Houston, Louisville to Host TSW Fastest 50

Breaking its own tradition of keeping readers on the edges of their seats until later in the year, Tradeshow Week has announced the location of the next two TSW Fastest 50 events at once.

This year's event, to be held Nov. 13-15, will take place in Houston, site of the very first TSW Fastest 50 six years ago. The following year, the weekend-long celebration of success will move to Louisville, Ky., Nov. 12-14.

The TSW Fastest 50 is both a competition and a celebration of success in the tradeshow industry. Those shows that have experienced the greatest growth in terms of square footage over the previous three years will be honored during a full weekend of events that will culminate with a black-tie gala dinner at which the overall fastest-growing shows in three categories (consumer, for-profit and association), plus the overall winner, will be identified.

“This is the first time we have ever announced two sites for upcoming TSW Fastest 50 events at once,” said TSW Associate Publisher Nancy Walker, “but everything each city had to offer was so encouraging, we just knew it was the thing to do.”

In Houston this year, the Hilton Americas - Houston will be the host hotel, while the adjacent George R. Brown Convention Center will be the site of the executive-level conference to be held Saturday, Nov. 14.

“I am happy to welcome the Tradeshow Week Fastest 50 back to Houston,” said Greg Ortale, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The event was last here in 2003, and our city has changed so much since then. I can't wait for the attendees to experience Houston again.”

TSW will begin accepting nominations for this year's TSW Fastest 50 later this spring, and the 50 winners will be announced in August.

While details of the 2010 event in Louisville still are in progress, many of the activities will focus around the Kentucky Intl. Convention Center.

“We're absolutely thrilled to be hosting the TSW Fastest 50,” said Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO James T. Wood. “It's an honor for us, and we are looking forward to it.”

Along with the black-tie gala and the conference, there will be a number of other receptions and events in both cities, all designed to celebrate success in the tradeshow industry.

“TSW Fastest 50, both this year in Houston and next year in Louisville, is going to be evidence that, even in a rough economy, this is an industry that is full of success stories,” said TSW Editor-in-Chief Michael Hart.