Want to mingle with more than 45,000 Internet professionals? Here's your chance: Internet Week New York will take place May 20 - 27, 2013 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.

According to Beta Beat, Internet Week is "a celebration of the city’s thriving Internet industry and community." Indeed, the web drives conversation on all things pop culture. And what better place to celebrate Internet business and digital culture than New York, where some of the most exciting tech and web innovation is happening?

This year's lineup looks incredible. Speakers will include big names like Randi Zuckerberg, Joan Rivers and BuzzFeed CEO and founder Jonah Peretti. For a full list of speakers, click here.

There will also be hundreds educational sessions, panel discussions and conferences on a variety of topics, ranging from social media marketing to the Internet's impact on comedy.

Want a pass? Tickets start at just $135 a piece, which includes a $25 marketing incentive from UBER. But prices will increase after May 19, so get yours today.

As I mentioned briefly in passing over one month ago, this year's PPAI Expo East trade show is hitting the most beautiful adult playground on the eastern seaboard - Atlantic City.

Why mention the PPAI Expo East again? Simple: they sent me a reminder. It wasn't in the form of a letter, e-mail or pop-up ad. The organization did what it does best - used a promotional product - to advertise its event.

It is hard to keep up with the amount of trade shows and events with PPAI sponsorship or PPAI underwriting. The PPAI Expo East slipped my mind and the mind of many of our employees. We received this mailer which would normally have been tossed aside to be seen later or possibly lost in with other files and papers. What piqued my curiosity was not what was written on the outside but what was found on the inside.

The pamphlet opened to reveal a great travel accessory. In addition to being similar to Motivators' full-color luggage tag (which I recognized almost instantly) I loved that all the information on the pamphlet was summed up on the luggage tag (which is good because I accidently ripped part of the mailer opening it); the name of the event, the dates and website - all in stunning digital color. If that doesn't get your attention, nothing will.

The bottom of the luggage tag also features space advertising one of the many sponsors for the PPAI Expo East. If you've always been in the market for advertising this way but turned off by some product/mailing prices (trust me, it isn't as much as you think and is worth the extra money) you'll find that getting another sponsor will off-set the cost significantly. 

Start brainstorming with your marketing department and bring your ideas to our sales team - the experts in mailers and promotional products.

Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013, which took place in Barcelona, Spain, finally wrapped today after four days of learning, networking, product showcases and more. So what are the big takeaways? Let's go over some of the highlights:

1. 70,000+ visitors

This year's MWC saw a record-breaking number of attendees. According to Reuters, "The four-day conference and exhibition attracted executives from the world's largest and most influential mobile operators, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies and companies from industry sectors such as automotive, finance and healthcare, as well as government delegations from across the globe." It was the trade show's biggest event ever.

2. Products for developing countries

While there was certainly no shortage of expensive products, a new trend was seen at MWC this year. The Telegraph reports that a new Nokia phone "offers a battery that lasts for a month at just £13." That's less than $20! Furthermore, Nokia has promised to introduce smartphones at lower price points, as well.

3. A Firefox operating system

Most people are familiar with Mozilla's Firefox web browser. But at MWC, Mozilla debuted something new: An operating system (OS) that's "based completely around a browser and Web standards," reports PC Mag. While it's being released worldwide soon, the new OS won't make it to the US until 2014.

4. Smart glasses

There's been a lot of hype surrounding Google's "Project Glass" lately. During MWC, however, the spotlight was on a different glasses project. According to the Wall Street Journal, Vuzix Corporation's M100 Smart Glasses feature "a near-eye micro display with an integrated camera and powerful processor running an Android OS." The device connects wirelessly via Bluetooth or WiFi to smartphones and other devices.

What other products or trends from MWC 2013 stood out to you?

It's not hard to come by a food-enthusiast in New York. After all, some of the country's best restaurants can be found in Manhattan or one of the city's other four boroughs.

That's what makes New York City a great location for the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show!

The massive trade show, scheduled for June 30 - July 2, 2013, will feature more than 150,000 specialty foods and beverages from 2,000+ exhibitors from countries all over the world. According to the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, attendees will also have access to more than 15 educational seminars, tours and tastings. Wow!

While the show is not open to the general public, businesses within the specialty food industry are welcome.

To get a closer look at the Fancy Food Show, watch the promo video below:

It's one of the biggest technology trade shows in the world, and it's less than a week away. No wonder the upcoming International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is already creating a ton of buzz.

PC World reports that the "massive trade show" -- which is scheduled for Jan. 8 - 11 -- will play host to a variety of big tech companies. And while most will keep quiet about their products in the days before CES, we still have an idea of what to expect.

For example, Bloomberg BusinessWeek claims that companies will "seek to wow the audience with connected fridges, iOS-based home-automation products, and dongles galore that will connect everything in your home to some wireless standard or another." It's a vision known as the "Internet of Things."

Also expected at CES is none other than Snooki! (This will either draw in crowds or repel them -- I guess we'll find out.) According to ABC News, Snooki will unveil her new collection of iHip products, including headphones, earbuds, portable speakers and other custom iPhone accessories. "iHip worked with me on incorporating my signature style with the best sound quality and a comfortable fit," Snooki said in a statement.

But not everybody's looking forward to what CES has to offer this year. Lance Ulanoff writes that this is the first year that Microsoft -- which has delivered the keynote since 1999 -- will not be in attendance. Ulanoff also expresses concern over CES's transition into a "mobile electronics event," although he admits it had to happen. "People care far more about the phone in their pocket than they do the HDTV in their living room or desktop computer in the den," he explains.

Are you looking forward to this year's CES?

We make our New Years Resolutions in the hopes to better ourselves. Some want to become more healthy, others want to donate time/money to causes they strongly believe in. For others, it is a chance to become something you want to be.

For those who want to strive to take their talents to the next level, you may want to start getting your portfolios together after New Year's Day. The Jacob Javits Center will be the home of FAME. FAME is a world-reknowned junior/young contemporary show with hundreds of retailers on site showcasing the new and innovative designs for the summer and spring. The exhibitor list is still open although you may want to carry your sketches and other designs in a fancy custom leather portfolio. Keep business cards on you and you could start connecting with the biggest names in the business in no time.

FAME provides shuttle service to various locations throughout Manhattan - including Penn Station, The piers on the West Side, the W Hotel in Times Square and the Candlewood Suites in Times Square South. The shuttle continues to run to those locations even after the show ends each night. The trade show also features amenities such as lunch, breakfast, cappuccino/coffee/tea, smoothies and complimentary totes. (while supplies last)

FAME takes place on January 6 and continues until January 8 from 9:00am-6:00pm. (4:00pm on January 8) For more information on attending or getting your company in, visit the Fame Winter 2013 website.

Do you find that most of your time online is on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets? You may find that the convenience of the Web at your fingertips is beneficial but keeping up with your favorite webpages could have a little bit of a damper. We have great news though.

The Trade Show News Network, a primary source for our Trade Show news and updates, is proud to announce a partnership with a2z Inc. This partnership with the leading provider of web-based event management tools means the coming year will be easier to organize your calendar and your life around the important tradeshows surrounding your area and your industry.

We will continue to give you news about trade shows and events throughout the United States so be sure to add The Trade Show Blog and Motivators.com to your list of homepages on your devices. 

In my opinion, the best gifts for the Holiday season are those that you receive after the Holiday season is over. Do you want to take your loved one to a concert but tickets aren't released? Do you want to promise someone the new iPhone when it comes out? Print out a picture or description of the item. This will get your recipient excited about what is to come - before the product is even in production. 

I have friends who live or go to school in the Philadelphia area. For Christmas, I was unsure of what to get them. Instead, I am giving them an IOU - at the Philadelphia Gift Show 2013 tradeshow.

The Philadelphia Gift Show 2013 tradeshow takes place at the larger-than-life Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. The Expo Center is filled with thousands of lines of products and thousands of products - many of which will probably be must-have items for the 2013 Holiday Season.

With so many new and interesting items, giving your loved one an IOU at the Philadelphia Gift Show is more personable than a gift card but great for those who do not know what they want. It also makes the perfect gift for yourself.

Mark January 5-8 2013 on your promotional calendar today!  

Caffeine junkies across America, rejoice! Coffee Fest -- a trade show dedicated to specialty coffees and teas -- is coming to your neighborhood soon.

Since 1992, Coffee Fest has been giving coffee and tea retailers a first-hand look at the world's best coffees, teas and related products. According to its website, "If it looks like coffee, smells like coffee, goes well with coffee or is coffee you will find it at Coffee Fest." Each year, the trade show floor is filled with everything you'd expect to see in your favorite local spot, including logo coffees from brands like Ghirardelli and Caffe D'Amore.

Perhaps more importantly (for baristas, at least), are the classes and workshops open to attendees. The courses cover everything from managing a retail coffee shop to latte art training. (That's right -- they'll actually teach you how to create deigns out of steamed milk!)

Coffee Fest's 2013 schedule looks like this so far:

New York: March 08 - 10, 2013 at the Javits Center
Chicago: June 07 - 09, 2013 at Navy Pier
Seattle: October 04 - 06, 2013 at the Washington State Convention Center

Transit isn't the name of a mass-transportation telecommunication meeting of the minds or an aviation industry tradeshow. Instead, fans of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway will be the ones flocking to Transit.

Transit is a mid-week celebration of the trendy shoe. Deemed "...LA's only dedicated footwear trade event..." it is Transit that is the West Coast equivalent to heavily influential east coast shows like Accessories Circuit and the women's equivalent of MRKET - both taking place this year at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Shoes are a women's best friend and seeing as Los Angeles is a major fashion-forward city in the USA, this tradeshow is bound to be visited by locals and international travelers alike, looking for the hottest fashions to come out during the holiday season and even for a sneak-peek into what may be expected for early 2013. 

Although the show takes place in just over two weeks, registration is still open and an opportunity to build up your tradeshow booth is still within reach. Simply visit the Motivators website and purchase a custom imprinted Tradeshow Package. 

So be sure to be in the LA area between August 6 and August 8. More information can be found on the Transit official website.