The 2009 Connections Convention and Trade Show, Sept. 9-11 at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nev., opened its doors as one of the most anticipated gatherings of the year.

In a time when attendance at industry events has been all over the map, everyone was more than a little interested in how the show would unfold.

“We’re pleasantly surprised,” Connections Events President Craig Kersemeier said.

“We saw the numbers really picking up, and it’s not typical of how it usually goes. Typically we have a lot of people on the front side, a month, month and a half out that were there.

“Now we’ve got people right up to the very end getting registered here, so I think maybe they’re starting to feel a little bit of a turn to the economy, a little more confidence that we’re seeing here, and we’re happy,” he said.

“People want to see people, and they’re seeing them at Connections.”