Voting for TSNN's Inaugural "Best of Show" Is Open!

October 8, 2011

We were so thrilled to receive several amazing submissions that we decided to choose FIVE nominees for TSNN’s inaugural “Best of Show” award.

It’s pretty simple – Please fill out the form located HERE. One vote per e-mail is allowed. Voting closes Oct. 25 at 12:00 a.m. EST.

The winner will be announced at the 2011 TSNN Event Excellence Awards Nov. 4-6 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in D.C. For more info please visit www.T-awards.com.

Here are the five nominees:

AIBTM - The Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition
European and Asian markets, but they decided to take a chance on launching in the U.S. market at their recent show held in Baltimore. Some of the highlights of the event that brought together buyers and suppliers in the meetings and events space included a thorough buyer qualifying process with a commitment to meet with at least eight suppliers; a dedicated CEO education program was offered that had an overwhelming response; several high-end networking functions, including 1,300 tickets given away for a U2 concert, as well as Visit Baltimore hosted reception; and more. The result was more than one-third of the exhibitors rebooked onsite for the 2012 show, which was called a “staggering success” and buyers also gave the event high marks.

America's Health Insurance Plans' Institute 2011
AHIP recently experienced a very successful first run incorporating QR codes into their event. This medical industry event drove traffic to their mobile app with QR codes, allowing attendees to easily access session, speaker and logistic information. The QR codes were established and printed on clear peel-and-stick labels affixed on signage during move-in. Using the stickers, rather than printing on graphics, gave the client last-minute leeway for QR code changes and hence provided peace of mind. They also instructed attendees (via cards handed out onsite and general show signage) how the QR codes could benefit them and how they worked. As a result, Attendees commented how pleased they were to see the organization embracing new technology tools. 

Craft & Hobby Association’s 2011 Winter Conference and Show
Despite a severe hit to the craft and hobby marketplace during the past few years, which impacted the Craft & Hobby Association's Winter Conference and Show, the association took several steps to make its 2011 show a success. Some of those steps included renaming the show to emphasize the conference component, aggressively marketing the new location in Los Angeles, recruited celebrity crafters, a TV studio on the showfloor, a matchmaking component and much more. As a result, the show saw overall growth in exhibitors and showfloor size, as well as drew strong attendance. 

International Converting Exposition (ICE) USA
In the middle of a tough economy, Mack Brooks Exhibitions took a leap of faith and launched a new show serving the converting industry, which is a step before the packaging process. The lead U.S. event in this space CMM International had shrunk drastically, so Mack Brooks bought it, renamed it and then had to resell it through a strategy called the “ICE Mentality” as the go-to place for the converting industry. An advisory board was established and the show got to work putting together a unique experience for attendees/exhibitors at the show, including an icebreaker party with a Jimmy Buffet tribute band, golf tournament, huge ice sculpture, icebreaker breath mints and ICE-branded clothing products were sold, to name a few.  As a result, Mack Brooks said the event was a “smashing success”.

Outdoor Retailer
According to Nielsen Expositions’ show management for Outdoor Retailer, the show has revolutionized the trade show business by taking the old b2b, order-writing buyer/seller platform and transforming the 30-yr-old show into an experience that flows from b2b transactional to a b2c experiential must-attend event. From innovative treatments like the Business Community Zones, Adventure Theater and Design Competition to the online tools deployed like the show’s Mobile App, Show Planner interface, 'LiveFrom' video clips and our new customized OR Hub interface, the show has enabled attendees to get more out of the show experience, and network like never before with like-minded but disparate market players. By designing the floorplan with key adjacencies, the show fosters partnerships among the different vertical market forces in the 'zones'. The show enables this not only on floorplan, but digitally with key media partnerships and programs that simultaneously deepen core business connectivity and increase peripheral market opportunity for all stakeholders in Outdoor. As a result, the show has seen significant growth and looks to grow even more into the future.

Add new comment

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.