EC Media Group Brings Electronic Commerce World 2001 Conference And Exhibit To Chicago

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

eCommerce Mega-Event, October 9-12, Sets Up For First Time in Windy City; Show Will Spotlight Ideas, Strategies for Success in Today’s Volatile eBusiness Environment

NEW YORK CITY — JULY 2001— EC Media Group, a Thomson Financial Company and the leader in technology-oriented publications and trade shows, today announced that Electronic Commerce World 2001 Conference and Exhibit, one of the industry’s leading eCommerce events, will be held October 9-12, 2001 at McCormick Center in Chicago, Illinois. Carrying the theme "Preserve Your Future In eBusiness," the conference and exhibit, expected to attract over 4,000 attendees and 300+ exhibitors, will offer an unmatched array of seminars, displays, panel discussions, workshops, and resources designed to help businesses master eCommerce in today’s shifting economic environment.

Geared for executive management and IT professionals in scores of industries including manufacturing, financial services, communications, business services, system integration, VARs, health care, government and more, Electronic Commerce World Conference & Exhibit 2001 will feature:

80+ educational sessions to increase knowledge of business strategies;
Over 300 exhibitors demonstrating thousands of cutting-edge technology products and services;
Pre-Conference Workshops offering in-depth views of electronic commerce in action;
Interactive Roundtables providing analysis of real-world situations in a variety of vertical industries;
Exhibit floor sessions and expert panelists sharing the lessons of eBusiness.

In addition, Electronic Commerce World Conference & Exhibit 2001 will feature "eMarket Central 2001: The Vertical Marketplace," a show-within-a-show designed to bring vertical ePortals, eMarkets, and eCommunities together in one location. eMarket Central 2001 will enable select industries to network, exchange, shop, market, partner, trade, and connect as one eBusiness community.

"On behalf of Chicago’s convention and hospitality industry, we are pleased to welcome Electronic Commerce World 2001," said James Reilly, President and CEO of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. "Chicago’s convenient location relative to America’s manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial services, telecommunications, and transportation industries makes it an ideal choice for this year’s show. Electronic Commerce World Conference & Exhibit 2001 is an exciting addition to Chicago’s lineup of premier technology events, and we’re sure that attendees and exhibitors alike will have a great time while in Chicago."

"EC Media Group looks forward to its first-ever appearance at McCormick Center," said EC Media Group General Manager Edward Dwyer. "The year 2001 marks a turning point in eCommerce, as tens of thousands of B2B organizations adapt to the rapid changes brought about by the moderating economy. These changes spell remarkable opportunity for companies that can position themselves for the rapid changes taking place. Like never before, Electronic Commerce World Conference & Exhibit 2001 will offer attendees and exhibitors alike the tools, ideas, and contacts to make eCommerce a key element for corporate success."

Best of Show, Car to be Awarded

The Second Annual Electronic Commerce World Conference & Exhibit 2001 Best of Show awards, to be awarded at the show, will recognize excellence in six categories: Customer Relationship Management; Data Warehousing/ Knowledge Management; XML Tools and Applications; Electronic Procurement/EBPP; Enterprise Application Integration; and Security Solutions. Companies interested in entering the awards, to be judged by a panel of industry experts, should contact Mike McGarr at michael.mcgarr@tfn.com or 954-925-5900, ext. 116.

One lucky attendee of this year’s show will also drive away in a new Lincoln LS automobile that will be awarded Friday, October 12th in the exhibit hall. For Electronic Commerce World Conference & Exhibit 2001 registration information, call the registration desk at (877) 440-7125 or (212) 631-9732. Exhibitors and sponsors should contact Amy Fleming at (954) 925-5900 ext. 112; general information about the show can be found at www.ecmediagroup.com.

About EC Media Group:
EC Media Group, a Thomson Financial company, is a leading provider of information for e-business professionals across a wide range of sectors, including business intelligence and health care technology. Currently, EC Media Group offers a number of the market’s most widely read and highly respected publications, including Electronic Commerce World, Health Data Management, DM Review, Internet Health Care Magazine, Journal of Business Strategy and the Handbook of Business Strategy. In addition, EC Media Group sponsors some of today’s leading professional trade shows, including the Electronic Commerce World Conference and Exhibition, the preeminent event in its field.

About Thomson Financial:
Thomson Financial is a US$2 billion provider of information services and work solutions to the worldwide financial community. Through the widest range of products and services in the industry, Thomson Financial helps clients in more than 70 countries make better decisions, be more productive and achieve superior results. Thomson Financial is part of The Thomson Corporation (TTC), one of the world’s leading information companies. TTC, with annual revenues of more than US$6 billion, has interests in specialized information and newspaper publishing. TTC’s common shares are traded on the Toronto, Montreal and London stock exchanges.

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