The Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association has compiled a list of the 50 largest medical conventions held in the United States last year, and the top 20 destinations for healthcare meetings in 2009.

The convention list is based on total attendance (attendees and exhibitors) reported to HCEA by the event organizers for their 2009 shows (the organization recognizes that it does not have information reported to it from all healthcare meeting organizers). Here are HCEA’s top five conventions:
1. Greater New York Dental Meeting, New York City
Total attendance: 59,166
Professionals in attendance: 37,206

2. Radiological Society Of North America Inc., Chicago
Total attendance: 56,824
Professionals in attendance: 26,363

3. American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Las Vegas
Total attendance: 33,440
Professionals in attendance: 17,624

4. American Dental Association, Honolulu
Total attendance: 32,000
Professionals in attendance: 20,000

5. Chicago Dental Society, Chicago
Total attendance: 31,333
Professionals in attendance: 16,644

While the destinations these largest shows were held in span the entire U.S., from New York City to Honolulu, some cities do get a larger share of the healthcare meetings market than others. HCEA also has published its list of the top 20 healthcare meeting destinations, which hosted 51 percent of all healthcare meetings reported to HCEA in 2009.

Here are the first 10 of HCEA’s top 20 destinations for healthcare meetings last year:
1. San Diego
2. Orlando
3. San Francisco
4. Chicago
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Las Vegas
7. New Orleans
8. Boston
9. Phoenix
10. San Antonio

Visit HCEA’s Web site for the full list of HCEA’s rankings of the 50 largest medical conventions in 2009; and for the full list of HCEA’s top 20 destinations.

More articles about HCEA research:
Don’t Fear the Pharma Code Effect

Docs Put More Credence in Medical Exhibits

Despite Recession, Medical Meetings Grow