TSNN Launches Exhibitor News Network, a New Resource for Exhibit Management and Event Marketing Professionals

March 17, 2023
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TSNN, the top online news source for the trade show industry, launched Exhibitor News Network (ENN), a new website, e-newsletter and social channels (LinkedInTwitterYouTubeFacebook and Instagram) for exhibit management and event marketing professionals who participate in U.S. exhibition industry, valued at the $101 billion, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). Exhibitors represent 70% of the revenues generated from the trade show industry, CEIR research finds. 

This new online hub for industry news, insights and original content will focus on information, education and tools for exhibit managers and event marketers representing every industry sector and company size — from Fortune 500 companies and startups to nonprofits and government agencies. 

To receive the Exhibitor News Network weekly e-newsletter Thursday mornings in your inbox, please subscribe HERE.

Gartner’s 2022 annual CMO Spend and Strategy Survey reported that budgets recovered somewhat year over year, with the average marketing spend increasing from 6.4 percent to 9.5 percent of company revenue across almost all industries.

"We are delighted by the market’s strong endorsement of the launch of Exhibitor News Network, which will feature important news, information and trends  for all of the many exhibitors — large and small — who invest in shows worldwide," said Rachel Wimberly, president of Tarsus Media, parent company of ENN and TSNN.

Led by Danica Tormohlen, vice president of content for Tarsus Media, the free-access ENN site, social media channels and weekly e-newsletter will feature original content and industry news for a previously underserved market that makes buying decisions for booth construction, design, travel, venues, hotels, marketing, tech and so much more. 

“Trade shows represent a vital share of B2B marketing spend, and nearly every company in the world exhibits in trade shows,” said Tormohlen, who has reported on the exhibition industry for 29 years. “Exhibitors are the lifeblood of the exhibition industry, and they deserve their own vertical curated content and to learn about new trends, best practices and cutting-edge activations.”

She continued, “We want to elevate the discussion around costs, labor, travel and technology.” 

This new resource stands apart from other media by focusing solely on the planning and growth needs of a corporate event marketer and exhibit manager, giving them access to the latest news on cities, venues and services, trends and opportunities, a stocked library of interviews with planning peers and best practices, case studies and how-to’s to help exhibit managers and event marketers do their jobs with knowledge and confidence.

“Exhibitor News Network will provide news, tools and information designed to help corporate event professionals become more effective and more strategic, and gain more visibility within their organizations,” Tormohlen said.

ENN was designed by U.K.-based website design firm ASP and programmed by U.S.-based development company Fantail Consulting & Technologies.

Exhibit managers and event marketers can access ENN for free online, through active social media channels and through weekly updates via the free e-newsletter.

Opportunities are available for advertising and partner channels. Companies interested should contact Bridgett Maddux, national sales and manager, bmaddux@exhibitornewsnetwork.com

If you are an exhibit management or event marketing professional or supplier to the exhibitor sector, please send your news to Danica Tormohlen, dtormohlen@exhibitornewsnetwork.com.

If you have a booth that you would like to brag about or a show that deserves a spot in the limelight, contact Danica as well. 

Follow us on social media (LinkedInTwitterYouTubeFacebook and Instagram) and through the ENN site, updated daily, at www.exhibitornewsnetwork.com.

If you are a supplier and want to be added as a free listing in ENN’s supplier database, please visit HERE.

It’s an exciting time for Tarsus overall, with two other important developments also taking shape.

In conjunction with the launch of ENN, TSNN and its sister publication, Corporate Event News, have gone through a design refresh. Both websites now have a cleaner, more organized look and feel while providing a more user-friendly experience. ASP designed the refresh, and Fantail Consulting & Technologies performed the programming. 

Meanwhile, last week Informa acquired Tarsus Group, which has more than 160 events globally in addition to its media assets, for $940 million  the largest post-pandemic exhibition acquisition deal to date. Read all about the mega deal and plans to combine the two companies throughout 2023 here.  

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.