ExhibitionNewsENJUNE 2011The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has claimed the proposed demolition of Earls Court will have disastrous consequences on the exhibition industry and could see UK shows decrease. The comments follow news of the association's plans to lobby government over Capital and Counties' (CapCo) proposed demolition of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in 2012 as part of redevelopment of the 77-acre Earls Court area. The masterplan includes residential and business redevelopment and is being devised in conjunction with other landowners, Transport for London and Hammersmith and Fulham AEO to fight for Earls CourtLATESTNEWS. Bluewater's growing show list revealed. Best of Britain hit by agency cutsA record 750 people stepped out in style on 20 May for the Exhibition News Awards 2011.The sold-out event was held at the Business Design Centre and celebrated company and individual success over the past 12 months. Winners and special commendations were awarded in 19 categories covering company EN Awards 2011 a sell-out successwww.exhibitionnews.co.ukHaymarket's Gavin Brown on exhibition creationSHOW LIFESPANSEN looks at ways you can better sell ROISELLING SUCCESSand personal achievements. Top organiser winners included Upper Street Events, which scored two trophies for Best Consumer Show (Gadget Show Live) and Best Trade Show (Caffè Culture) and Fresh RM, which received The Green Award as well as an individual award for Rising Star (Clare Barker). On the supplier side, Melville topped the list with two awards for Best Supplier to Exhibitors and Best Client Support Provider (Mike Chambers). Best Venue meanwhile, was won by Excel London for the second year running. Check out the full list of winners and pictorial highlights from page 22.little point objecting until CapCo detailed plans and applied for planning permission."Hawkins also hit back against CapCo's claims that the industry didn't need a venue of Earls Court's size and said the more venue space available, the more exhibition business generated. "If your take away capacity, there will be fewer events," he claimed. "It's a self-fulfilling prophecy."We're not confident of anything, but we can't sleepwalk into this and let Earls Court be knocked down without saying something."According to the AEO, Earls Court attracts more than 2.5m visitors, 30,000 exhibiting companies and hundreds of events annually. Together with Olympia, it supports £1.25bn in the London region, and accounts for 12,500 jobs in London directly and indirectly. "The loss of Earls Court and the resultant reduction in overseas exhibitors, conferences and business tourists visiting the UK will cost the country billions in lost revenue when we need it most," Hawkins said. AEO chairman Doug Emslie also raised the 2012 Olympic Games as proof of the importance of live events to the UK's economy.He pointed out Earls Court's planned demolition comes at a time when other capital cities are investing in their exhibition space. "UK exhibition organisers lead the world in innovation and geo-cloning of exhibitions, yet the industry receives less government support than most other countries with sizable economies," Emslie added.Council. AEO chief executive Austen Hawkins said the association will lobby the London Mayor and local and national governments to stop the Earls Court Opportunity Area (ECOA) plans from coming to fruition. He denied suggestions AEO was late in voicing its opinion, given detailed plans were only released in April, and pointed out CapCo still had to get planning permission and adequate financial funding for the site. "We have had ongoing dialogue with CapCo in the hope that there would be some exhibition centre in its place," Hawkins told EN. "There was

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