Close to 400 exhibitors showcased their products and services on the trade show floor of The Special Event '99.

Mary Ann Reilly, CMP, director of The Special Event, and Lisa Vested, publisher of Special Events Magazine, congratulated Melvin Baker. Baker was drawn from many attendees who registered for The Special Event before December 10, 1998. The prize was a round-trip ticket to San Diego for The Special Event 2000, a full education package, five nights at the Hyatt Regency San Diego and a rental car.

Practiced at the art of confection: Popular exhibitor Shan Ichiyanagi (known on the trade show floor as "the candy man") demonstrated ameziku, an ancient Japanese candy-making technique in which molten sugar is formed into whimsical, animal-shaped lollipops.

Sarah Hyrb of Baltimore-based P.W. Feats was one of many speakers to lead informal and informative roundtable discussion the first day of The Special Event '99. At this roundtable, Hyrb discussed corporate event marketing strategies. Other roundtable topics ran the gamut, ranging from starting your own b usiness to booking name entertainment.