Oceanside, CA – The roster of trade shows that make up this year’s Trade Show Executive (TSE) Gold 100 has been finalized, and all eyes are now on Santa Barbara, where the biggest and the best will be feted at the upcoming TSE Gold 100 Awards & Summit, September 30-October 2 at the Bacara Resort and Spa on California’s golden Pacific Coast. Here is the list of honorees as well as the 20 categories that all shows — large and small — can enter to win a TSE Gold Grand Award.
Many familiar names are once again Gold 100 shows by virtue of the sheer size of their exhibit floors. Venerable events such as the International CES, International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), MAGIC – August, the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, PACK EXPO and SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) top the list with at least 1 million net square feet of exhibit space apiece. TSE will also honor the biggest of them all – the triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG and its record exhibit floor which could easily pass for a subdivision of Las Vegas.
Many other giants will be honored, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, International Vision Expo East, the Nightclub & Bar Convention &Trade Show, The Rental Show, Surfaces and more.
Their accomplishments will be the focus of the awards dinner and summit, which brings together CEOs, group vice presidents, group show managers, and leading show organizers – not only from the Gold 100 shows, but also from the so-called “Winners Circle” which includes leaders of the Fastest 50 shows and top brass from numerous other show organizations and associations.
A complete list of the Gold 100 shows is published at the end of this article, in alphabetical order. The rankings from the largest on down will not be released until the event.
Who’s the Best? TSE’s Gold Grand Awards Salute the Grandeur of Shows Large and Small
The TSE Gold 100 Awards & Summit also recognizes achievements other than sheer size. “The Gold Grand Awards program identifies the most inspirational thinkers in the trade show industry and salutes them and their pioneering new ideas,” said Darlene Gudea, president of Trade Show Executive Media Group. “By spotlighting the winners and inspiring conversations among the industry leaders at the Gold Gala, the Gold Grand Awards will help accelerate new ideas throughout the exhibition industry.” Your show does not have to be a Gold 100 honoree to enter the Grand Awards; TSE is looking for the best ideas in the industry.
Trade Show Executive’s 2015 Gold Grand Awards categories include:
- Best Turnaround (from the previous show)
- Best Program to Help Exhibitors Maximize their ROI
- Best Trade Show Web Site
- Most Extreme Results from Social Media
- Best Viral Show Promotion or Show Experience
- Best 24/7/365 Show Brand
- Best Use of Technology
- Best Mobile App
- Super Sticky Show Floor (best strategy for keeping attendees on the exhibit floor)
- Show with the Most Commendable Green Initiatives
- Show with the Strongest Global Participation (in number of countries or total number of international attendees)
- Best Gold 100 Show Extension Overseas
- Best VIP Program
- Most Creative Sponsorship
- Most Innovative Show Overall
- The Do-Gooder Award: the best event held by a trade show organizer for philanthropic or social causes
- Slam Dunk Award: Best New Idea
- Marketing Genius Award (the team or individual that implemented the most clever marketing ideas)
- Against All Odds (the show that overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges)
- The Greatest Show on Earth (the show that sets the ultimate Gold Standard. It reflects excellence from all or most of these perspectives: exhibitor and attendee satisfaction, service to the industry, leadership within the industry, overcoming obstacles, smooth logistics, innovative techniques, green practices, etc.)
Multiple Benefits to Winning An Award
Gudea noted that past winners have said the entry process in itself is a valuable benchmarking exercise. “It gathers the team together, begins a discussion on show strengths and weaknesses, and helps identify better ways of doing things down the line,” she said. And winning a TSE Gold Grand Award and crystal trophy not only raises the morale and profile of the team within an organization, Gudea noted, but it also builds the show brand to the audience of exhibitors, attendees and sponsors.
How to Enter
Nominations can be made by TSE readers, Gold 100 show organizers and staff, and/or their service providers. Nominations should be submitted by using the online entry form at Grand Award Entry
Entries must be submitted by 12 p.m. PDT on August 24 for consideration.
Winners will be judged by the editorial staff of Trade Show Executive. The winners of the 20 Grand Awards will be unveiled and crystal trophies will be presented at the TSE Gold 100 Awards & Summit on October 1.
Reach Darlene Gudea at (760) 889-8585 or dg@tradeshowexecutive.com
Trade Show Executive’s
Gold 100 Class of 2014
(Honorees are listed in alphabetical order)
- AACC Clinical Lab Expo (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo)
- ABC Kids Expo (All Baby & Child)
- AHR Expo: International Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting
- American International Toy Fair
- American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting
- APTA’s Annual Meeting & EXPO (American Public Transportation Association)
- ASD Las Vegas – August
- ASD Las Vegas – March
- ASIS Seminar & Exhibits
- Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market – January
- Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market – July
- AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition (Association of the United States Army)
- CEDIA EXPO (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association)
- CONEXPO-CON/AGG
- Cosmoprof North America
- Coverings
- CTIA Super Mobility
- E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- FABTECH
- FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference)
- Florida RV SuperShow
- G2E – Global Gaming Expo
- GIE + EXPO (Green Industry & Equipment Expo)
- Global Pet Expo
- GlobalShop
- GRAPH EXPO & CPP EXPO (Converting & Package Printing)
- HAI HELI-EXPO® (Helicopter Association International)
- HD Expo (Hospitality Design Expo & Conference)
- HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition (Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society)
- IAAPA Attractions Expo (International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions)
- IEEE PES Transmission & Distribution Conference (Institute of Electrical & Electronics
- Engineers/Power & Energy Society)
- IFT Annual Meeting + Food Expo (Institute of Food Technologists)
- InfoComm International
- Interbike
- International CES
- International Home + Housewares Show
- International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS)
- International Production & Processing Expo
- International Vision Expo East
- International Woodworking Fair
- International WorkBoat Show
- ISA International Sign Expo (International Sign Association)
- ISC West (International Security Conference & Expo)
- ISSA/INTERCLEAN (The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association)
- JCK Las Vegas
- KBIS – Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
- Licensing Expo
- LIGHTFAIR International
- MAGIC – August
- MAGIC – February
- Mid-America Trucking Show
- Modex
- NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters)
- NACS Show (The Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing)
- NADA/ATD Convention & Expo (National Automobile Dealers Association/American Truck Dealers)
- NAHB International Builders’ Show (National Association of Home Builders)
- NAMM Show (National Association of Music Merchants)
- National Hardware Show
- National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show
- Annual National RV Trade Show
- Natural Products Expo West/Engredea
- NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (National Business Aviation Association)
- Nightclub & Bar Convention & Trade Show
- Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo
- NY NOW – August
- NY NOW – February
- Offshore Technology Conference
- Outdoor Retailer Summer Market
- Outdoor Retailer Winter Market
- PACK EXPO International/Pharma EXPO
- Performance Racing Industry Trade Show
- PGA Merchandise Show (Professional Golfers’ Association of America)
- PLMA’s Private Label Trade Show (Private Label Manufacturers Association)
- POWER-GEN International
- The PPAI Expo (Promotional Products Association International)
- Premiere Orlando
- Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Convention & Expo
- Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International
- RECon, The Global Retail Real Estate Convention
- The Rental Show
- Retail’s BIG Show
- RSNA Scientific Assembly & Annual Meeting (Radiological Society of North America)
- SEMA Show (Specialty Equipment Market Association)
- SGIA Expo (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association)
- SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show)
- SIA Snow Show (SnowSports Industries America)
- Solar Power International
- Summer Fancy Food Show
- Surf Expo – January
- Surf Expo – September
- SURFACES
- WasteExpo
- WEFTEC.14 (Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition & Conference)
- Winter Fancy Food Show
- The Work Truck Show
- World Dairy Expo
- World of Concrete
Congratulations to all the honorees!
