North Palm Beach, FL, August 4--Responding to industry rumors of a potential merger between Skip Mason and Michael Coburn's new event, the PanAmerican Stone and Tile Expo (PanAm Expo) to be held in Miami Beach March 30 to April 1, 2004, Skip Mason, President of Trade Show International, has announced that all discussions with the Caires brothers regarding their Las Vegas show have ended.
Mason stated "The philosophical differences on control and management structure, which are required to build a great trade show…simply differ too much.” He went on to say "Rich and Doug Caires are very innovative businessmen and some of their ideas on how to promote a trade show on the Internet…certainly taught me a few lessons.
"Some of the reasons that TSI was unable to come to terms was that TSI and Team One are, by any standards, control oriented. We believe that each and every person, whether an exhibitor or visitor are our 'personal guests.' We feel driven to not only build the best marketing platform, but also deliver a conference which enhances professional development."
Michael Coburn said, “Skip and I have managed Coverings for 16 years. We nurtured the event. It grew from 60,000 sq. ft. to 525,000 sq. ft. In the last edition managed by TSI, Coverings had grown to be the 36th largest show in America. We quickly realized we had the opportunity to start over with a clean slate. We felt that Coverings, due to its size, was simply becoming unmanageable for visitors. Some exhibitors were so far out in the hinterlands...that it substantially decreased their results. In addition, the size and complexity of many exhibitors stands had grown to a size that could not be financially justified. What is needed is an event that is on a more human scale. Sometimes bigger is not better. That's what the PanAm Expo is all about. Same great service, same dedication to excellence...but interestingly enough, smaller.”
