8th Annual 2017 TSNN Awards Will Collocate with Connect Expo Aug. 21-23 in New Orleans
March 23, 2017
Trade Show News Network will collocate its 8th Annual 2017 TSNN Awards: Celebrating Success with Connect Expo, which is a part of Connect Marketplace, Aug. 21-23 in New Orleans.
As the premiere awards program in the trade show industry celebrating fastest-growing shows, more than 50 show organizers will be feted during the three-day event (www.T-awards.com).
“We are very excited to do something a little different this year and collocate the 8th Annual TSNN Awards with Connect Expo,” said TSNN President Rachel Wimberly.
She added, “Connect Expo is a perfect fit for the TSNN Awards, with each drawing the best of the best in the trade show industry to an exciting three-day event. We can't wait to celebrate the more than 50 top show organizers to New Orleans!"
Connect Expo is a hosted-buyer, reverse-style trade show for the exhibition and trade show industry that is expected to draw more than 150 trade show organizers.
The event connects the most active trade show organizers, suppliers and experts in the industry for three days of general sessions with exciting keynotes, professional development, pre-set one-on-one appointments and quality networking.
The hosted-buyer profile includes for-profit trade show organizers and association trade show organizers looking for unique destinations with exhibition halls or convention centers.
The appointment-only trade show is the business marketplace where RFPs are placed and relationships are developed for future business.
Last year’s event Connect Marketplace drew 4,000-plus attendees to Grapevine, Texas, and featured dynamic speakers, including Rob Lowe, Shaquille O’Neal and former president, George W. Bush.
"We are excited to host the 2017 TSNN Awards in partnership with this year's Connect show in New Orleans,” said Connect President Chris Collinson.
He added, “The addition of Connect Expo to our show aligns perfectly with what TSNN represents. We look forward to putting the spotlight on this year's award attendees."
The 2017 TSNN Awards will kick off with an opening night reception, followed by a day filled with dynamic keynotes and education sessions focused on the trade show industry.
That evening, the 2017 TSNN Awards gala will be held during which the top fastest-growing shows for attendance and net square footage will be named, the “Best of Show” will be revealed and the “Industry Icon” will be honored.
The TSNN Awards’ founding sponsor, The Expo Group, also will honor five show organizers from different-sized events for the Show Manager of the Year (SMOTY) Awards.
“Celebrating is a key to success, and the TSNN Awards continues to lift up our industry by bringing leaders together for this hallmark event,” said Randy Pekowski, president and COO of The Expo Group.
He added, “We are proud to be the Founding Sponsor of this event, and I’m personally looking forward to congratulating everyone in New Orleans this summer."
The three-day celebration, which celebrates the top 50 fastest-growing shows in the U.S., is where the best and the brightest in the business gather to network, connect and celebrate working in an industry like no other – and acknowledging and embracing the success they have mutually achieved.
TSNN is proud to have several new and returning sponsors for the 2017 TSNN Awards, including Event Sponsor: Connect; Founding Sponsor: The Expo Group; Presenting Sponsors: Wyndham Jade and Ungerboeck Software International; Gold Sponsors: ASP, Experient, Shepard Exposition Services, a2z, Inc., Convention Data Services, Feathr; Silver Sponsors: Expocad, Core-Apps, ExpoLogic, Eventsphere; Photography: The Photo Group.
For more information on the sponsors, visit HERE.
For sponsorship information, please contact John Rice, jrice@tsnn.com jrice@tsnn.com (617) 207-7088.
For information about the TSNN Awards, please visit www.T-awards.com.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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