Oceanside, CA – Trade Show Executive will salute the people, the shows and the organizations that have set the gold standard for the $85 billion exposition industry at its 2nd Annual Gold 100 Awards & Summit. The event will be held September 23-25, 2009 at the dramatic new Terranea Resort & Conference Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, conveniently located 20 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. 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 elite by-invitation-only event is expected to draw more than 200 leaders in the exposition industry. To register, go to https://www.smartreg.com/webreg/GALA09/.
The Gold 100 trade shows will be selected from the 4,000+ trade shows held in the U.S. each year as tracked by Trade Show Executive in its ZOOM® Calendar and subscriber database. The top 100 shows are the market leaders in their industry sectors, ranging from aviation to woodworking. Show organizers must certify that their show statistics are accurate in order to pass the first round. The rankings are then determined by net square feet of paid exhibit space.
Ten Grand Awards to be Presented
In addition to the Gold 100 awards, ten TSE Grand Awards will be presented at the event:
- 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)
Four Grand Awards Open to Shows of All Sizes
For the first time, four of the Grand Awards will be open to submissions from shows of all sizes, not just the largest shows. These four categories include: “Against All Odds,” “Best Use of Green Initiatives,” “Best Use of Technology,” and “Most Innovative Practices.”
“Some of the most far-reaching ideas on audience behavior, social networking, ROI tracking and community-based technology were beta-tested at smaller shows before going mainstream in the industry,” said Darlene Gudea, vice president/publisher and editor of Trade Show Executive. “By opening up four of the ten Grand Awards to all expositions, delegates will have a broader perspective on the ideas that will shape the exposition industry in the years ahead.”
The Gold 100 honorees are listed within the Gold 100 website. However, the ranking of each show and the winners of the ten Grand Awards will be kept confidential until 9:00 p.m. on September 24 at a black-tie ceremony at the Terranea. 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™.
In addition to the awards banquet, the event will feature a summit featuring TSE’s Exposition Forecasting Board; TSE’s Power Lunch interview of one of the most fascinating leaders in the exposition industry; a panel on burning issues; a complimentary golf outing; and goody bags sponsored by some of the nation’s leading luxury retailers.
Reach Darlene Gudea, vp/publisher & editor at (760) 630-9111 or dgudea@tradeshowexecutive.com; or Diane Bjorklund, director of events, at (630) 312-8915 or dbjorklund@tradeshowexecutive.com
