New Editorial Staff and Industry Event Announced

Less than two weeks after the closing of Tradeshow Week, the U.S. exhibition industry’s only weekly print publication, Peterborough-based Tarsus Online Media, a division of Tarsus Group plc, announced plans to redesign its Trade Show News Network (TSNN) website to fill the vacuum for Tradeshow Week’s former subscribers. The new site will include a stable of well-known industry writers and bloggers contracted by TSNN to provide news and develop online content.

Tradeshow Week’s closure also permanently suspended production of Tradeshow Week’s “Fastest 50” event recognizing the fastest growing exhibitions in the U.S. and Canada. Tarsus will launch a similar event to complement its MTO Summit scheduled for November 9-10, 2010 at the Hilton Alexandria Hotel in Alexandria, VA. The inaugural award event, the “TSNN Event Excellence Awards,” will conclude the conference on November 10.

In his former role as publisher of Tradeshow Week, Adam Schaffer launched the Fastest 50 event and successfully grew it. “I am thrilled to see that the spirit of innovation and service to our industry continues with TSNN and Tarsus stepping into these important shoes. Their commitment and dedication is clear, even at this early stage, by engaging important industry thinkers and writers and also by setting a date for the awards event this November,” he stated, observing the community endorsement of this conference.

“TSNN has the world’s most comprehensive database of events, a loyal following of subscribers and a virtual community of industry professionals. It is poised to grow its online and offline community via the insight of leading bloggers and an event that recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit of the industry,” said R.D. Whitney, CEO of Tarsus Online Media (USA).

TSNN’s list of bloggers will include:

Chris Brogan, author of “Trust Agents” (with Julien Smith), and “Social Media 101: Tactics and Tips to Develop your Business Online.” Brogan is president of the media marketing agency New Marketing Labs, and founder of the Inbound Marketing Summit conferences and Inbound Marketing Boot Camp educational events.

Stephen Nold, President, Tarsus Advon and founder of the MeetingTechOnline web site and the MTO Summit technology conference. Nold serves as a consultant and speaker on event industry innovations.

Rachel Wimberly, Special Reports Writer, Variety magazine and former writer for Tradeshow Week, The New York Times regional newspapers and CNN Business News. Wimberly has a Masters Degree in Journalism from New York University.

Dave Lutz, Managing Director, Velvet Chainsaw, a business improvement consultancy specializing in the meeting and conference industry. Lutz blogs at Midcourse Corrections (with Jeff Hurt) and has a regular column on performance excellence in Convene magazine. He is a member of the education committee for the technology track at the Annual Meeting of the International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).

Michelle Bruno, President, Bruno Group Signature Events, an event marketing and management firm. Bruno is a freelance industry journalist and a certified meetings and exhibition management professional. She writes about event industry technology and social media at Fork in the Road blog.

“TSNN is committed and excited to fill the information gap that has been created by the closure of Tradeshow Week. We could not think of a better ‘all-star’ list of thinkers to offer compelling content and the same positive message and integrity that Tradeshow Week was known and respected for,” said Stephen Nold, President, Tarsus Advon, the Austin, TX-based division of Tarsus Group that will oversee the redesign of TSNN.com.

About TSNN

Tarsus Group plc acquired TSNN.com in 2000 and added the site to its online media portfolio. The Trade Show News Network (TSNN) has been the world’s leading online resource for the trade show, exhibition and event industry since 1996. TSNN owns and operates the most widely consulted event database on the internet, containing data on more than 15,000 global trade shows, exhibitions, public events and conferences. The newsletter is distributed to over 120,000 readers. TSNN features an expanding Industry News and Thought Leader blog with contributions from industry leaders and analysts.

About Tarsus Advon

Based in Austin, Tarsus Advon properties include MeetingTechOnline and MTO Summits. MeetingTechOnline is a team-driven online publication and community portal that provides technology information and education for the meetings industry. The team conducts research with show organizers, technology suppliers, and industry experts. Qualitative and quantitative data are respectively gathered though primary sources and survey analysis.
Twice-annual MTO Summits are designed to educate event and exhibition professionals about the latest trends and developments in technology in a face-to-face event. Tarsus Group acquired MeetingTechOnline and MTO Summits in 2010 creating Tarsus Advon. To learn more visit www.mtosummit.com.

About Tarsus Group plc

Tarsus Group is an international B2B media company creating industry-leading events, publications and online media since 1998. Tarsus Group’s portfolio of exhibitions, conferences, publications and online media spans across the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. With its head office in Dublin, and offices in London, Paris, Milwaukee and Boca Raton, Shanghai and Dubai, Tarsus extends global reach for business professionals with more than 80 properties in a diverse range of industries including medical, aviation, manufacturing, finance, talent management, IT, marketing, and a growing portfolio focused on the events industry.

Contact:

Stephen Nold, President, Tarsus Advon
Tel: 512.310.0628
Stephen@advontech.com