Internet World, billed as Europe’s leading digital business and internet event, has won two prestigious awards at the 2007 Event Awards in front of a packed audience of over 800 people at a gala dinner in London. Internet World scooped Gold for Best Business Exhibition Award as well as the Most Improved Established Exhibition Award.

The awards followed a re-branding and re-positioning of the event under the banner “Business for the Digital Age” and a dramatic expansion of content which saw exhibitor numbers increase by over 70% to 270 along with over 200 speakers presenting across a stream of subjects in seven different seminar and conference facilities.

As part of the remodelling of Internet World the organisers, Ithaca Media, had over 70,000 research questions answered by its core visitor target audience and worked alongside over 60 industry partners. New features included The Web 2.0 Experience and the new Brands Reignited Conference.

The result was an attendance increase of 50% (to 12,909*) and an exhibitor line-up that included Google, Microsoft, BT and Yahoo. Over 90% of space was re-signed on site and the 2008 event is on track for further dramatic expansion.

2007 was the second time that Internet World has won two prizes at The Event Awards.

Ithaca’s commercial director, Phil Nelson commented “This result is a testament to the hard word and passion of the whole team involved with Internet World. It also reflects the importance of face-to-face events. Even (and perhaps especially) in a sector like eCommerce and digital marketing the premier event that brings together buyers, sellers, partners, investors, analysts, opinion formers and the media earns an unmissable place in the calendar.”

“With audiences up 50% year on year, the show nearly doubling in size with more than 270 exhibitors, and the re-book rate for the 2008 exhibition already exceeding 90%, Internet World excelled and stood well above the competition…” – commented Frankie Boyle who was presenting the awards, summarising the judges’ views.

For 2008, Internet World continues to go from strength to strength and is already close to selling out all its exhibition floorspace with 8 months still to go. Internet World show director, James Drake-Brockman explains: “With key issues like the Mobile Internet, Web 2.0 & Social Media, IPTV and much more being featured in detail, the show will continue to cover the latest digital marketing and business internet changes and have the biggest names and brightest brains sharing their insights and experiences.”

Internet World 2008 takes place from 29th April to 1st May at Earls Court, London. Visit www.internetworld.co.uk for more information. Ithaca Media was recently acquired by United Business Media (UBM).