Jun 26, 2013
Big-name brands such as Target, Walmart and the Food Network have dropped celebrity chef Paula Deen after she admitted during a recent deposition to using a racial epithet in the past. However, not only are there other retailers, but there also is The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show that have made the choice to stick by her. Deen is on the schedule as a presenter at The Tiny Kitchen’s MetroCooking Dallas – The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show Sept. 21-22 at the Dallas Convention Center, as well as two other shows this year. MetroCooking Dallas’… more
Jun 25, 2013
J. Spargo & Associates has been busy lately, snagging several new pieces of medical-event related business ranging from shows focused on nephrology to oncology. “We are delighted to welcome our latest medical association clients to the JS&A family. Our expertise in the medical marketplace and our ability to deliver services and deploy best practices to a wide variety of medical trade shows allows us to lower operational costs for our clients,” said Susan Bracken, president and CEO of JS&A. She added, “Our healthcare team is equipped to launch broader… more
Jun 25, 2013
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ Asian Attractions Expo 2013, held June 4-7 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at Marina Bay Sands, broke previous attendance records, with 5,350 professionals. Billed as the largest expo of its kind in the region, the four-day event also had a record number of exhibiting companies displaying the newest products and services on the largest trade showfloor in the event’s history, according to show officials. In addition, the IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers was sold out and attendance was strong… more
Jun 25, 2013
Already a name brand textile show in the United States, George Little Management’s SURTEX Asia is set to open Aug. 25-27 at the Pudong Hotel in Shanghai with an expected 1,500 textile manufacturers. The manufacturers will come from China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East to check out the designs for product development. “The positive response to SURTEX Asia by both the world’s top studios as well as design-focused Asian manufacturers has generated great momentum,” said Penny Sikalis, GLM vice president and SURTEX Asia show manager. She added, “There’s… more
Jun 25, 2013
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre may have found the secret to success in retaining staff, with 23 percent of the current staff force of 310 joined as part of the pre-opening team between 2003 and June 2005. “More impressive is the fact that 51 percent, or 158 team members have been with the Centre five years and longer,” said the Centre’s director of Human Resource, Rohizat Baharum, himself a 9-year veteran. Part of the Centre’s success is attributed to its’ ’70-20-10’ formula that entails 70 percent experiential learning, 20 percent networking,… more
Jun 25, 2013
ITE & MICE 2013, a collocation of the 27th edition of ITE and the 8th edition of ITE MICE that was held successfully June 13-16 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre was 6.6-percent larger than the previous show, occupying 16,000 square meters. There also were a record number of 680 exhibitors from 46 countries and regions, as well as a 5.8-percent increase, a total of 6,055, travel agents/tour operators who attended the trade portion of the event. In all, the two trade days drew 11,872 buyers and trade visitors, with 72 percent coming from Hong Kong, 20 percent from… more
Jun 24, 2013
A new, 5-year labor agreement was reached between Global Experience Specialists and the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Local 1027, who work in the warehouse on exhibits and other projects. Contract renewal negotiations originally had halted June 3 because of the union’s request for a 17-percent wage increase during a 4-year period and GES’ offer of a 15-percent increase during the same 4-year time period. Neither side disclosed specifics of the new agreement, but Frank T. Libby, president and executive secretary-treasurer for the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters,… more
Jun 24, 2013
In an effort to expand its U.S.-based portfolio, global event organizer E.J. Krause recently held the second edition of its M-Enabling Summit, which focuses on mobile technology for people with disabilities, June 6-7 in Washington, D.C. “M-Enabling Summit gained wide spread support from disability and senior organizations as well as the private industry, demonstrating the strategic importance of this rapidly growing sector,” said Ned Krause, president and CEO of E.J. Krause and Associates. He added, “Promoting M-Enabling Solutions is definitely the next frontier for the… more
Jun 24, 2013
The FIME Show, a medical supply trade show based out of Miami, snagged the No. 1 spot on the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association’s 2012 Top 50 Medical Meetings list, with 54,147 total attendees. Released a few weeks before the association’s annual meeting June 22-25 in Austin, Texas, the list represents the largest medical meetings in the U.S. ranked by attendance. It was the first time in the past few years the top show hadn’t been either Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) or the Greater New York Dental Meeting (GNYDM), that respectively ranked… more
Jun 24, 2013
Douglas L. Ducate, president and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, announced today at the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association’s Annual Summer Educational Conference that he will step down at the end of this year.   Ducate, a 45-year industry veteran who has held the CEIR post for 15 years, explained he believed CEIR deserves "younger and stronger legs to carry some of the new initiatives to success." CEIR Chairman and Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Greg Ortale said, "The respect and presence that our… 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