Tech News

Mar 28, 2014
Event organizers always are looking for ways to tap into the popularity of social sharing tools such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to spread the word organically about their event. With the launch of Moment.me, a mobile microsite for events, organizers may finally have an inexpensive option that their attendees will actually use. Moment.me works on any mobile device and aggregates live content your attendees are posting on their preferred social media platforms during your event. “The concept behind Moment.me is not to change users habits. Let them use what they are… more
Mar 23, 2014
At the recent IAEE DC Chapter’s luncheon meeting, a2z’s vice president of Professional Services, Angi Carr, shared some important strategies for multi-year and multi-event attendee engagement. Here are the key insights from her presentation: Know what engages and re-engages your attendees Events are not just about products, services and education. In fact, they are mostly about people. To know what draws your audience, focus on what’s important to them, and what brings them to your event.   Provide smart, integrated tools Provide solutions that are easy… more
Mar 23, 2014
At the recent IAEE DC Chapter’s luncheon meeting, a2z’s vice president of Professional Services, Angi Carr, shared some important strategies for multi-year and multi-event attendee engagement. Here are the key insights from her presentation: Know what engages and re-engages your attendees Events are not just about products, services and education. In fact, they are mostly about people. To know what draws your audience, focus on what’s important to them, and what brings them to your event.   Provide smart, integrated tools Provide solutions that are easy… more
Mar 16, 2014
Trade Show and expo organizers always are striving to make their exhibitor and attendee experience run smoothly. They take great pains to make the event registration process as painless as possible. In many cases, the online registration process takes just minutes. But it doesn’t end there for the attendees and exhibitors. Now, they have to start the laborious task of booking flights, arranging ground transportation and booking dinner reservations for meetings with clients or team dinners. AttendBee, an online concierge service, steps up to eliminate much of that frustration.… more
Mar 16, 2014
Trade Show and expo organizers always are striving to make their exhibitor and attendee experience run smoothly. They take great pains to make the event registration process as painless as possible. In many cases, the online registration process takes just minutes. But it doesn’t end there for the attendees and exhibitors. Now, they have to start the laborious task of booking flights, arranging ground transportation and booking dinner reservations for meetings with clients or team dinners. AttendBee, an online concierge service, steps up to eliminate much of that frustration.… more
Mar 07, 2014
Everyone is all a twitter over Samsung’s product placement and the Ellen DeGeneres selfie at the Oscars.  Samsung received more value out of this sponsorship deal than they had probably dreamed of! A recent Washington Post highlights the details of Samsung’s Oscar ad buy and why the organic product placement worked so well for them. Instead of debating why the product placement worked so well, I would like to focus on how event managers can use this concept to increase sponsorship sales and ROI.  Every product marketer dreams of getting their product in the hands of its… more
Mar 07, 2014
Everyone is all a twitter over Samsung’s product placement and the Ellen DeGeneres selfie at the Oscars.  Samsung received more value out of this sponsorship deal than they had probably dreamed of! A recent Washington Post highlights the details of Samsung’s Oscar ad buy and why the organic product placement worked so well for them. Instead of debating why the product placement worked so well, I would like to focus on how event managers can use this concept to increase sponsorship sales and ROI.  Every product marketer dreams of getting their product in the hands of its… more
Mar 02, 2014
a2z, Inc. released an infographic to highlight the results from the super-engaging ChirpE Scavenger Hunt atthe International Association of Exhibitions and Events' Expo! Expo! 2013, held in December in Houston. Hundreds of attendees visited the ChirpE-powered photo booths in partner locations during the event, clicking and sharing their photos on Facebook in real-time.  The 632 photos clicked during this fun gaming experience engaged a total of 11,872 people on Facebook between Dec. 7-22, 2013, generating 45,872 impressions in the process. The following seven premier… more
Mar 02, 2014
Like any good exhibitor, RetailNext wanted to capture the attention of retailers at National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Retail’s BIG Show in New York. Like any good exhibitor, they wanted to do something that would be relevant to their business, their booth visitors and they wanted it to drive conversations. RetailNext helps retailers, shopping centers and even manufacturers analyze data on store traffic and buyer behavior. Their customers are interested in the use of displays to interact and engage with their own customers and potential customers. The question is, what would… more
Mar 02, 2014
Like any good exhibitor, RetailNext wanted to capture the attention of retailers at National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Retail’s BIG Show in New York. Like any good exhibitor, they wanted to do something that would be relevant to their business, their booth visitors and they wanted it to drive conversations. RetailNext helps retailers, shopping centers and even manufacturers analyze data on store traffic and buyer behavior. Their customers are interested in the use of displays to interact and engage with their own customers and potential customers. The question is, what would… more
Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact