2022 TSNN Awards Honor Top Show Organizers and Trade Shows

November 11, 2022

Trade Show News Network (TSNN) celebrated achievement, innovation and leadership in trade shows with the 12th Annual TSNN Awards and education conference, held Nov. 8-9 at host venue Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. 

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) rolled out the red carpet with a spectacular opening party at Nobu Hotel Villa that represented Las Vegas at its best. 

“The 2022 TSNN Awards was an incredible celebration of the best of the best people and shows in our great industry,” said TSNN President Rachel Wimberly. “Caesars Entertainment went above and beyond to create a memorable event. Congratulations to all of the finalists and award winners!” 

The robust education conference kicked off with the “State of the Industry” panel discussion, where the overall message was that of recovery and hope. 

“We’re still skiing uphill, but we’re optimistic,” said David DuBois, CEO and president, IAEE. 

Full recovery is expected by 2024, according to Cathy Breden, CEO of CEIR, with leading indicators such as attendance returning quicker. Vinnie Polito, incoming CEO of SISO, was encouraged by the fact that along with the return of existing shows, smaller members of his organization are launching brand new events. Staffing shortages and slow U.S. visa processing times continue to be obstacles for show growth. 

Education

Panel discussions, moderated by Danica Tormohlen and Stephanie Selesnick, highlighted best practices in addressing some of the industry’s pressing issues, including sustainability initiatives, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, and creative ways to get attendees back to in-person events.

Caesars Entertainment, the event’s premiere sponsor, dazzled event participants with a glamorous Awards Gala that proved to be a memorable occasion for everyone who has worked so hard during these incredibly challenging past few years.

This year, TSNN received a record-breaking number of nominations in 12 categories for the Innovation Awards and an incredible number of nominations for the Outstanding Show Pro Awards. 

2022 TSNN Comeback Awards, (see finalists here) honored shows that have demonstrated resilience by “coming back” in areas such as attendance, overall business excellence and customer connectivity. The winners were:

  • Customer Connectivity: OFFPRICE Show
  • Exhibitor Excellence: The 2022 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show)
  • Business Excellence: The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)
  • Outstanding Attendance: JCK
  • Overall Resilience: MODEX

2022 TSNN Innovation Awards (see finalists here) went to: 

  • Best Exhibitor Program: Affordable Shopping Destination - ASD Market Week
  • Best Use of Technology: Anime NYC
  • Created (Maintained) Culture: Channel Partners Conference & Expo
  • Giving Back (Charitable): World of Concrete
  • Hybrid-Virtual Experience: New York Vet
  • Savvy Marketing Campaign: InfoComm
  • Team Building: VMX 2022
  • Created (Maintained) Community: AQS QuiltWeek
  • Best Engagement (Think Fun!): DISTRIBUTECH International 2022
  • Most Innovative Design (or Redesign): Live Design International (LDI)
  • Best Use of Data: Global Pet Expo

Awards

Karen Chupka, Consumer Technology Association, was honored with the Industry Icon Award for producing the association’s Consumer Electronic Show (CES), the world’s most influential tech event and the largest trade show in the U.S, and for her widely recognized contribution to the trade show industry.

“A great thing about what we all do is that it takes a village,” Chupka said when accepting the award. “In our industry, we share so much information and we’re always there for each other, and not many organizations and industries have that. Always reach out and ask somebody because we’ve all been through so many things and we’re all willing to share and help make each of our events a little better.”

The Outstanding Show Pros who were honored include:

  • Kim Roehricht and Amy Bartz – AWFS
  • Jennifer Muna – International Market Centers
  • Emily Hartstone – From the Hart Management
  • Diana Rich – Emerald
  • Dawn Walton – Questex
  • Kelly Helfman – Informa Markets 
  • Brittany Weltcheff – Association of Equipment Manufacturers
  • Diane Vidoni – eMerge Americas
  • Joseph Marks – Informa Tech
  • Liz Bothwell – Informa

In addition, Tommy Goodwin, Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, received the Industry Support Award; Specialty Coffee Association was honored with Sustainability Award; and Janice Rogers, Diversified Business Communications, received the DEI Leadership Award.

Rogers encouraged the audience to foster the DEI culture in their organizations. “If it's your first step or your 20th, keep going forward because we’re all going to make change together,” she said.

Thank you to all our sponsors and partners for making the TSNN Awards possible! View here: https://www.t-awards.com/sponsorship/sponsors

Take a spin around social media with #TSNNAwards to see all the fun pictures!  

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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.