Blogs
Oct 13, 2012
How do we stay innovative, deliver value to our exhibitors and stay personally motivated about our work when we have less time, money and resources? After almost 13 years with PMA, I feel lucky that I’m still excited about what I do.
Yes, I still have nights of being awake at 3 a.m. because I can’t turn off the ideas in my head, and I still get all “giddy” when I get feedback from exhibitors about something that really worked, no matter how small.
One of the biggest things I struggle with is having enough time to come up with new opportunities and ways to… more
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Oct 13, 2012
I am leaving New Zealand, and I am very sad, partly because I won’t be able to watch rugby 24/7. But watching rugby got me thinking about how you can use this game (my second favorite sport, the first being baseball) to have a proper trade show. After all they call rugby ‘the game of animals played by gentlemen’. Aptly put.
1. Team captains – I was watching one of many matches, and there was a small break out fight on the field. The one referee (and yes, there is only one on field) easily broke it up, and then called over the team captains (not the coaches… more
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Oct 06, 2012
This is the second part of a six-part series on WiFi at events. Let’s explore the topic of WiFi coverage, as this is a topic that most people are somewhat familiar with as it is similar to coverage for cell phones.
To connect via WiFi, your device (be it a computer, cellular phone or tablet) must connect to a wireless access point or router. As with all wireless connections, the further away from the source you are, the weaker the received signal. But distance is not the only factor that affects how far a signal can travel.
It turns out that water is a great… more
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Sep 29, 2012
Are you exhibiting for the first time and feel like David amongst the many Goliaths of the showfloor? Think of any big company in the world and chances are they started out as a small exhibit on the showfloor.
A common goal for all exhibitors is to provide an engaging experience that helps sell products and build a brand. As I write this, there are micro start-ups being developed on kitchen tables across America. In order to grow new business leads, they’ll be debating what to do with their first exhibit presence.
It’s simple to engage, but it takes time and thorough… more
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Sep 27, 2012
This is the first of a six-part series of articles about staying connected while at an event.
For better or worse, we live in a world where we are always connected. I, for one, wake up in the morning and, before doing anything else, grab my phone and see what emails I’ve received overnight.
At the end of the day, the last things I do before falling asleep are read the New York Times online and check the Asian stock markets to get a glimpse of “tomorrow’s” news. Just the thought of not having access to the internet for a meaningful amount of time is nearly… more
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Sep 16, 2012
You can tell when you really need to buy a new car: Small rust holes merging into bigger rust holes; the billows of smoke from burning oil; the engine that is so loud you have to shout to be heard.
But what about your trade show displays? What similar clues hint that it’s time to send your display to the junk yard and start over? You’ll know it’s time if you’ve experienced any of these:
The colors on your trade show booth are out of fashion – again.
All the people in your exhibit photos have big 80’s hair.
Your booth… more
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Sep 16, 2012
There was chatter on Twitter recently about conference speaking. Julius Solaris (Founder of the Event Manager Blog) said "Seems that most advice on giving speeches is focused on short time slots. What about longer 1 hour + slots?"
Great question.
Over the past few years there has been a lot of focus on the short presentation. The explosive success of TED and TEDx talks (in person and online) has mistakenly lead many to believe that "short is better". Many event planners profess they want to "be like TED" and thus are going to limit their… more
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Sep 03, 2012
As anyone who is familiar with the event industry knows, the recession has been tough on our business in more ways than one.
And, even with more people attending events recently, there still are pressures on the industry, especially in light of overspending by government agencies that has resulted in calls for travel to be severely restricted, the U.S. economy and unemployment rate is not exactly on sure footing and the global economy also has its problems.
So, it was with complete and utter shock that I started seeing a series of Tweets going out by a virtual event company called ON24 with… more
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Aug 29, 2012
I was recently at the Disney parks and the atmosphere and genuine happiness made me think – wouldn’t it be nice if my trade show can run like this? So let’s see if we can take away any insight from the Happiest Place on Earth for our next trade show.
1. It is all about the experience. Disney is set up where everything, and I mean everything, is about having the greatest experience possible. Whether you are waiting in line for a ride, or waiting in line to buy food, or waiting in line to purchase something, you still feel like you are experiencing Disney. Every section of… more
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Aug 29, 2012
Attending a multiday association conference (or other event) can be inspirational and chalked full of education.
There is a lot of industry information. Some of the best networking around. Tons of good food. Beneficial investment of time and fun, fun, fun!!!
It can also be exhausting. The long days followed by the happy-hours and other parties can leave anyone feeling the pain once they get home.
Plus, being out of the office all week can leave you with a full e-mail inbox and a to-do list a mile long.
Yet, to maximize the ROI from attending the event, there are a few things you… more
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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