined 3.1 percent last year, with seven sectors showing declines.

“The medical and healthcare sector remains coveted by many in the exhibition industry for its tendency to be recession resistant and have less revenue volatility than other sectors,” according to the report. Since 2000, the medical sector has grown 3.2 percent annually. It is the only sector that has grown in each of the eight years that the CEIR Index has measured performance.

Of the four metrics that CEIR measures, two of them—number of exhibitors and revenues—were up in 2008. Exhibitors increased 4.3 percent for 2008, while revenues jumped 2.3 percent for the year. The other two metrics, net square feet of exhibit space and attendance, were down 1.2 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.

For more information and to purchase the full report, contact Cathy Breden, executive director at CEIR at cbreden@ceir.org or (972) 687-9201.