Issue link: https://tradeshowexecutive.epubxp.com/i/65565
TSE SPOTLIGHT TSE Announces the Gold 100 BY HIL ANDERSON, senior editor Oceanside, CA – CONEXPO-CON/AGG grabbed the top honors as the largest trade show in the Trade Show Executive Gold 100 rankings of 2011 shows, an- nounced Darlene Gudea, president of Trade Show Executive Media Group on April 17. Spanning 2.2 million net square feet (nsf) of exhibit space, CONEXPO/ CON-AGG's triennial orbit brought the mega show into position to eclipse the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as the largest event of 2011. How- ever, just as noteworthy was CES, which The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC once again weighed in as the largest annual show of the year. "While it's no surprise that CONEXPO- CON/AGG and the International CES topped the Gold 100 rankings of 2011 shows, there was plenty of uncertainty over what other shows would make the cut, how they weighed in compared to 2010, and what ideas they implemented to stay ahead of the pack," said Gudea. Te roster includes several familiar names and some newcomers that have bolstered their exhibit space well into six figures. Edging out several other close contenders was the AWFS Fair, the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers, which came in at No. 100. In between the three events are 97 other powerhouses in the medical, food, construction and retail sectors. Te rankings were compiled by Trade Show Executive's editorial team led by Carol Andrews, editor-at-large, during a year-long process of gathering data, resolving discrepancies and obtaining certified statements of accuracy from the organizers. Te team from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the Con- sumer Electronics Association, and the Association of Woodworking & Furnish- ings Suppliers will be among the 250+ exhibition industry luminaries on hand at the Fiſth Annual TSE Gold 100 Awards & Summit October 3-5 at Te Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC. It is the first East Coast venue for the event. Te close proximity of many honorees to the site is expected to dramatically increase participation in the event. Te honorees and select group of delegates at the Gold Gala form a magi- cal community where minds are hyper- stimulated with new ideas; where solutions to challenges are explored; and where new friendships and partnerships are forged in a congenial not competitive atmosphere. "Te high quality of the conference, the elegant setting, and the unparalleled gathering of industry success stories has 6 May 2012 | Trade Show Executive made the Gold 100 Awards & Summit the highlight of the year for the trade show industry," said Diane Bjorklund, TSE's vice president of events. Fiſteen of the event's 30+ sponsors will present TSE's Grand Awards to the organizers of the trade shows that set the Gold Standard for the exhibition industry. Join SIA Snow Show's Ingemie for Lunch David Ingemie, the longtime president of SnowSports Industries America (SIA), will make a rare appearance before an exhibition industry audience as the guest of honor at the Power Lunch session. Ingemie has built the SIA's annual Snow Show into a perennial Gold 100 event and the can't-miss trade show in the snow sports industry. He will sit down with TSE's Bob Dallmeyer for a live version of Bob's monthly Power Lunch column. Economic Outlook Te outcome of presidential election that takes place a month aſter the Gold 100 Awards & Summit will mostly likely hinge on the economy, a topic TSE analyzes ev- ery month and will cover in depth at the Gold 100 Summit. Te popular Trending & Spending session will convene members of the TSE Economic Forecasting Board along with TSE Chief Economist Frank Chow and review the business environment of the recent past and near future. Registration Registration is open and complimentary to the honorees. Te event is also expected to draw C-level attendees, executive vice presidents, group show managers, show directors and other VIPs from a wide cross section of for-profit companies and associations to participate in the industry's leading event for contacts and contracts. Reach Darlene Gudea, at (760) 889-8585 or dgudea@tradeshowexecutive.com; Diane Bjorklund at (630) 312-8915 or dbjorklund@ tradeshowexecutive.com