Executive Summary:
- 2010 Gold 100 Awards & Summit set forSeptember 22-24 at Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel
- Top shows, organizers to be honored
- Reed’s Chet Burchett to be interviewed live in Power Lunch session
- Unique networking agenda in the plans
- Economic recovery will be gaining traction
Reed’s Chet Burchett is Headliner of TSE’s Upcoming Gold 100 Awards
Oceanside, CA – As the East coast digs out of the snow, the trade show industry is also beginning to see a thaw in the icy business climate. What the recovery will look like and how to capitalize on new opportunities is the theme of Trade Show Executive’s third annual Gold 100 Awards & Summit. The by-invitation-only event will be held September 22-24 at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel on the scenic Southern California coast. The three-day event will offer even more of the debate, dialogue and high-level networking that is a hallmark of the event.
Chet Burchett, president of Reed Exhibitions Americas for the past six years, will be the focus of TSE’s Power Lunch session and TSE’s cover story for October. Burchett heads the North American division of the nation’s largest show organization. Worldwide, Reed produces over 400 exhibitions, including eight of the Gold 100 shows, such as the SHOT Show, International Vision Expo, and the PGA Merchandise Show. TSE columnist Bob Dallmeyer will bring his monthly Power Lunch column to the stage at the Gold 100 Summit as he interviews Burchett live on stage.
The Gold 100 Summit will also include TSE’s Exposition Forecasting Board members who will present their forecasts for the near- and long-term in the “Trending & Spending” session; “Burning Issues,” which features a well-rounded panel of CEOs and other senior executives addressing the industry’s most compelling issues; and sessions on technology, innovation, negotiating and marketing.
Besides honoring the Gold 100 shows, ten organizers will also receive TSE’s Grand Award in categories ranging from “Against All Odds” to “The Show with the Highest Economic Impact” to “The Top Brand.”
The ten Grand Awards are as follows:
- Against All Odds – shows which overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges
- Best Use of Green Initiatives
- Best Use of Technology
- The Fastest-Growing Show
- The Highest Economic Impact on the Local Economy
- The Largest Show (in net square feet of paid exhibit space)
- The Leading Show Producer (in number of Gold 100 shows)
- The Most Innovative Practices
- The Strongest Global Participation
- Top Brand (The show with the most brand extensions worldwide)
In two short years, the Gold 100 Awards has been established as the premier event in the trade show industry. The by-invitation-only guest list is A-level and the honorees include the largest and most successful organizers and events. The event will be capped at 200 delegates.
“It is a great mixture of the right people, good substance, fun and a great venue,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association and organizer of a perennial Gold 100 honoree, the annual International Consumer Electronics Show.
“The 2009 Gold 100 Summit took place among a high level of uncertainty about the world economy and hopes for a recovery in 2010,” said Darlene Gudea, president of Trade Show Executive Media Group. “The recovery has begun, and we can see evidence of that in shows such as the International CES, MAGIC Marketplace and the SHOT Show.” The economy and new opportunities will be in the spotlight this Fall when leaders of the exhibition industry sit down for a full day of educational sessions.
Along with another full roster of timely and informative discussion topics, TSE has created numerous networking opportunities. “It is one of the best networking events I’ve ever been to,” said Ken McAvoy, senior vice president of Reed Exhibitions.
The schedule includes an opportunity to unwind with a cigar and a nightcap after the opening-night reception, additional prizes in the annual golf outing and a sailing regatta for honorees and the event sponsors.
Las Vegas is Title Sponsor; CompuSystems Signs on as Platinum Sponsor
The Gold 100 Awards & Summit will feature a new high-profile sponsor: CompuSystems, Inc., which has signed on as the exclusive registration sponsor
“CompuSystems is pleased to be a platinum sponsor and official registration service provider for the Gold 100 Awards & Summit Having served more Gold 100 events in 2009 than any other registration company, it was a natural fit to provide registration services for this prestigious event,” said Pat Fallon, vice president of business development for CompuSystems.
In addition to the LVCVA and CompuSystems, the other leading sponsors of the Gold 100 Awards & Summit include Gold Sponsors Hargrove; United Service Companies; and PRG Corporate & Trade Show Services. The silver sponsors are the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau; Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority; Georgia World Congress Center; Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau; the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau; the Rosemont Convention & Tourism Bureau; Advantage Boston; Massachusetts Convention Center Authority; and Marketing Design Group. Bronze sponsors include the George Fern Company; SMG; a2z, Inc.; CMAC; Victoria’s Event Productions; and PrivilegedAccess.tv. Supporting association sponsors are the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO); Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA); and the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR).
Announcing the Winners
“On April 15, Trade Show Executive will release the 100 shows that placed in the Gold 100 rankings in an announcement to the winners, the media, industry associations and in Trade Show Executive’selectronic and print media,” said Diane Bjorklund, TSE’s vice president of events. Registration for the Gold 100 Awards & Summit will then officially open. However, the ranking of each show and the winners of the ten Grand Awardswill be kept confidential until 9:00 p.m. on September 23 at a Black-Tie ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton. At that time, various industry leaders including key sponsors and TSE editors will “open the envelope” and announce the winners, similar to the Academy Awards™.
Updates on the Gold 100 Awards & Summit will be available in monthly editions of TSE and on the website, www.tradeshowexecutive.com.
Reach Diane Bjorklund at (630) 312-8915 or dbjorklund@tradeshowexecutive.com
