Jun 06, 2017
SMG, known for its management of convention centers and venues, has scored a management contract for a whopping 4.3 million square foot convention center in Shenzhen, China.
The Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center is set to become one of the largest convention centers in the world. It also will be SMG’s new flagship venue in China’s growing trade show market.
“We are honored by our selection, which reflects our unique combination of resources, relationships and expertise in the industry,” said SMG President and CEO Wes Westley.
He added, “We look forward to operating a world-… more
Jun 06, 2017
Music China, Asia’s prominent music trade event, is set to take place Oct. 11-14 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
Benefiting from China’s promising MI market, the 2017 show is expected to exceed last year’s scale and expands to 11 halls, covering 125,000 sqm of exhibition space (2016: 112,000 sqm in 10 halls). With full support from the global music industry, over 90% of exhibition space has been reserved to date.
China’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2016 – 2020) has positioned the cultural industry as one of the key pillars of the national economy and highlighted the importance of the… more
Jun 05, 2017
The trade show industry was back on the positive side after slipping in the final quarter of 2016, with a year-over-year 1.6-percent uptick in growth to kick off the first quarter of this year, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Index Report.
However, the industry has continued to underperform the macroeconomy.
"The increase in the first quarter validates our prediction that economic fundamentals still point to moderate growth for the exhibition industry," said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates, Inc.
The … more
Jun 01, 2017
Summertime is heating up, and so are new and renewed business contracts between shows and a bevy of suppliers.
Experient recently renewed its contract with Emerald Expositions through 2023. With this new six-year deal, which officially begins in 2018, Experient will provide registration, lead retrieval and its EDGE marketing platform for Emerald’s 74+ shows each year, as well as housing services for select shows.
Emerald, the largest operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States, has been working with Experient since 2012.
Emerald serves a wide variety of industry sectors… more
Jun 01, 2017
In an effort to create more meaningful meetings for their attendees, guests and exhibitors, several national and international dental organizations will be joining forces to combine three major dental conventions in 2019 and two in 2020.
The American Dental Association (ADA), FDI World Dental Federation (FDI), California Dental Association (CDA) and San Francisco Dental Society (SFDS) will be partnering up to host a joint 2019 meeting in San Francisco.
In addition, the ADA and Florida Dental Association (FDA) will be consolidating their 2020 meetings in Orlando while the ADA explores… more
May 31, 2017
More keynote speakers have been unveiled for the 2017 Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Annual Convention in Montréal, Canada July 11‐14.
“We are thrilled to have assembled such a diverse and respected group of speakers for the Annual Convention,” said DMAI President and CEO Don Welsh.
He added, “We look forward to inspiring and equipping our members with education sessions as well as giving them the unique opportunity to connect with industry peers in Montréal.”
Here are a few of the new keynotes:
Evita Turquoise Robinson
Since her first taste of Europe at the age of 21… more
May 30, 2017
How many convention centers can boast having their very own farm, not to mention a slew of beehives pumping out delicious honey for in-house menus and catering? And out of those select few, how many facilities also have an enthusiastic young college intern ready and willing to help with beekeeping and farmhand duties?
The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland is fortunate enough to be such a venue, with a sustainable working farm situated on a quarter acre of land at the north end of the property.
Operated by Levy and SMG, the “Real FarmVille” is home to 500,000-1.5 million… more
May 29, 2017
Kicking off in New Zealand June 7 and circling the globe to end in Hawaii, the exhibition industry will be celebrating the 2nd annual Global Exhibition Day (#GED17).
Global Exhibition Day, founded last year by UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, was formed to shine a bright spotlight on the importance of the industry worldwide.
“UFI is calling on everyone working in exhibitions and trade shows to take part in Global Exhibitions Day on June 7 and share their initiatives loud and proud!” said Dr. Andreas Gruchow, president of UFI.
He added, “In 2016, the inaugural GED… more
May 25, 2017
Sharon Enright has joined NXT Events Media Group as its president and COO.
After serving in top operations management positions at Conference Management Corporation and Reed Exhibitions, Enright moved to Business Journals Inc. in 1997 as its director of operations, where she rose to the ranks of EVP of the company’s Trade Show Division.
As the second person in BJI’s 90-year history to earn this prestigious title, Enright helped build the company’s event portfolio from three to 27 annual shows, managing virtually all facets of the portfolio for more than 18 years.
Her special areas of… more
May 24, 2017
With Outdoor Retailer looking for a new home after a public land dispute resulted in the decision to leave Utah, Denver in the hunt as one of the cities trying to capture it and the January timeframe getting crunched with different crossover shows, it makes perfect sense that Emerald Expositions would buy SnowSports Industries America’s SIA Snow Show.
Now, two of the strongest shows geared toward segments of the outdoor sports industry will both be combined under one roof – the Colorado Convention Center – in Denver starting January 2018.
“By merging these two January shows, we will bring the… 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