HIGH POINT, N.C. and LAS VEGAS (March 13, 2012)—International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premium home furnishings, gift and home décor showroom and exhibition space, announced that Dorothy Belshaw has joined the company as the President of its Gift division.

Most recently, Dorothy Belshaw was a Senior Vice President at GLM, serving as its Director of the New York International Gift Fair®, overseeing GLM’s sales, customer service and corporate communications departments.

“I am very pleased to have a true industry leader and professional join our executive team. Dorothy brings the leadership and experience to accelerate the growth of our Gift+Home show in Las Vegas. As a recognized and proven leader, Dorothy brings a wealth of expertise and relationships to help establish Gift+Home as the industry’s premier Western Market,” said Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers.

Belshaw will report to Maricich. Reporting up to her will be Margaret Powers, Vice President of Tradeshow/Las Vegas, and the five-person tradeshow sales team. Belshaw will also manage World Market Center’s permanent gift leasing team consisting of Leasing Managers Sheri Makransky and Cassie Catania.

“I am thrilled to join the IMC team in building an exciting new marketplace for the gift and home industries. IMC’s clear and compelling vision for the Las Vegas Market and their strong commitment to the project to date have resulted in impressive and immediate results. I look forward to working with this dynamic team as we establish Gift+Home as the premiere gift show west of the Mississippi,” stated Belshaw.

Currently Gift+Home at Las Vegas Market is the only growing market for the gift and home décor industry in the Western United States. Buyer attendance has grown consistently over the last six Markets as leading gift suppliers and retailers see significant value in Las Vegas’ highly effective, efficient and exciting marketplace. In the last three years, Gift+Home has experienced a 130 percent increase in gift buyer attendance representing an 88 percent increase in gift stores.

Prior to joining IMC, Belshaw joined GLM in 1992, as part of the company’s New Business division, and was promoted to Vice President in 1999. During this time, she was involved with GLM’s development of a joint venture with Western Exhibitors to co-produce the San Francisco International Gift Fair® and a joint venture with the Dallas Market Center to produce the GLM Temporaries at the Dallas International Gift & Home Accessories Market; the development and launch of EX•TRACTS® and GLM’s management contract for the New York Marathon Expo.

Belshaw also has served as manager of the South African Trade Expo, the Visual Marketing & Store Design Show and GLM’s Soiffer/Haskin private sale division. From 2001-2007, Belshaw supervised GLM’s Los Angeles office from which the company’s West Coast Gift Shows were managed.

Prior to joining GLM, she was director of corporate and foundation giving at Hamilton College, of which she is a graduate with a B.A. in English. Belshaw is currently a member of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), The Gift & Home Trade Association (GHTA), and the Accessories Resource Team (ART).

International Market Center’s portfolio consists of 11.5 million square feet in 18 showroom venues in High Point N.C. and Las Vegas. Through a series of transactions announced in May of 2011, all assets in the portfolio have been recapitalized with significant equity investments, providing for long-term stability and creating a growth platform for the industry.

International Market Centers owns and operates the following facilities:

Building A, World Mark et Center Las Vegas
Building B, World Market Center Las Vegas
Building C, World Market Center Las Vegas
World Pavilions, World Market Center Las Vegas
International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC), High Point (comprised of the Hamilton, Green, Commerce, Wrenn, Design Center and Main Wings)
Historic Market Square, High Point
Market Square Tower, High Point
Suites at Market Square, High Point
Plaza Suites, High Point
Furniture Plaza, High Point
National Furniture Mart, High Point
Hamilton Market, High Point
300 South Main, High Point
Showplace, High Point
Showplace West, High Point
200 N. Hamilton, High Point
320 N. Hamilton, High Point
330 N. Hamilton, High Point

About International Market Centers, L.P.
International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC) is the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. IMC owns and operate 11.5 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C. and Las Vegas. In addition, IMC operates the Las Vegas Design Center, a year-round resource open to both the design trade and consumers which is comprised of more than 40 showrooms and hundreds of designer brands. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. For more information on IMC, visit imcenters.com.