2009-11-18 15:46:07 -

Tradeshow Week ( www.TradeshowWeek.com : ), the global exhibition industry newsmagazine published by Reed Business Information, celebrated the U.S. and Canada’s fastest-growing shows at the seventh annual Tradeshow Week Fastest 50 event, which took place in Houston from November 13-15 and was hosted by the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Catherine Crier, Emmy and duPont-Columbia award-winning journalist and television broadcaster, emceed Saturday evening’s event at the Hilton Americas-Houston where the American Wind Energy Association’s WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition was first revealed as the fastest-growing event in the association category and later in the evening received top honors as the fastest-growing show overall.

PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) was named the fastest-growing consumer show, while ABC Kids Expo took the award for

the fastest-growing for-profit show. ABC Kids Expo is the first event to have earned the honor twice.
Previously, the show earned the same honors in 2005.

Margaret Pederson, president of Amirexx, was honored for her success and contributions to the industry. Pederson is the current chair of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). From 2004 to 2005, she was the chair of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO). She is the only person ever to have held the top leadership positions at both of the tradeshow industry’s largest associations. In the past, honorees have included Chris Brown, executive vice president for conventions and business operations at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB); Ned Krause, president and CEO of E.J. Krause & Associates; and Peter Nathan, president of PWN Exhibicon Intl.

The weekend began with a welcome reception on Friday, November 13 at the House of Blues, Foundation Room, followed by an executive-level conference on Saturday morning at George R. Brown Convention Center where Roger Dow, president & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, gave the keynote speech.

Saturday’s lunchtime discussion was led by Britton Jones, SISO chair, and Vinnie Polito, incoming 2011 IAEE chair.

For more information on the TSW Fastest 50, visit www.TSWFastest50.com : .



About the Tradeshow Week and the Tradeshow Week Fastest 50:

Since 2003, the Tradeshow Week Fastest 50 honors the fifty events in the tradeshow industry that have demonstrated the most significant growth, based on net square footage, over the previous three year period. The 2009 TSW Fastest 50 winners were evaluated on growth from 2006-2008.

For nearly 40 years, Tradeshow Week ( www.TradeshowWeek.com : ) has been the premier weekly news magazine serving the exhibition industry. Tradeshow Week also publishes three annual directories, six targeted eNewsletters and two websites. Tradeshow Week is owned by Reed Business Information, the largest business-to-business publisher in the U.S. and a member of the Reed Elsevier Group plc (NYSE.
RUK) (NYSE: ENL), a global publisher and information provider.

for Tradeshow WeekMaggie MoeSenior Marketing & Event Manager323-617-9450 Maggie.Moe@reedbusiness.com : mailto:Maggie.Moe@reedbusiness.com