TSNN Announces Host Venues for 2012 Awards Weekend: Includes Sunday Brunch, Racing at Churchill Downs

April 10, 2012

Tarsus Group’s Trade Show News Network is excited to announce the venues that will be hosting not only the Nov. 2-4 TSNN Awards guests for the weekend and Saturday night gala celebration and all day C-level executive conference in Louisville, Ky., but also the offsite venues chosen for the opening Friday night reception and closing Sunday brunch for this incredible three-day weekend event.

The TSNN Awards will honor the 50 fastest-growing shows in attendance and in net square footage, as well as feature the “TSNN Best of Show”award and return of The Expo Group’s Show Manager of the Year Awards.

The Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau is not only the bureau representing the awards’ host city, but also the event’s primary sponsor.

Located in the heart of downtown Louisville, the 300,000 square foot Kentucky International Convention Center will host the Saturday breakfast, C-level executive conference and lunch.

The center is just 10 minutes from Louisville International Airport and offers three column-free, class A exhibit halls, a 30,000 square foot ballroom and 50 flexible meeting rooms.

Some amenities TSNN award-winning show organizers will experience at the KICC include state-of-the-art networking capabilities, a full-service caterer, and a 175-person conference theatre featuring teleconferencing technology.

“We are thrilled that TSNN has chosen Louisville for their prestigious upcoming Awards event,” said Linda Edwards, vice president of sales and marketing, Kentucky State Fair Board.

She added, “Having one-on-one time with each of the organizers gives us the opportunity to share our strengths and how we can host their specific event in a first-class facility. We anxiously await their arrival.”

Connected to the KICC is the Louisville Downtown Marriott, the host hotel for the entire weekend’s award-winning guests and sponsors, as well as the Saturday night awards gala celebration. The hotel is connected to the KICC by a skywalk and features stylish accommodations, Blu Italian Grille, Champions Sports Bar and Starbucks Café.

“The Louisville Marriott Downtown is thrilled to be the host site for the TSNN Annual Award Gala,” Paul Kiley, director of sales and marketing, Louisville Marriott Downtown.

He added, “As a gathering of the Elite 50 trade shows in the country that recognizes the top innovators and achievers, this awards Gala is in fact the  Kentucky Derby for the trade show community. We are excited to welcome these best in class performers to our four diamond  hotel and to deliver an authentic and unique Louisville experience for each of the attendees.”

Located in the heart of downtown, the Louisville Marriott is adjacent to the 4th Street live dining and entertainment district and within blocks of many of Louisville’s museums and attractions like the Muhammad Ali Center, Slugger Museum and Louisville Glassworks.

The Friday night opening reception will be held at the 21c Museum Hotel, which is more than just a place to spend the night – it's a 90-room boutique hotel, contemporary art museum, award-winning restaurant and cultural civic center nestled in the heart of Museum Row in historic downtown Louisville.

With more than 5,000 square feet of art-filled meeting and event space, 21c guests enjoy authentic Southern hospitality and accessible luxury while exploring the work of contemporary artists in America's only museum dedicated solely to art of the 21st Century.

The hotel has received several awards, such as being named the one of the top 10 hotels in the world Readers’ Choice Awards 2009, 2010 and 2011 by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

21c also has been applauded by Travel & Leisure Magazine as "one of the most ambitious unions of art and hospitality ever undertaken" and hailed by The New York Times as "an innovative concept with strong execution and prompt and enthusiastic service.”

The Sunday brunch truly is going to be an experience at the home of the Kentucky Derby -Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs and its fabled Twin Spires are worldwide symbols of horse racing tradition and pride. Since its founding in 1874, Churchill Downs has hosted the nation's top Thoroughbreds in competition for some of the sport's largest purses, including the Breeders' Cup World Championships a record seven times. 

The brunch also will be followed by a day of racing at the historic racetrack.

Sponsors already signed on for the event include Founding Sponsor The Expo Group; City Sponsor Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau; Venue Sponsor Kentucky International Convention Center; Hotel Sponsor Louisville Marriott Downtown; Presenting Sponsors Wyndham Jade and Ungerboeck Software International; Gold Sponsors ASP, Experient; Silver Sponsors IndustryConnect and EPIC; Media Sponsor H+A International.

For sponsorship information on the TSNN Awards please contact John Rice, TSNN sales and development, (617) 201 7088 jrice@tsnn.com.

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