Blogs

Feb 22, 2013
A little more than12 years ago at a gathering of top tradeshow organizers in Santa Barbara, Calif., the keynote speaker – himself an organizer who had just bought one of the largest shows and most well-known show groups in the U.S – stunned the room by telling his audience:  “You are nothing but a bunch of concrete salesmen” and then continued to skewer them for running, in his opinion, unsophisticated businesses, where they bought floor space at a discount and resold it at a premium. He went on to say that he was going to single-handedly change the exhibition… more
Feb 14, 2013
I just read a blog by Rachel O’Sullivan on checking after-show invoices.  She focused on material handling fees, but I have to say, you probably need to check all invoices for services you get at the show for accuracy. Human error There are times when your electrician or plumber or materials handler marks things for your booth as incorrect.  Put another way, how many times have you received crates that didn’t belong to you (that has happened to me a couple of times) or have had to go walking around a show floor for a clearly marked crate for your booth? (I push back if… more
Feb 09, 2013
It’s great to hear visitors to your trade show booth say things like, “You’ve got just what I need!” or “We love working with your company!” or “Your booth really caught my eye!” But because trade shows are so complicated, it’s possible that, no matter how much you prepare, something could go wrong.  And as the trade show manager, you’re probably the first one who’s going to hear about it. How bad could it be?  Well, hearing any of these 21 things in your trade show exhibit will sound as bad as fingernails on a… more
Feb 02, 2013
In a previous blog post, I shared how I helped my clients at the American College Health Association incorporate wellness into their events by providing healthier food options. While that was a great start, we wanted to take the wellness program even further. A little creativity was in order, but when it was all said and done, the end results turned out to be more successful than we imagined. After the menus were adjusted, the second part of wellness was to get people up and moving. Of course, we didn’t want to take away time from all the sessions, as education was the focus of the… more
Jan 26, 2013
When you’re shopping for your next trade show display, it’s all too easy to focus just on the price.  After all, price is easy to judge – whoever costs the least, wins. And yet, price is not the same as value.  When you buy based on value, you find that spending a little more money may get you a lot more value in return. So here are 10 other criteria beyond price that experienced exhibit buyers know to look for. Let’s start with the display: 1.  Quality:  Be careful about buying a disposable display online, only to last for a show or two.  A… more
Jan 26, 2013
This is the final part of a six-part series on WiFi at events. The last “C” is all about exercising your freedom of choice, putting the free market to work to ensure you receive the highest quality network for your event at the most competitive price. “I thought my only option was to use the venue’s in-house network” is something we hear far too often. Regardless of the default Internet “exclusivity” clause in your venue contract and event organizer “conventional wisdom”, the FCC’s Telecommunications Act of 1996 protects your freedom… more
Jan 16, 2013
Hybrid Meetings are here to stay! There has been a lot of discussion, and worry, about how online content would impact the meetings industry. When the internet first exploded on the scene there were those who predicted the demise of the live meeting. Would people invest the time and money to travel to conventions if they could see the presentations on their computers? However, in-person gatherings are never going away, as humans are experiential beings who desire to share what they are learning and doing with others. In fact, the meetings industry is expanding again following the couple of… more
Jan 12, 2013
There’s no doubt in my mind that it takes a strong, outspoken and extremely intelligent leader to command an organization like the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The International Consumer Electronics Show is the largest showcase in the technology industry, and when it comes to consumer electronics, they ARE the leader. Last year’s show boasted more than 153,000 attendees who interacted with 3,100 exhibitors covering more than 1.8 million square feet. Who does it take to lead an organization of such size and caliber? Adweekdescribes Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA… more
Dec 31, 2012
As the year comes to an end, we can’t help but think about what we want to achieve in 2013, both personally and professionally. People often want to start fresh each year, and the top resolutions are almost always about healthy living and balanced life styles. As event planners, we can take a lesson from this and make an effort to incorporate wellness into our meetings. So where do you start? The first and most obvious place to begin is your menus. Are they healthy and well balanced with assorted proteins, vegetables, and fruits, or are they sugar-loaded, carbohydrate-rich belly bombs… more
Dec 31, 2012
I am getting on my soap box as we close out 2012.  I see blog after blog talking about the importance of follow up of leads after a trade show.  This should be rather obvious, but clearly a topic where we continue to fall down.  Why go to a trade show and collect leads if you sit on them for months at a time?  I am going to assume we all have the good intention of following up, and something is happening to prevent that.   And, since we are all in holiday mode, with parties a go go, I am going to use that analogy to highlight three areas where I think the issue… 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