Visit Anaheim, the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Anaheim, Calif., has appointed Mike Waterman as its new president and CEO, effective April 29. A hospitality industry veteran with more than 30 years of leadership and sales experience, Waterman comes to Anaheim from Visit Orlando, where he previously served as chief sales officer.
Upon assuming the helm of Visit Anaheim, Waterman will be responsible for developing, directing and overseeing the CVB as well as leading its efforts to draw conventions and visitors to the Anaheim area to bring economic growth to the… more
Apr 04, 2024
Spring has sprung in the trade show and events industry, with organizations and suppliers far and wide touting staff promotions, executive team expansions and seasoned industry professionals joining their ranks. Here’s our roundup of the new hires and promotions.
Edlen
Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services announced several promotions among its executive team members.
Promoted to executive vice president, Zach Wetterling joined Edlen full-time in 2018 and has been responsible for the day-to-day operations in the company’s Mandalay Bay office in Las Vegas. He has worked with the Edlen team… more
Apr 03, 2024
For organizers who are truly serious about sustainability and lowering the environmental footprint of their trade shows, meetings and events, incorporating plant-forward menus is more than a culinary trend — it’s a strategic choice that aligns with broader societal shifts, especially among younger generations. By making this change, event organizers can not only enhance the attendee experience but also cut carbon and costs while contributing to a more sustainable and equitable world.
The demand for plant-based options is growing steadily, driven by a combination of health concerns,… more
Mar 26, 2024
Celebrated every March, Women’s History Month is an opportune time to celebrate the female achievers of the trade show and corporate events industry. In this (first-CEN/third-TSNN) in a series of exclusive interviews with several outstanding female industry professionals, we had the pleasure of speaking with Kitty Ratcliffe, president of Explore St. Louis and Kathy Springstead, general manager, convention center operations for Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, to find out how their organizations are supporting women, whether they believe we are making progress when it comes to gender diversity… more
Mar 22, 2024
Celebrated every March, Women’s History Month is an opportune time to celebrate the female achievers of the trade show and events industry. In this second in a series of exclusive interviews with several outstanding female industry professionals, we had the pleasure of speaking with Janet Dell, president and COO of Freeman, and Maverick Payments Creative Director Jessica Reinhardt, to find out how their organizations are supporting women, what they advise for the next generation of female leaders and who are the up-and-coming women leaders to watch in our industry.
Janet Dell, President,… more
Mar 21, 2024
Ask about Visit Salt Lake (VSL) President and CEO Kaitlin Eskelson’s long and accomplished career in the travel and tourism industry and prepare to be impressed. As the organization’s youngest chief executive and only the fourth person to hold the leadership role in its 36-year history, she has made her mark through passionately crafted programs and strategies designed to secure a strong future for business events and tourism in Salt Lake City and Utah.
Since taking the helm at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 16, 2020, Eskelson’s achievements to build back the city’s meetings and… more
Mar 15, 2024
Celebrated every March, Women’s History Month is an opportune time to celebrate the female achievers of the trade show and events industry. In this first in a series of exclusive interviews with several outstanding female industry professionals, we had the pleasure of speaking with Courtney Muller, president of Manifest and Connectiv chief corporate development officer, and Kinsey Fabrizio, the newly appointed president of the Consumer Electronics Association, to find out how their organizations are supporting women, what they advise for the next generation of female leaders and who are the… more
Mar 12, 2024
Trade show and event-related organizations in the U.S. and abroad are appointing new leadership, elevating staff and welcoming new industry professionals to their teams this month.
Consumer Technology Association
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has tapped Kinsey Fabrizio as its new and first female president in the association’s history. Relinquishing the president title, Gary Shapiro, current CTA president and CEO, will continue in the latter role.
Elevated from senior vice president CES and membership, Fabrizio now sits on the association’s executive board and will be… more
Mar 07, 2024
Edlen Electrical Vice President Business Development Julie Pazina was elected Nevada State Senator of District 12 in 2022, and she served in her first legislative session last year. As a first-term Senator, she had eight pieces of legislation signed into law — the most of any freshman legislator.
Related: EDLEN ELECTRICAL EXHIBITIONS' JULIE PAZINA SWORN IN AS NEVADA STATE SENATOR
The Nevada State Legislature has 63 members — 21 senators and 42 assembly people. They meet in session in Carson City for 120 days every other year, so there’s a lot to accomplish in a short period of time.
From… more
Feb 28, 2024
Taking place each February, Black History Month is an ideal time to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black trade show and event industry professionals and renew our commitment to continue fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
We want to recognize and highlight Black industry leaders and share their experiences. This week, we are featuring Julie Coker, president and CEO of San Diego Tourism, Emile Davis, managing director, business development for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Al Hutchison, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore. Find out how their… 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