News

Apr 28, 2015
The 2015 AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) Annual Meeting and Exhibition, held April 18–22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, highlighted the latest, most exciting discoveries in every area of cancer research. The annual meeting attracted a record-breaking 19,250 attendees, which was up 4 percent from last year’s meeting held in San Diego. While Philadelphia is more convenient to those traveling from Europe and is situated midway between New York and Washington D.C., Pam Ballinger, senior director of meetings and exhibits at the AACR, felt convenience was not… more
Apr 28, 2015
As a result of violent protests in Baltimore that broke out following the funeral of Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody, the Door and Hardware Institute decided to cancel its CoNEXTions 2015 trade show, which was scheduled April 29-May 1 at the Baltimore Convention Center. “The DHI Board of Governors has discussed this issue in great detail this evening, with the overriding concern of the safety of our attendees while at our event in Baltimore,” DHI officials said in a letter on the show’s Web site. The letter continued, “With that primary concern in mind, they have unanimously… more
Apr 27, 2015
TSNN has launched a new e-newsletter – TSNN Venue News – that will be geared toward any and all news about the world of venues in which shows and events are held. Adding to its comprehensive suite of existing e-newsletters, TSNN Venue News will have up-to-date stories on venue construction and expansion projects, new management contracts, technological upgrades, people on the move and any other news that comes out of the venue universe. To submit any news, please send to TSNN President Rachel Wimberly rwimberly@tsnn.com. To subscribe to the TSNN Venue News e-newsletter, go HERE. Our goal… more
Apr 27, 2015
The Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association has launched a new look to further support their enhanced member benefits, education and support for professionals in healthcare exhibit marketing, according to the association. HCEA’s brand new logo features three squares in three different colors representing the three member types Regular, Associate and Supporting. “As the three squares in the logo come together as one, so too, do the three HCEA member types for our programming and events,” said Mike Pennington, executive vice president for HCEA. By re-introducing the brand, HCEA is… more
Apr 27, 2015
The Anaheim Convention Center kicked off their seventh betterment expansion with a ground breaking ceremony last week. Tom Morton, executive director, Convention, Sports and Entertainment, started the ceremony with a focus on the future, as well as thanks to the many individuals who helped make the expansion possible. “With this 7th betterment expansion, the ACC will continue to be the largest convention facility on the West Coast,” he said. “This expansion is about the future, in particular, meeting the demands of the future for the shows that continue to grow.” Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Lucille… more
Apr 26, 2015
Last week, Google made a significant update to its mobile search engine algorithm. To enable users to find sites that they can browse quickly on their mobile devices, the mobile-friendliness of a web page is now a crucial factor in Google’s ranking for mobile searches.  To quote Google, “users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.” Google recommends webmasters adopt one of the following three ways to go mobile: responsive web design, dynamic serving and separate URLs. But most importantly, irrespective of… more
Apr 26, 2015
I sat in on a most interesting session at the SISO CEO Summit in USA last week. The “Big Guns” were on stage - Mike Rusbridge Chairman Reed Exhibitions, Joe Loggia CEO UBM / Advanstar, David Kieselstein CEO Penton - all discussing their strategies to increase attendance at their events.   Not surprisingly, they are investing heavily developing in-house technology to assist in this strategy. What shocked me was the amount of money they admitted to investing – on average 5% of revenue – annually!   That’s the problem with technology. You can… more
Apr 26, 2015
I sat in on a most interesting session at the SISO CEO Summit in USA last week. The “Big Guns” were on stage - Mike Rusbridge Chairman Reed Exhibitions, Joe Loggia CEO UBM / Advanstar, David Kieselstein CEO Penton - all discussing their strategies to increase attendance at their events.   Not surprisingly, they are investing heavily developing in-house technology to assist in this strategy. What shocked me was the amount of money they admitted to investing – on average 5% of revenue – annually!   That’s the problem with technology. You can… more
Apr 26, 2015
Last week, Google made a significant update to its mobile search engine algorithm. To enable users to find sites that they can browse quickly on their mobile devices, the mobile-friendliness of a web page is now a crucial factor in Google’s ranking for mobile searches.  To quote Google, “users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.” Google recommends webmasters adopt one of the following three ways to go mobile: responsive web design, dynamic serving and separate URLs. But most importantly, irrespective of… more
Apr 24, 2015
In 2014, San Diego Convention Center diverted 60 percent of all event waste, approximately 1,120 tons, from local landfills, setting a new record. The effort is part of the City of San Diego’s initiative to reach 75 percent diversion by 2020 and zero waste by 2040. “We are proud of our ongoing success minimizing the environmental impact of meetings in our facility and our team is committed to building on our strong record.” said Carol Wallace, president & CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. Initial recycling efforts at the convention center began in 1990 with 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