For the first time in the 75-year history of the AHR Expo, the show was held in Orlando, FL, and as anticipated, it attracted a large number of industry professionals from around the globe. According to show management, the 2005 AHR Expo set a new record for number of exhibiting companies with 1,871 exhibitors taking up 372,955 square feet of exhibit space. The show was also one of the biggest shows in the Southeast in total attendance, with more than 45,000 total attendees (over 27,000 visitors and 18,000 exhibitor personnel).
More than 5,300 international visitors from 117 countries registered to attend the show. AHR Expo generally attracts some 20% of its attendance from over 100 countries outside the U.S. The 2005 show included a larger presence of visitors from Mexico and Central and South American countries.