The organizers focused on the fact that its statistics revealed that the number of attendees who said that they were there in a buying capacity had increased by 16 percent compared to the previous year, to reach 16,655 participants.
The statistics fall in line with estimates made on first day of the event, September 18, that overall attendance had risen by around 5 percent.
This statistic means that approximately 78 percent of attendees at the show had a net buying influence, which means they either approved, recommended or specified their companies purchasing decisions.
In conjunction with this statistics, more than one quarter of buyers attending the show had responded in a survey that they had more than $500,000 to spend on industry products and services during the course of the next six months.
"This increase in our buying audience and their strong intent to make purchases validates that we are on target," said Jay Gorga, show director.
Likewise, the organizers also said that attendance of the conference program - the largest in the event's 15 year history - had grown significantly, with a 27 percent increase in paid delegates.
The organizers said that this increase reflected its emphasis on the cross-fertilization of 'marketing push' and 'technology pull', which had helped to attract industry decision makers across the board.
Talking to exhibitors at the show, the CosmeticDesign team learnt that stand holders were generally busy and were pleased by the number of new contacts and potential business leads the show had generated.
Gael Le Metayer, vice president for Silab's US operations, said that the show had generated a number of interesting leads, and also reported that he had received excellent feedback in relation to the reward the company received for Best International Technology for its Coheliss anti-aging formulation.
"In 2008, HBA Global Expo plans to cultivate even more influential buyers and introduce interactive features that will enhance the show experience for this ever-changing and dynamic industry," added Gorga.
Likewise, Eric Anderson from ingredients distributor PL Thomas reported that he had received a lot of interest relating to natural active ingredients, proving that the drive towards natural ingredients remans a hot trend.
Next year's event will again take place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center and is scheduled to be held September 9 - 11, when the organizers say they are hoping to increase the number of international attendees at the event.
Also scheduled for 2008, the HBA University will present two mid-year educational forums - Achieving Well Being : The New Paradigm Technical Conference, and The International Prestige Packaging & Design Symposium - both scheduled to take place March 4 - 5.
