NYC & Company Welcomes The Winter 2010 New York International Gift Fair To New York City

NYC & COMPANY WELCOMES THE WINTER 2010 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL GIFT FAIR TO NEW YORK CITY

�The City's Largest Trade Show Brings in 50,000 Market-Goers, Generates About 30,000 Hotel Room-Nights and Delivers $22.3 Million in Direct Spending to New York City�

�Show Features Latest Trends in Gift, Home and Lifestyle Products: One-of-a-Kind Accessories, Gourmet Dog
Treats and Trendy Tech Gadgets�

�Brooklyn Designer Recognized as One of the Show's Six Emerging Designers�

New York City (January 26, 2010) � NYC & Company, the City's marketing, tourism and partnership organization, and GLM welcome the 158th semiannual New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), returning to New York City from January 30 to February 4, 2010 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Pier 94. The NYIGF, New York City's largest trade show, is expected to bring more than 50,000 visitors from all 50 states and 85 countries. The semiannual wholesale market for gift, home and lifestyle merchandise also is expected to generate about 30,000 room-nights and $22.3 million in direct spending in New York City.

"We are pleased to welcome back the semiannual New York International Gift Fair this year," said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. "It is always a great testament to New York City to have our largest trade show return year after year, bringing more than 50,000 visitors at a slower point in the City�s calendar. Our members�from hotels and restaurants to cultural institutions, Broadway, performing arts and tours�all benefit from the spending, and the NYIGF exhibitors and designers are particularly inspired by the great retail establishments in New York."

The NYIGF features more than 2,700 exhibitors, including local talent such as Munire Kirmaci, a Brooklyn-based designer of home accessories and interior spaces. Her signature piece, Salt and Pepper in One, a combined salt-and-pepper dispenser, will be showcased along with her other works in the NYIGF's A+�: The Young Designers' Platform.

The gift fair will feature the latest trends, with a focus on the newest items in the gift, home and lifestyle categories, including a bamboo booster seat, an evening bag knitted from neoprene yarn, a portable USB hub that looks like an '80s cassette tape and organic dog biscuits, with proceeds benefiting therapy-dog programs. NYIGF's international exhibitors will showcase globally inspired items, such as cotton kimono robes, stainless-steel babushka-doll necklaces and ceramic yerba mat� vessels. Also to be featured are classic concepts with a contemporary twist, such as hand-crocheted pearl solitaire rings, children's block sets made from sustainable solid maple and vibrantly colored bone china teacup sets. And with the growing worldwide demand for green products, NYIGF again will feature the most current eco-driven products, including paper made at biofuel-powered mills and stylish rugs composed of recycled plastics.

"The NYIGF mirrors the creativity, vitality and originality of the City it calls home," said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. "New York is world renowned as an epicenter of style, trends and innovation. And for 79 years the home and gift industry's most discerning retailers have looked to the gift fair�and to the streets of New York�for inspiration."

The Winter 2010 NYIGF features more than 300 international companies among the 2,700 exhibitors. The global suppliers will exhibit independently under the NYIGF's eight divisions as well as through government-sponsored pavilions from nine African nations, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru and the United Kingdom.

The gift fair will showcase its 2,700 exhibitors in eight carefully categorized divisions: Accent on Design featuring A+: The Young Designers� Platform; At Home featuring Home Textiles; EX-TRACTS; General Gift featuring Floral & Garden Accessories, Just Kidstuff and The Museum Source; Handmade featuring Handmade in the USA; Personal Accessories featuring Details; STUDIO; and Tabletop & Housewares featuring Accent on Tabletop.

NYIGF's SustainAbility: design for a better world� display also will return, expanding to feature some 220 green gift, home and lifestyle products. The exhibit, which is curated by New York City design consultant Ilene Shaw of Shaw & Co! Productions, features companies and their environmentally friendly and socially responsible products and production processes.

In addition to the exhibits, gift fair participants can look forward to several industry functions, including the Gift for Life Kings & Queens Casino Night, a Sunday, January 31, fund-raiser that benefits DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS; A Night on Broadway, featuring Hair, on Tuesday, February 2; and the 2010 Housewares Design Awards Gala & Ceremony on Wednesday, February 3. All badge-holders can gain free admission to the New Museum of Contemporary Art, compliments of NYIGF and its market partners, during the exhibition. Additionally, attendees will have access to an extensive educational seminar program addressing color and design trends, social media, sustainability and retail strategies. There also will be exhibitor-focused sessions regarding post-show follow-up, global sourcing and licensing.

NYIGF, the nation's premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, runs Saturday, January 30, through Thursday, February 4, 2010. Handmade at the Javits Center and At Home at Pier 94 will run Saturday through Wednesday. All other divisions (Accent on Design, At Home featuring Home Textiles, EX-TRACTS, General Gift, Personal Accessories, Studio and Tabletop & Housewares) will run Sunday through Thursday at the Javits Center. The Winter 2010 NYIGF and other related events are open to trade professionals only. For more details and press registration, visit nyigf.com/press, or contact Steel Associates at 203-340-9251.

About NYC & Company
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

About NYIGF
NYIGF is the nation's premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,700 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 31,000 attendees from all 50 states and around the world are expected. For information and registration, visit nyigf.com.

About the Javits Center
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York is the largest convention venue in the New York metropolitan area. Javits has hosted thousands of trade shows, conferences and special events since its opening in 1986. Home to many of the top 200 trade shows, the Center�s versatile exhibit space can accommodate trade shows and conventions of any size. Javits hosts about 150 events with an average attendance of 3.5 million a year.

-30-

For press inquiries please contact Chris Heywood at 212.484.1270 or cheywood@nycgo.com.