From the Archives: Test your memoy!

1. IAEM relocates from Indianapolis to Dallas; GES acquires Andrews-Bartlett and United Exposition Service Company.

2. SISO (Society for Independent Show Organizers) is loosely formed when a small group of for-profit show organizers hold their first meeting (by invitation-only).

3. Penton acquires A/E/C Systems show; Advanstar acquires Expocon; Freeman family grants $500,000 in matching funds to CEIR to promote value of expositions; Saul Poliak, often credited with creating the modern trade show, dies at 91.

4. Penton Media announces a net loss of $5.5 million for second quarter and plan to cut 10% of workforce; Key3Media reports a 51% drop second quarter year over year net income; for only second time in 32 years, hotel industry suffers negative RevPar growth.

5. Softbank Corp. of Japan acquires Ziff Davis Exposition and Conference Co. for $202 million; then purchases trade show division of The Interface Group, which includes COMDEX, for $800 million.

6. Bill Communications forms BillComm Exposition and Conference Group, naming Don Vaughn President.

7. Phil Ullo, President and COO of Reed Exhibition Cos. retires. Jim Alic, President of REC North America, becomes Chairman of REC Worldwide, and Mike Rusbridge, Chief Executive of REC Europe/Africa/Middle East becomes President of REC.

8. National Sporting Goods Association sells its World Sports Expo to San Francisco-based Miller Freman Inc; Advanstar announces, then puts off IPO; VS&A Communications Partners III, a fund affiliated with Veronis, Suhler & Associates, acquires Hanley-Wood Inc., owners of World of Concrete and several construction and home improvement-related consumer and trade titles.

9. IAEM (then NAEM) names Steven Hacker, CAE, its new Executive Director, four months after beginning a search to replace Don Walter. Hacker had spent the previous 17 years as Executive Vice President of the Professional Insurance Agents of Texas.

10. Joe Loggia is named CEO of Boston-based Advanstar Communications; Robert Krakoff remains Chairman; Tom Kemp, Chairman and CEO of Penton  Media, announces his departure from company

11. After four years of trying, Peter Nathan produces first U.S. trade show in Cuba in 40 years; Miller Freeman USA is sold to Dutch company, VNU, for $650 million; Miller Freeman’s European business sells to Reed Elsevier for $545 million; Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) Merchant Banking Partners purchases Advanstar for $900 million.

12. Robert Krakoff, former Chairman and CEO of Cahners Publishing and Vice Chairman of Reed Elsevier, joins Advanstar Holdings as Chairman and CEO. United News and Media PLC, parent company of Miller Freeman Inc., acquires Blenheim for $941 million.

13. Hannover Fairs USA launches CeBIT America; Penton sells AEC Systems, Streaming Media and ISPCON events; American Hardware Manufactures Association pulls its 28 year sponsorship of National Hardware Show, owned by Reed Exhibitions, announces plan to launch own show.

14. Convention center activity: Reliant Center opens in Houston; Denver breaks ground on expansion of Colorado Convention Center; Wildwoods Convention Center opens in New Jersey; El Paso Convention Center opens; Austin Convention Center opens expansion; Bill Hogan Jr. barred from Teamsters for life.

15. Convention center construction and expansion boom. Salt Palace gets approval to double size; Dallas Convention Center “tops out” its $100,000 million expansion; Rhode Island Convention Center tops out new facility; San Diego Convention Center expansion approved, taking exhibit space to 500,000; St. Louis breaks ground for expansion; Long Beach begins $95 million expansion; Court clears way for New Orleans Convention Center expansion to 1,079,000 square feet; Charlotte Convention Center groundbreaking; Chicago’s Navy Pier revitalization plans unveiled; new Atlantic City Convention Center funding approved.

16. Penton Media acquires Mecklermedia Corp., producers of seven North American and 29 international hi-tech shows, including Internet World, for $274 million; Hurricane George cancels three shows in two cities and causes $2M in show losses; Ziff-Davis and Penton go public.

What year is it?
1. 1993; 2.1990; 3. 1997; 4. 2001; 5. 1995; 6. 1989; 7. 1994.; 8. 1999; 9. 1991; 10. 2004; 11. 2000; 12. 1996; 13. 2003; 14. 2002; 15. 1992; 16. 1998