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BIO International Convention Named 2008 Top Association Show by Tradeshow Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Thursday, November 20, 2008) - 

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is pleased to announce that Tradeshow Week has named the BIO International Convention as the 2008 Top Association Show and included the event on its Fastest 50 list for the second consecutive year.  Tradeshow Week presented the award at a Black-tie Gala on Nov. 7-9, 2008, in Baltimore, Md.

 

“We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition for our International Convention,” said Robbi Lycett, vice president, Conventions and Conferences for BIO.  “Our convention is the place where global biotech deals are made and business gets done.  It continues to grow in popularity as evidenced by this award.  The BIO International Convention is a critical tool in our association’s mission to grow the industry and create an environment in which companies can continue to develop technologies that help save and extend lives, provide renewable fuels and protect the environment.”

 

The Fastest 50 Trade Show Week award ceremony included sessions on industry issues and discussions with the winners. This discussion focused on the economic impact on the trade show industry, the airline shifts, sponsor engagement and recruitment. Award recipients were chosen based on a set of criteria including percentage of growth, and percentage of net square footage growth for trade shows taking place in the United States or Canada and falling under the categories of association, consumer, or trade show.

 

“It is important that we keep the current economic situation in mind as we look for new ways to increase attendee value at our convention, and to keep attendees informed and engaged from the beginning of the planning process through to the end of the convention,” said Lycett.

 

“The new Product Focus Zones within the BIO Exhibition were added in 2007 to increase value for our attendees and exhibitors,” said Lycett.  “As the BIO International Convention increases in size and scope, we want to make it as easy as possible for attendees to see all the products and services in the time they have available within the BIO Exhibition.  By offering the Product Focus Zones, we have enabled our attendees to quickly find what interests them on the floor, enhance their experience, and increase value for exhibitors as well.” 

 

As the BIO International Convention has grown, BIO has consistently developed strategies and programs for helping attendees navigate the event – from creating product focus zones within the BIO Exhibition to using myBIO, personal event planning tools that enables event attendees to connect before, during, and after the show, to increase attendee value.  

 

“We have found that our attendees place a great deal of emphasis on the need to meet their current business challenges through networking and connecting with other companies at the convention,” said Margaret Core, director of sales and marketing at BIO.  “Our convention’s program offers a unique opportunity for companies to create partnering opportunities through the BIO Business Forum. We have more than 14,000 30-minute partnering meetings in the BIO Business Forum which excels business licensing discussions and creates tremendous efficiency and value for our attendees and companies.”

 

The 2009 BIO International Convention is expected to draw 20,000 industry leaders from around the world. The Convention program will feature more than 150 sessions in 21 breakout session tracks highlighting the latest information and the newest opportunities for executives, investors, scientists, policy leaders, and media from around the world. More than 1,000 speakers will share breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, food and agriculture and more. 

The BIO Exhibition will cover over 200,000 net square feet, hosting more than 2,200 exhibitors.  For information on exhibiting at the 2009 BIO International Convention, please visit http://convention.bio.org/exhibitors.    

In 2008, the convention attracted more than 20,000 attendees and exhibitors with approximately one-third from countries outside the U.S. The San Diego event also hosted numerous domestic and international public officials including 10 US governors.

Growth of the convention and BIO overall, has paralleled that of the dynamic industry that BIO represents. BIO currently projects 20,000 attendees for the 2009 BIO International Convention in Atlanta.

The BIO International Convention helps to support BIO programs and initiatives. BIO works throughout the year to create a policy environment that enables the industry to continue to fulfill its vision of bettering the world through biotechnology innovation.  For more information on the global event for biotechnology, including program and housing information, please visit http://convention.bio.org/.  

For a complete listing of the Fastest 50 Award recipients, please visit http://www.tswfastest50.com/

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO-Asia Partnering Conference 2009
January 19-20, 2009
Tokyo, Japan

BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2009
February 9-10, 2009
New York, New York

BIO-Europe Spring
March 16-18, 2009
Milan, Italy

BIO Windhover 2009
April 13-15, 2009
New York, New York

2009 BIO International Convention
May 18-21, 2009
Atlanta, Ga. 

BioEquity Europe
June 9-10, 2009
Munich, Germany

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
July 19-22, 2009
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

  


About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

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