Moving forward when times are tough

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs...

There are clearly advantages to being independent. As the behemoths of the B2B media industry run around savaging their staff and bemoaning their lost bonuses and withered options, it's good to see one of the more focused, conservative players in our business making a move.

TradeShow Week broke the news on its Twitter feed (ooh, very Web 3.0 guys) and its website that Diversified Business Communications of Portland, Maine has acquired a controlling interest in Hong Kong's Asia Business Events. John Bednall and Jonathan Goold have kept the company very focused over the 10+ years they have been building up the Restaurant & Bar Show. The newer Retail Asia Expo & Congress gives Diversified a second leg on which to build. The company's presence in Asia/Pacific has until now been largely restricted to its successfull operations in Australia, acquired from Allworld a decade ago.