Oceanside CA – Excitement has been building for the Sixth Annual Gold 100 Awards & Summit September 18-20 at a new location: the luxurious 5-Star St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, CA. The event will salute the 100 largest trade shows of the past year as well as single out individual events for their achievements ranging from social media and green initiatives, to international participation and economic impact. An expected 50 sponsors will join Trade Show Executive in making this the most unforgettable and productive event of the series.
The final tally of the major shows that make up the new Trade Show Executive (TSE) Gold 100 is on the Gold 100 web site here. The honorees are listed in alphabetical order. The ranking order of each TSE Gold 100 show, as well as the winners of the TSE Gold Grand Awards, will be kept a secret until the TSE Gold Gala Awards dinner on September 19th.
But we are willing to release a few facts and figures…..
The 2012 International CES topped the list as the largest event of the year, taking over the spot held in 2011 by the triennial CONEXPO/CON-AG. The CES spanned nearly 1.9 million net square feet (nsf) of exhibit space, while the Nightclub & Bar Convention & Trade Show, managed by Questex, justsqueaked by to make the No. 100 ranking by spanning 186,300 nsf. The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and Health Care Information & Management Systems Society (HIMSS) were close contenders for the honor as the largest medical show; we will reserve that announcement for the Gold Gala. Will Nielsen [now Emerald Expositions] be the Crown Jewel of the evening for organizing the most Gold 100 shows – or will Reed Exhibitions – or will someone else take the home the crystal trophy? Who gets the bragging rights as the most astute with social media? Find out on September 19 as you network with the icons of the trade show industry.
TOP SPEAKERS TO STIMULATE YOUR THINKING
Wolfgang Marzin, president and chief executive officer of Messe Frankfurt, one of the Big 3 Organizers worldwide, will be the guest of honor at Bob Dallmeyer’s live version of his monthly Power Lunch interview with industry leaders and legends.
The keynote speaker for the Gold 100 Summit is Jeremy Gutsche, MBA, author and founder of TrendHunter.com, which has 2.5 million Facebook fans. Gutsche, dubbed a “new breed of trend spotter” by The Guardian and an “Intellectual Can of Red Bull” by Association Week, has broad appeal in economic, news and entertainment circles as his online community hunts for new ideas. His trade show-focused keynote will address “The Culture of Innovation – How Show Organizers Can Create a Culture of Customer Obsession and Innovation.”
Watch for more updates about speakers, networking activities and other details about the Gold 100 Awards & Summit at www.tradeshowexecutive.com and in TSE’s E-Clips Breaking News.
Last year’s Gold Gala was held for the first time on the East Coast and drew a record 182 delegates. This year’s event on the West Coast is part of the east-west rotational pattern launched last year. The program is expected to draw heavy participation again this year.
SPECIAL INCENTIVE TO EARLY REGISTRANTS
Registration is open now. The first 25 show organizers to register will get their names added twice to the drawing for a special prize at the end of the evening, thereby increasing their odds to win. Prizes in the past included a weekend at the incomparable New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; a goodie bag of tech gifts retailing for $2,000; and a weekend at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
To register, go to Gold Gala registration
Reach Diane Bjorklund at (630) 312-8915 or dbjorklund@tradeshowexecutive.com
