Last week, I talked about Las Vegas' recent ad campaign to get business meetings and tradeshow to The Strip. Whether by chance, fate or mere coincidence, I signed onto the Trade Show News Network website only to find an advertisement from Atlantic City, NJ.

Deemed "World's Favorite Playground" and the inspiration behind Boardwalk Empire and the much-coveted final blue tile in the Monopoly boardgame, Atlantic City is to the East Coast what Las Vegas is to the West Coast. Although it's tourism slogan, "Do A.C." doesn't hold a candle to "What happens in Vegas...," Atlantic City does give Vegas a run for its money with its new business slogan: "Do conventions. Do unconventional."

Just over 3 hours from Washington DC, two hours from NYC and an hour from Philadelphia, Atlantic City's convention hall is modern and large enough to host several events. The convention hall is the 2013 home for such trade shows as the Philadelphia National Candy Gift & Gourmet Show, Tri-State Association of Realtors and even our very own PPAI Expo East. Downtime in Atlantic City can mean one of many things: partying at the new Revel nightclub, catching a concert at the House of Blues or gambling at one of the many themed casinos. Atlantic City also offers top-notch hotels, restaurants and shopping for any and all budgets. 

You're bound to meet plenty of networking potentials, whether at the Atlantic City convention hall or around the blackjack table. Be sure to have some promotional products on-hand.

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!  

You might think that if you've seen one pen, you've seen them all.  But those who attended last month's Philadelphia Pen Show know otherwise! 

The annual trade show, which takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, celebrates the convergence of history and pens, as evidenced by the show's tagline:  "Where history and pen lovers meet."

This year's event was sponsored by Visconti Pens, a Florence, Italy-based pen company, and was hugely successful.  According to the Philadelphia Pen Show's Web site, the tradeshow is "considered by many to be the third or fourth largest pen shows in the U.S."

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in calligraphy classes, sit in on educational pen seminars, and browse through collections of vintage fountain pens.  According to a press release, "This year's theme pen [was] the Istos Aracnis or 'Spider' Fountain Pen, a limited edition pen of 888 pieces that has a suggested retail price of $1,950."