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EVENT VENUES
Edgewood Tahoe adds beach house to its
event venues options
STATELINE, Nev. — Edgewood Tahoe recently announced a new addition to its repertoire of beautiful event venues and lodging options.
The famed golf course and restaurant now offers the Beach House for events and/or guest accommodations while they enjoy the spectacular golf course and Lake Tahoe scenery.
Located on the breathtaking shores of Lake Tahoe and just steps from the world renowned Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, the Beach House gives guests the opportunity to lease the Lake Tahoe lifestyle while having full access to the perfect setting for weddings and private events with a spectacular Lake and mountain views as a backdrop.
Located on a private beach few feet from the Edgewood Tahoe clubhouse, the two-story home is a roomy 3,652 square-feet that can accommodate 60 people for an outdoor event or 40 people indoors.
The lakefront home comfortably sleeps eight and boasts a spacious kitchen and bar area, indoor swimming pool and plush living room. Rates start at $750 per night and there is a $2,000 site fee for private events.
This new location compliments Edgewood Tahoe’s existing event venue options, including The South Room, which can accommodate a smaller, intimate event for up to 100, and The North Room for grand affair with up to 250 guests.
Both spaces feature floor to ceiling windows which overlook the lake, and have the option of extending out onto private patios. The famed lakeside retreat can also create breathtaking outdoor and tented settings to accommodate larger events with up to 1,000 guests.
The availability to provide overnight accommodations at The Beach House also compliments the stunning lodging provided at Edgewood Tahoe’s Tine Pines Lodge, a private vacation rental home designed by Julia Morgan, designer of the famed Hearst Castle.
For more information about Edgewood Tahoe’s new Beach House property, Twin Pines or the Edgewood Tahoe clubhouse event venues, call (775) 588-2787 or visit www.edgewoodtahoe.com.
PEOPLE MAKING NEWS
Nth Degree names Chris Custer as account executive
ATLANTA, Ga. (Business Wire) — Nth Degree, a leading full-service global event marketing and management company, announces the addition of Chris Custer as an Account Executive located in Nth Degree's Philadelphia-area office.
In this role, Custer is responsible for new business development activities and managing key client relationships in the company's trade show group. 
"We are very happy to be able to bring Chris back to our organization. He is experienced, has a great understanding of our industry and has a consistent record of managing large accounts and finding new opportunities," said Scott Bennett, Executive Vice President of Sales, Nth Degree. "If we can hire smart, experienced and hard working people that understand that it is about our clients then we will be successful. Chris's hiring supports this approach."
Custer began his career in the industry with Nth Degree (then I&D Group, Inc.) over 25 years ago. He also worked as an Account Executive for Preferred Exhibitor Service and Renaissance Management, with a focus on the Home Building industry. Custer has a B.A. in Business Administration from Rutgers University.
"I am excited to return to Nth Degree," said Custer. "The company has always been considered one of the leading service companies in our business with the highest degree of professionalism and integrity. They are well-positioned, well-managed and they have a deep pool of talented people in the field who make my job easy. I feel this is a company with a long-term plan in place and I am thrilled to be a part of it."
John Patten joins MG Design as vice president, operations
 CHICAGO — MG Design Associates has hired industry veteran John Patten as its new vice president of operations. Patten brings unique perspective and solid experience to this new position having served in sales, marketing and operational roles for companies as diverse as a commercial construction firm and broadcast radio station to the exhibition industry.
In his role at MG Design, Patten will be responsible for introducing new innovative production methods, maximizing project efficiency and streamlining processes for the benefit of MG Design and its clients. He will oversee estimating, project management, graphics, production and warehousing for all MG Design locations.
“John is used to running operations from every angle and understands the different perspectives that each of our departments brings to the table, which is important as he will interface with every department within MG Design,” said Michael Grivas, president of MG Design, in announcing Patten’s addition to the team. “Our goal in adding John is take our already strong operation and make it even stronger.”
Most recently Patten was COO of Hamilton Exhibits where he spent six years devoted to the exhibit industry, prior to that he was with a commercial construction firm where his primary focus was providing project and cost management for public construction projects. Before that, Patten started out right after college selling advertising space for a radio station, taking on additional responsibilities in sales and marketing before he took over responsibility for the broadcast firm where he spent 20 years.
WEBSITE LAUNCH
Foundation Fabricators offers more for online audience
LITHIA SPRINGS, Ga. — Foundation Fabricators, a trusted outsourced fabrication partner for exhibit builders and designers, has gone live with a new Website.
 The updated Website features comprehensive access to the company’s service capabilities, a photo gallery and the ability to join their email list for exclusive updates on special offers, company news and more.
"Our online followers will now experience a more informative and direct view of Foundation Fabricators and its capabilities," says Steve Bruha, vice president of business development for Foundation Fabricators. "In the near future, we look forward to using the website to highlight informative case studies, profile money-saving construction techniques and materials, feature projects from conception to completion and provide a green resource center for our customers.”
Foundation Fabricators was developed as a trusted, reliable, and cost-saving outsourced fabrication resource center exclusively for companies that design and build tradeshow exhibits and does not solicit to end-users. The benefits of this model to an exhibit builder’s bottom line include controlling fabrication costs, reducing overhead, and the ability to provide overflow fabrication capacity.
Foundation Fabricators operates from a 35,000 sq. ft. facility as a complete service center for custom exhibit fabrications, interior fixtures, and other outsourced services. The company is a merger of talent led by Steve Bruha, formerly of Preferred Fabrication, and Randy Siracusa of EWI Tech who bring over 60 years of combined experience.
SHOW NEWS
Facial Cosmetic Surgery, Hargrove extend working relationship
LANHAM, Md. — The Multi-Specialty Foundation's Facial Cosmetic Surgery Symposium will open in Las Vegas to more than 600 physicians, educators and teachers on July 14, 2010.
Once again, Hargrove will be onsite at The Bellagio as the event’s general contractor.
The Multi-Specialty Foundation has signed an agreement with Hargrove, naming the nationally renowned producer of tradeshows, events
and custom exhibits as the official general service contractor for 2010.
Facial Cosmetic Surgery is an annual event attracting professionals from the fields of oculoplastic surgery, dermatology, facial plastic surgery and plastic surgery.
In addition to providing a heavy concentration of educational opportunities, the event also features a three-day tradeshow with more than 100 exhibiting companies showcasing their products and services. Hargrove will work closely with The Multi-Specialty Foundation to create a valuable exhibiting experience for these exhibitors and those attending.
S. Randolph Waldman, MD, director of The Multi-Specialty Foundation, says, “In today’s economy it is more important than ever for our audience base to keep their education levels high and their credentials current in order to be competitive. Likewise, the networking opportunities our event provides are crucial. Hargrove helps us bring these valued services to our exhibitors and attendees.
We look forward to a long and successful relationship with Hargrove.”
Tim McGill, Hargrove’s president and CEO says, “This contract marks the third year Hargrove will work with Facial Cosmetic Surgery, demonstrating a high level of confidence in our abilities to serve The Multi-Specialty Foundation. I’m excited to have the opportunity to watch this relationship continue to grow.”
BOOTH DISPLAY NEWS
Orbus Display Group launches full-custom division
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Orbus Display Group is adding a new division with the introduction of Origin, a full custom modular provider. The division will go live on Jan. 4, 2010.
"Origin adds new dimension and opens doors for The Orbus Display Group as well as Orbus customers." said Giles Douglas, President and CEO of the Orbus Display Group. "We have had requests from many of our customers to produce more customized solutions, so Origin is really filling a gap in our current capabilities and complementing them well."
Origin brings unbranded custom solutions that fit needs, concepts and budgets with project management and design teams that have been developing custom displays for years.
Though a new endeavor, the Origin manufacturing team has the advantage of 28-plus years of experience. Using the most advanced materials and finishing available, products include, but are not limited to: custom fabric structures and extrusion based exhibit solutions, linking panels, custom back walls and flooring, hanging structures, aluminum truss, lighting, staging, and grand format inkjet graphics. |
Articles this week:
Also read exhibit expert Barry Siskind’s column
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Association News: IAEE Krakoff Future Leaders
Graduates to be recognized at IAEE's annual meeting & exhibition
DALLAS — The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) will honor this year's graduates of the IAEE Robert L. Krakoff Future Leaders Institute during Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition on 8-10 December 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.
The Association will honor 15 individuals who participated in the Future Leaders Institute held September 12-14 at The Breakers Palm Beach in Palm Beach, Fla. that was sponsored by Champion Exposition Services.
 The Future Leaders Program was facilitated by Erick Burton, CSP, president of Burton Resources. Burton is known as the "The Leadership Accelerator" and has partnered with hundreds of corporations and associations as a professional speaker, facilitator, executive coach and author. The program focused on the unique skills and thinking patterns that are most vital for leadership.
A key component of the Institute is the "Legend of the Industry" portion of the program, which allows the future leaders to spend one-on-one time with a current leader selected by IAEE staff. This year's legend was Donald S. Freeman, Jr., chairman of Freeman in Dallas. Freeman shared his extensive industry experience with participants during an informal after-dinner engagement.
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Association News: Index Report
Exhibition industry sees decline in numbers for sixth straight quarter
DALLAS — The Center for Exhibition Industry Research announces that preliminary data collected annually for The CEIR Index report for the third quarter of 2009 reveals that the exhibition industry experienced an overall decline of 13.5 percent when compared to the same quarter of 2008.
 Year-over-year contraction of the exhibition industry is directly linked to the continuing recession.
These third quarter results mark a 2.6 percent decrease in performance compared to the second quarter of 2009. This is the sixth consecutive quarter of negative numbers.
The CEIR Index, 6th Edition, released in early April, reported that the National Association of Business Economists predicts that the U.S. economy will recover during the second half of 2009, with the GDP beginning to grow again at an annualized rate of 1.6 percent. Exhibitions are historically a trailing indicator so even though there is reported improvement in GDP and technically we are no longer in a recessionary period, CEIR does not expect that to influence the fourth quarter 2009 numbers.
Destination News
Bowman Design Group completes San Diego Bay exhibit at Birch Aquarium
 SIGNAL HILL, Calif. — Bowman Design Group and creative director Ed Hackley have completed a new hands-on exhibit focused on the San Diego Bay and the impact of human activity on the bay’s ecosystem for the Birch Aquarium, the public outreach arm of the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
The Birch Aquarium developed the exhibit content and commissioned the design for its Hall of Fishes gallery. This is the second collaboration between the Bowman Design Group/Hackley team and the Aquarium’s Project Scientist Debbie Zmarzly in three years. Their previous collaboration produced the award winning “Feeling the Heat” climate change exhibition.
The new exhibit engages visitors via a touch screen and explores ongoing research by Scripps scientists and their colleagues, including work on copper pollution sources and East Pacific green sea turtles.
Company Launch
Former Champion trio launches
new service contracting company
By Vincent Hernandez
Trade Show Expo
Leaving a well-know company to start a new venture in today’s economy can be a big gamble, but for three former Champion employees, the gamble is worth the risk.
“It just became a time that we wanted to evolve and that option was not available at Champion,” said Nate Derby. “ It was a time for us to move on and innovate in a new way in the industry. The economy right now seems to be down but it is a good time for us to launch our company.”
Derby said he was satisfied working at Champion — a company he joined in 1998. For the most, business partners Chris Valentine and Chris Young, also enjoyed their time and experience with Champion but when they began seeing different ways to serve the industry, they decided to form T3 Expo, a new general services contracting company.
Launched in October, the three T3 Expo’s founders say that they plan to use on-demand delivery models and online collaboration tools to make the trade show services business more responsive to clients and more affordable.
International News
Successful Medica anniversary
 CHICAGO — The 40th anniversary of MEDICA, International Trade Fair with Congress — World Forum for Medicine, was cause for celebration: almost 138,000 visitors (compared to 137,000 visitors in 2008) from more than 100 countries and 4,324 exhibitors (2008: 4,279) from 60 nations took part and made the event a huge success.
A total of 45 percent (2008: 42 percent) of the visitors were from outside of Germany with a particularly high number coming from the Asian growth markets and the Arab region. The world’s largest medical trade fair was recently held at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany and featured the complete range of new products, systems and services for in-patient and out-patient care.
“The short innovation cycle in this industry is a crucial success factor of the leading event for the sector — MEDICA. After all, the most exciting innovations are presented here year after year.
The second economic stimulus package initiated by the Federal German Government with its investment support of around Euro 1.4 billion for German hospitals attracted a high number of decision-makers, also from domestic hospitals, to MEDICA after not having been here for several years,” commented Wilhelm Niedergöker, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf.
Positive results at M-PLAS 2009
 CHICAGO — The recent staging of M-PLAS 2009, 4th International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair for Malaysia, attracted some 200 exhibitors from 20 countries (including country group exhibits from Austria, India, Italy, Malaysia and Singapore) and 4,610 top-quality trade visitors from 49 nations (with 88 percent coming from Malaysia).
Since its debut in 2000, M-PLAS has become the most successful plastics platform for companies to showcase the best in technology, innovations, state-of-the-art machinery and processing solutions for plastics and rubber to processors from across Malaysia.
In his opening speech, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Jacob Dungau Sagan, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, stated: “The plastics industry registered a growth of 5.2 percent in sales in 2008 and exports grew by 4.6 percent in the same year. In the areas of rubber, the rubber products industry contributed RM 10.5 billion to the Malaysia’s export earnings in 2008 — 4 percent up from 2007.”
Gernot Ringling, Managing Director of the show organizer Messe Düsseldorf Asia, added: “As most economies and manufacturing sectors are preparing for the economic upturn, vendors of high-end processing machinery and materials will again see an increase demand for their products. This underscores the importance of a prominent presence at and visit to M-PLAS 2009.”
M-PLAS will return to Kuala Lumpur in 2012. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at M-PLAS 2012, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com.
More than 300 exhibitors on hand for
China-Pharm 2009 in Shanghai
 CHICAGO — A total of 356 exhibitors from 21 countries showcased their latest products at the recent staging of CHINA-PHARM 2009, China International Pharmaceutical Industry Exhibition, in Shanghai.
Overall, 19,000 visits from more than 60 nations were recorded. On 215,200 square feet of exhibit space, attendees were offered an overview of cutting-edge technologies for the pharmaceutical industry. Of the exhibitors, 60 percent were from outside of China.
CHINA-PHARM 2009 was jointly organized by Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd. and the China Center for Pharmaceutical International Exchange. This event had the support of several internationally renowned organizations such as the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, the International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council, the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association and the UK Processing & Packaging Machinery Association.
CHINA-PHARM 2009 featured a German Pavilion occupying 10,700 square feet of exhibit space (22 percent increase compared to the last event) while 15 Japanese companies displayed their technologies in the Japan Pavilion for the first time.
The ISPE-CCPIE China Conference 2009 and IPEC-CCPIE China Conference 2009 were held concurrently with CHINA-PHARM 2009, drawing more than 500 participants.
The next staging of CHINA-PHARM will take place from Oct. 26-29, 2010 in Beijing. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at CHINA-PHARM 2010, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America or send e-mail to info@mdna.com.
SEMA Show 2009
Master mechanic a hit in Las Vegas
DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — Sam Memmolo, an 18-year veteran of the SEMA Show and whose help has launched hundreds of brands, was a popular sight at this year’s SEMA Show.
 Many know Memmolo, a Master Mechanic, as the featured host of televisions’ Two Guys Garage and Shadetree Mechanic.
When it comes to anything automotive, Memmolo not only knows his stuff, but also knows what’s new, innovative, and worth paying attention to in the automotive aftermarket.
One of those innovative products that caught his attention in 2008 was the OK Spark spark plug tester, winner of the Professional Tool and Equipment News (PTEN) 2009 diagnostic tool award.
“This product is the hottest diagnostic tool on the market today," Memmolo said earlier this year. And to prove his support the master of all mechanics spent half a day in the OK Spark SEMA booth promoting the product and signing autographs.
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Convene Green Alliance News
Focus Forum demonstrates
phases of Marriott green meetings
 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A crowd of 80 meeting professionals experienced all phases of what Marriott International offers to make meetings as “green” as possible at a Convene Green Alliance Focus Forum event at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. held last month.
The room was divided into four “Experience Zones,” with simultaneous demonstrations by Marriott executives on communications and social responsibility, culinary programs, meeting logistics, and building design/operations.
“We want you to use all five senses to experience Marriott green initiatives,” said Marriott Vice President of Intermediary Sales Gregory Deininger as the aroma of locally grown organic food cooking wafted over from the culinary zone.
“The meeting professionals at this event showed a keen interest in the subject matter of every zone, and didn’t hesitate to ask tough questions,” said CGA Executive Director Tracey Messina.
The meeting logistics zone was assembled to demonstrate Marriott’s growing portfolio of green meeting room set-up and logistical offerings. Attendees sat at linen-less tables made from 45 percent recycled materials and that are 99 percent recyclable themselves.
Clear pitchers filled with water (no ice) replaced traditional bottled water, whole apples and organic chocolate and hard candies were made available at each seat, as were Marriott’s latest sustainable pens, and “logo-less” recyclable note papers. Speakers Andrew Moffett, Senior Director of Food and Beverage Sustainability and Kelly Cooper, Director of Event Management, described countless innovations developed to enhance green meetings and noted that Marriott associates are becoming “Marriott Green Meeting Certified” through an internal certification program, to ensure proper adherence to green practices.
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Create a lasting memory
for your customers
By Barry Siskind
One of my favorite places to buy books is Amazon.com. If you are one of millions of book buyers like me, you are familiar with the typical Amazon.com listing.
Their history is noteworthy. Amazon started selling books on the internet in 1995. Over the past decade they have grown to the point that they sell more books, DVD’s, CD’s M3P’s software, videogames, electronics, apparel, furniture and toys on-line than anyone – anywhere in the world. Why? Becasue they have a formula that works.
Picture an Amazon.com listings and think of it as above and below the line.
Above the line you find the title, price, shipping dates, inventory levels, number of pages, publisher, language, ISBN number, and the details about what’s inside the book. There’s no fault here. Everything you need to know is clearly spelled out. But that’s not why people buy books particularly if it is an author they hadn’t heard about before.
[CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF SISKIND'S COLUMN…]
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