Experts & Opinions
Jul 14, 2014
As the event industry continues to adopt and grow its digital presence through various social networks, we always need to zero-base and remember why we are doing it. First off, it allows organizers and everyone at the show to interact with everyone else on multiple levels for lots of different reasons in basically real-time like never before. Below are a few reason why your show needs to go digital:
1. Customer service and feedback
Shows are busy, people are running around and things tend to go wrong sometimes – this is where twitter can be amazing! If you have an active account,… more
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Jul 07, 2014
In the past (almost) nine years of covering the trade show industry for first Tradeshow Week magazine and now Trade Show News Network, I have lost count the number of times I have read short-sighted, ill-informed and one-sided articles, op-eds, etc., about a city’s choice to build or expand a subsidized convention center or an adjacent hotel.
Most recently, I read an op-ed written by Steven Pearlstein for The Washington Post that lambasted the opening of a new headquarter hotel – Marriott Marquis – next to the Walter E. Washington (D.C.) Convention Center.
His op-ed hit all… more
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Jul 04, 2014
Trade shows are opportunities, as we all know, and it's critical to know how to make the most of them for success.
Spend time researching the event ahead of time to find out what your competitors are doing is essential and how you’re going to drive traffic to your tradeshow booth is a requirement.
Head into the event with clearly stated goals and a well-designed booth and presentation. Once you're there, use these tips to leverage the event for your business' success.
1. Stay Upbeat
It's easy to get discouraged when person after person walks by your trade… more
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Jun 28, 2014
There’s no doubt that by now, you’ve heard of content marketing. Maybe you’re even in the process of implementing it for your own business. Being in marketing myself, the concept had been on my radar for some time.
However, it wasn’t until taking part in a particularly enlightening #Expochat (I find myself repeating this sentence quite often) earlier this year on content marketing for shows/exhibitors that I realized the power it held for trade shows.
As attendees continue to expect more from their trade show experience than a sales pitch, exhibitors have to be ready… more
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Jun 28, 2014
You don’t need a law degree to grasp the simple rules of trade show success. To ensure you don’t get jailed by poor trade show performance, or judged guilty of wasting your company’s scarce marketing resources, don’t break these 10 laws:
1. Know why you exhibit before you do anything else
Just as intent is an important factor in the law, it’s essential in exhibiting. Too often exhibitors reserve a booth at a show without knowing why they are going in the first place. Without the guiding light of an overriding goal, they can’t shape their exhibit to… more
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Jun 21, 2014
Why do B2B buyers continue to attend trade shows by the tens of millions, rather than make all their purchases online? Because they want to meet you face to face, to see for themselves what the people who work for your company are really like, and if your company is trustworthy enough to do business with.6-reasons
Well, attendees won’t trust your company if your booth staffers do these 6 things:
1. Your staffers ignore attendees
It’s hard to believe, but far too often attendees walk into a booth and are ignored by booth staffers – maybe even your booth staffers. … more
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Jun 13, 2014
2010 was one of the best years of my life. Why? I graduated from college and was selected to work at one of the world’s largest sporting events, the FIFA World Cup. Many Americans don’t understand the magnitude of this event and quite frankly, I don’t blame them. The NBA,NFL, MLB and NHL are powerhouses. We look forward to the Super Bowl, the Finals, the World Series and the Stanley Cup (amongst others, I know, but these are the most talked about, in my opinion).
Americans tend to forget the global reach of soccer.… more
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Jun 13, 2014
It’s time to think outside of the box when it comes to your next tradeshow because our industry is in need of a green makeover. There have been countless innovations in green that have led to a better, more sustainable way of life and we can take those innovations and creatively utilize them to create greener events.
Here are a few examples, but I know there are more out there and I want you to get outside the box with me and share them with us in the comments.
1. Bike Sharing -.Bike sharing has taken off in cities like Miami Beach, Boston,… more
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Jun 07, 2014
Trade shows are a valuable marketing medium. But they are harder than they look. Exhibit marketers with good intentions still can make preventable mistakes. Your marketing dollars can generate profitable sales leads at trade shows, but not if you trip into these 5 common pitfalls:
1. Focusing On Logistics But Ignoring Marketing
Trade shows require an attention to detail and awesome organization skills. But if marketing is ignored, you may get a dull display delivered on-time to an empty booth at the wrong show. The pitfall here is that because the logistic needs must be attended to, the… more
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Jun 06, 2014
In my last blog about Near Field Communications(NFC) I mentioned that the industry is watching to see if Apple will throw its weight behind NFC or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) technology.
Bluetooth Smart, and iBeacon™ all refer to Bluetooth low energy wireless technology. It consumes only a fraction of the power of classic Bluetooth radios, expanding wireless to devices like watches, toys, gaming devices, and more. Plus, they could go as long as a year on one charge!
Of course, for event marketers, the goal is to increase engagement and drive ROI. Sensor… 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