Jun 20, 2017
Hiring and promoting was fast and furious during the past month, with several trade show companies growing their company rosters. Ungerboeck, an event and venue management technology company, added Eric Kaser to the company’s executive leadership team. As vice president of sales, Americas, Kaser will lead sales strategy and execution from company headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. “Eric is a powerful addition to the Ungerboeck team,” said Ungerboeck CEO, Manish Chandak. “He has a proven track record of success in software sales and sales leadership that is going to be instrumental in… more
Jun 19, 2017
A fifth new trade show will collocate with United FreshMKT Expo, United FreshTEC Expo, International Floriculture Expo and Global Cold Chain Expo in June 2018 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Dedicated to the exploding category of healthy foods, SmartFood Expo is designed to provide retail and foodservice buyers with a one-stop shop for learning about the newest products, trends and opportunities to increase their share of the “better-for-you-foods” business. Launched by the United Fresh Produce Association, EnsembleIQ and Progressive Grocer, the new expo will feature a wide variety of consumer… more
Jun 15, 2017
Two major trade show producers recently have added specialty conventions to their extensive event portfolios. Reed Exhibitions acquired the Tiny House & Simple Living Jamboree, a consumer event focused on the growing tiny house movement. The event will collaborate with the National Tiny House Jamboree to host the world’s largest tiny house and simple living consumer convention, set for Oct. 27-29 at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas. Founded in 2015, the Tiny House & Simple Living Jamboree grew to attract more than 50,000 attendees in just its second year, while the… more
Jun 13, 2017
At the 2017 Licensing Expo, held May 23-25 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the power of the brand story was evident to the more than 16,000 attendees and 406 exhibiting companies, including 185 new exhibitors. The overall focus of the licensing industry is to help brands expand into new businesses, with licensing providing the necessary brand exposure in these new categories. Visitors at the event were greeted by bright primary colors and an abundance of mascots and costumed characters. According to Jessica Blue, senior vice president of UBM Americas, the first Licensing… more
Jun 13, 2017
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s Board of Directors gave final approval for the $1.4 billion expansion and renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center, paving the way for 600,000 new square feet of meeting space. “Today marks a monumental occasion for not only the LVCVA, but also the entire destination,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, LVCVA President and CEO. He added, “We commend the foresight of our community and state leaders for recognizing the importance of the LVCCD and we are eager to get to work! We will ensure that the LVCVA continues to provide the world-class… more
Jun 12, 2017
The Consumer Technology Association will feature Smart Cities as a new area of focus at CES®, which will include a dedicated Marketplace (exhibit area) and a full schedule of related conference programming. Owned and produced by CTA, CES 2018 is the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. "We are thrilled to announce our new Smart Cities Marketplace and conference at CES 2018. Connected and smart technologies are making our cities more efficient, sustainable and responsive through the use of data to enable better processes and decision making,"… more
Jun 12, 2017
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has unveiled Fira Barcelona as the winner of its annual Sustainable Development Award. The theme of this year’s  competition, “Best destination approach to implementing sustainability”, was chosen in order to recognize initiatives that combine the efforts of a destination, in partnership with a professional exhibition operator, to implement sustainability around an individual exhibition or a series of events. The award jury was composed of Members of the UFI Sustainable Development Committee and Dianne Young, Chair of the UFI… more
Jun 10, 2017
For the fourth year in a row, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events spearheaded #ExhibitionsDay, held June 6-7 in Washington, D.C., at which 112 trade show professionals had more than 100 face-to-face meetings with congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. "The 4th Annual Exhibitions Day was a tremendous success, as we realized a 30-percent increase in participation of IAEE members who joined us in Washington, D.C., to make important calls on Congressional staff,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, CTA, FASAE He added, “This year's issues were very… more
Jun 08, 2017
Urban Expositions scooped up the U.S. Coffee Fest event portfolio from Lifestyle Events,  which includes the 2017 Coffee Fest Chicago and Portland events, along with the 2018 Baltimore and Denver shows.  Coffee Fest trade shows launched 25 years ago and focus on the coffee, tea and beverage industry. “We are pursuing strategic opportunities to grow our business, and specifically our foodservice and hospitality sector.  These shows perfectly align with the profile and growth potential we were hoping to add to this portfolio,” said Craig Dooley, president and CEO, Urban… more
Jun 08, 2017
According to PCMA’s recently released Convene 2017 Annual Salary Survey, most meeting professionals are happy to be working in the profession, 75 percent have earned an average increase of six percent within the last year and nearly 40 percent are dissatisfied with their salaries. Published last month in Convene, the survey has served as an industry benchmark for several decades. Completed by more than 800 association, corporate and independent meeting professionals last March, the survey found that the average salary for the role is nearly $82,000, about 2 percent higher than the average… 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