Fastest 50 Celebrates Success
By Heidi Genoist -- Tradeshow Week, 11/17/2003
As the highlight of a weekend full of conferences, networking and celebrating that drew 205 attendees, the three fastest growing out of the Fastest 50 were announced at a gala awards ceremony Nov. 8 at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston.
"I'm so flattered," said Christine Ayers, vice president of marketing for Electronic House Expo, upon accepting the award for fastest growing show overall. "It just goes to show that when you have a good idea, and you believe in it enough to put in the hard work necessary to make it happen, it can pay off."
Besides being the overall fastest growing show, Electronic House Expo was also named the top trade-only show. The fastest growing association show was the Optical Fiber Communication Conference. The fastest growing consumer/hybrid show was the Pennsylvania RV & Camping Show. Forty-five of the 50 shows in the Fastest 50 attended the Nov. 7–9 event in Houston.
Saturday's daytime activities took place in the new portion of the George R. Brown Convention Center, which just finished a $165-million expansion that brought its prime exhibit space to 853,000 square feet and its number of meeting rooms to 105.
The first conference session saw a lively exchange of opinions on industry trends and issues. "Success stories" followed, with Natl. Assn. of Convenience Stores' Jane Berzan and M|C Communications' John Mooney sharing detailed accounts of the business models and strategies that have led to the success of the NACS Show and Pri-Med. During his lunchtime keynote, Continental Airlines Chairman and CEO Gordon Bethune told attendees about the steps he took to turn around the onetime troubled carrier.
The Fastest 50 wrapped up Sunday morning with a champagne brunch at Reliant Center and tours of Reliant Stadium, where the 2004 NFL Super Bowl will be held.
ExpoExchange's Brian Strickland, sales development manager, said if he had any advice for Fastest 50 organizers, it would be to keep the event intimate, as it was this year. "That way, you can keep doing it with a lot class," he said, adding that it was nice to spend so much one-on-one time with successful show managers without really having to engage in sales talk.
