SMOTY, TSW Fastest 50: An Atlanta 2-for-1 Deal
Awards for managers and shows will share the stage this November
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 6/25/2007
You can start off your November right, by celebrating the success of both tradeshows and tradeshow managers. The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year (SMOTY) Awards will be presented at a gala dinner the evening of Thursday, Nov. 1 in Atlanta, just one day before the beginning of the fifth annual Tradeshow Week Fastest 50, also in Atlanta.
The SMOTY awards, now in their eighth year, honor the most creative, hardworking show managers in the industry. The TSW Fastest 50 recognizes the fastest-growing shows — both trade and consumer — in the industry.
"The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year award is all about the person, not their show," said Expo Group President and CEO Ray Pekowski, "so it's the perfect complement to TSW Fastest 50, which honors expanding shows."
The SMOTY awards are given each year to managers of tradeshows of all sizes who have demonstrated innovative practices, customer service, a commitment to success and the ability to overcome obstacles.
The Expo Group is now accepting nominations for the awards. For more information or to nominate somebody (including yourself), go to www.theexpogroup.com/smoty. Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 31. Awards will be presented to managers of shows in five size categories:
- 1–150 booths
- 151–300 booths
- 301–700 booths
- 701–1,500 booths
- 1,501 booths or more
Along with being feted at a dinner and gala at the Four Seasons Atlanta, each winner will receive a trophy and a $1,000 donation in his or her name to the charity or educational institution of his or her choice.
"We are delighted to have the Expo Group SMOTY awards presented during the TSW Fastest 50 weekend," said TSW Publisher Adam Schaffer. "Both of these awards programs are about celebrating the success in our industry that may have been previously overlooked."
After the SMOTY award dinner on Thursday night, the TSW Fastest 50 portion of the weekend will kick off with what will be an opening reception Friday night, followed by an executive conference Saturday at the Georgia World Congress Center, the black-tie gala and dinner at the host Omni Hotel at CNN Center Saturday night, and a Sunday morning brunch at the Georgia Aquarium prepared by Wolfgang Puck Executive Chef Gregg Brickman.
The TSW Fastest 50 recognizes the 50 fastest-growing shows held in North America based on both growth in total net square footage (50 percent) and the percentage of growth (50 percent) from 2004 to 2006. Nominations are also being accepted for the TSW Fastest 50. For more information on how to nominate a show, go to www.TSWFastest50.com. The deadline for accepting entries is Monday, July 2.
