The Big Sleep Show™, an eye-opening, first-ever health expo, teams industry, science to inform consumers about sleep, alertness

Chicago - Jan. 29, 2008 - Creators of The Big Sleep Show™, the first-ever consumer health expo solely dedicated to sleep and alertness, look to open eyes of marketers aiming to reach a highly targeted audience of sleep-deprived Americans.

Organizers expect more than 10,000 category-focused consumers to descend on Rosemont's Donald E. Stephens Convention Center near Chicago May 9 - 10 to learn about products and services, meet industry and scientific experts, and receive samples from an array of sponsors that address sleep and alertness issues.

The show offers manufacturers and retailers one-on-one interactions with consumers and workplace professionals who seek to improve their sleep habits and be sharper during the day. Representatives from prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical companies will join makers of bedding, coffee and energy drinks/supplements, medical equipment, sleepwear and more to demonstrate their wares and answer consumers' questions relevant to health, safety, quality of life and on-the-job performance.

"In conceiving the 100,000-square-foot exhibit area for The Big Sleep Show, we wanted to create an expo that allows people to go directly to the source - the manufacturers and sleep experts - and learn about the products and health considerations that will enable them to sleep better and stay alert," said Reid Blank, chief executive of The Big Sleep Show. "The set-up allows companies to stand side-by-side with medical experts and sleep health care providers for extended conversations with current and future customers - face-to-face."

Sponsors of the show receive numerous additional marketing benefits as well. Various levels of sponsorship entitle companies to include logos on all event signage, brand informational sessions and receive pre- and post-conference exhibitor and attendee lists. An aggressive media program will support the event.

Consumer Workshops

During the two-day show, attendees will have numerous opportunities to attend informational workshops by experts presenting news and information about insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome, as well as sleep and alertness issues related to women, new parents and newborns, the elderly, sickness and pain sufferers, and much more. These workshops will be interactive in nature and encourage active participation.

Special sessions also will be held for business managers and employees who often battle fatigue and the demands of a busy life to be productive and complete their work, addressing issues such as drowsy driving, shift work and jet lag. Targeted industries will include health care, transportation, public safety and manufacturing, among others.

Dr. Thomas Roth, director of sleep disorders and research center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, will serve as chair of the show's scientific advisory board that oversees topics for workshops and presentations. "The Big Sleep Show fills a real void in the area of sleep health," said Dr. Roth, who will work with local academics and clinical specialists as well as guest speakers from across the country to address audiences on dozens of topics.

Blank, who spent nine years at the National Sleep Foundation as its second-in-command before serving six years as vice president of Alertness Solutions, a scientific consulting firm for around-the-clock, safety-sensitive companies, aims to bring the whole spectrum of sleep's role in our lives to The Big Sleep Show. "We have gathered an impressive roster of locally and nationally known experts to speak on these issues," he said. "And we continue to draw big-name sponsors in our target fields to bring even more value to consumers."

Charter sponsors include Cephalon, Kingsdown, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Neurocrine and ResMed.

Complete sponsorship information is available at www.thebigsleepshow.com.

The Big Sleep Show ™ is the first-ever consumer health expo solely dedicated to sleep and alertness. Founded by Reid Blank, an experienced director of marketing initiatives on sleep and alertness issues to consumers and businesses, the show brings together manufacturers of sleep and alertness-related products and experts in the field to underscore the importance of sleep in overall health, wellness, safety and quality of life. For more information on the show or to learn about additional sponsorship opportunities, consumers and sponsors may visit www.thebigsleepshow.com.

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