Total attendance was flat at 9,266 compared to the 9,256 people who went to Denver for last year's show, CBA said. In terms of professional attendance (total number of people minus exhibitors and youth), 2,859 people attended the annual event, up 4% from 2,750 conventioneers in 2006. There was also a slight increase among international attendees-734 representatives from 52 countries last year to 757 people from 54 countries for this year's ICRS.

Additionally, there were 528 church bookstore attendees-a 16% increase from 2006 which drew 441 people from that group. However, exhibitor and personnel attendance was down 2% from 6,145 in 2006 to 6,007 this year, CBA said.

"Given the cost of gasoline and the rising costs of air travel, as well as the reality that so many retailers are having to watch every dollar they spend, it was rewarding to see a strong turn-out that exceeded last year's attendance which was at a place as appealing as the Rocky Mountains," said CBA President and CEO Bill Anderson.

The convention featured 386 exhibitors, including 67 who made their first appearance at ICRS. As the conference closed, Anderson said a key issue from the week was unity among retailers and suppliers in the Christian marketplace.

"What I heard and saw this week was a desire to really work in unity and not just talk about it," Anderson said. "As the market for Christian products changes in other channels, there is a larger and more significant role for the Christian store to play."

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