ATS vs CHEST for Exhibitors
Side-by-side data and our editorial take on which conference is the right exhibit investment for your medical device.
If you exhibit medical devices, ATS and CHEST are likely both on your shortlist. Both serve overlapping clinical buyers, but the audience composition, booth economics, and exhibit floor experience differ in ways that materially affect ROI. ATS draws 10,500 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $10,000-$18,000. CHEST draws 5,000 attendees at $12,000-$22,000 all-in. Below is the side-by-side data plus our editorial take on which conference fits which kind of exhibitor.
| 9.5 ATS | 7.6 CHEST | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 9.5 (Exceptional) | 7.6 (Strong) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | May 15-20, 2026 (pre-conference May 15-16, exhibit hall May 17-19) | October 18-21, 2026 |
| Location | Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL | Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ |
| Scale | mega | large |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 10,500 | 5,000 |
| Exhibitors | n/a | n/a |
| Purchasing authority | ~45% | ~50% |
| Effective buyers | 4,725 | 2,500 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | $50 | n/a |
| 10×10 space | $5,000 | n/a |
| All-in estimate | Est. $10,000-$18,000 | Est. $12,000-$22,000 |
| Cost per buyer | $2.96 | $6.8 |
Why exhibit at ATS
The global meeting for pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. 10,500 attendees -- larger than you'd expect for a subspecialty conference. Exceptional fit for ventilator manufacturers, pulmonary diagnostic equipment, respiratory devices, and sleep technology. Booth pricing is very reasonable at $5,000 for a 10x10.
Why exhibit at CHEST
The leading clinical meeting for chest medicine. While ATS skews academic/research, CHEST is where practicing pulmonologists and critical care physicians come for hands-on clinical education. More clinically actionable audience means better buyer intent for device and equipment vendors. Excellent for bronchoscopy, ventilation, and respiratory monitoring companies.
Why skip ATS
If your product is not pulmonary/respiratory/sleep-specific, the audience is too niche. Also very research-heavy -- many attendees are academic researchers, not purchasing decision-makers. Buy cycles can be long.
Why skip CHEST
Smaller than ATS (5,000 vs 10,500) so raw lead volume will be lower. Same audience overlap -- many attendees go to both ATS and CHEST. If budget is tight, pick one.