Jul 06, 2013
The start of summer has kicked off with a steady stream of hires and promotions at both show management companies, convention and visitors bureaus and supplier companies, signaling a continued healthy environment for the trade show industry. The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau promoted of Rachel Peavy to director of public relations. In her new role, Peavy will create and implement campaigns to support ACVB marketing, sales and tourism programs. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, hired former Reed Exhibitions… more
Jul 06, 2013
For the “Best of Show” award, we are leaving it up to you to tell us why you think your show is the BEST. This is the third year for this special award, and five nominees will be invited to the TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence Nov. 1-3 in Reno, Nev. The overall winner will be announced at the gala awards celebration Nov. 2. To be considered, please, submit your show HERE. There is no specific criterion for the award. Be creative! What challenge(s) did the show face? What was the “Best of Show” solution(s)? And what were the overall results and impact on the show? What… more
Jul 04, 2013
Good news continues for the global exhibition industry; for first time since 2008, the outlook is positive, with a majority of companies in all regions declaring increases in turnover, according to UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s11th Global Barometer survey on the state of the exhibition industry. In addition, all regions indicated three companies out of four expected a turnover increase by the first half of 2014. The Americas and Asia/Pacific region has been predicting an increase since 2010, joined by the Middle East and Africa last year and now Europe,… more
Jul 01, 2013
Atlanta-based Urban Expositions recently bought Sculpture Objects Functional Art + Design Fair (SOFA) Chicago, the largest and longest running art fair in the Windy City, from The Art Fair Company. "We are thrilled to take ownership of an event that is so well known and respected by galleries, collectors, museum curators, artists, dealers and countless other members of the international art and design communities," says Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions.  Mark Lyman, SOFA Chicago founder and president of The Art Fair Company, will continue his involvement in a… more
Jun 30, 2013
Topped by private equity firm ONEX’ $950 million buy of Nielsen Expositions, trade show industry deal values more than doubled in the first half of this year, compared to the same time period last year. As tracked by the The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. in their “JEGI 1H 2013 M&A Overview”, the first half of 2013 saw $1.24 billion in exhibitions and conferences deals, compared with last year’s first half total of $435 million. The number of deals, however, remained relatively flat, with 30 deals in the first half of 2013, compared with last year’s same time… more
Jun 30, 2013
Already in London, New York and Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronics Association will expand its International CES Unveiled event series to two new locations – Paris and Tel Aviv. The CES Unveiled event series is a ‘taste’ of the annual event in January in Las Vegas that brings together technology companies, media and key influencers. “The events will debut global research, CES news and showcase products and technologies,” according to organizers. Tabletop product displays and networking portions of the CES Unveiled events will offer the opportunity for media,… more
Jun 30, 2013
Attendees will be getting a two-for-one by having two industry meetings collocate for the first time this year – the American Society of Association Executive's (ASAE) Annual Meeting and the International Association of exhibitions and Events’ Midyear Meeting. The ASAE meeting will run Aug. 3-6 and IAEE’s meeting will run Aug. 5-7, both in Atlanta. The collocation announcement was made at IAEE’s annual meeting in December by the organization’s president, David Dubois and John Graham, president and CEO of ASAE.   “This partnership makes sense,… more
Jun 26, 2013
Big-name brands such as Target, Walmart and the Food Network have dropped celebrity chef Paula Deen after she admitted during a recent deposition to using a racial epithet in the past. However, not only are there other retailers, but there also is The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show that have made the choice to stick by her. Deen is on the schedule as a presenter at The Tiny Kitchen’s MetroCooking Dallas – The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show Sept. 21-22 at the Dallas Convention Center, as well as two other shows this year. MetroCooking Dallas’… more
Jun 25, 2013
J. Spargo & Associates has been busy lately, snagging several new pieces of medical-event related business ranging from shows focused on nephrology to oncology. “We are delighted to welcome our latest medical association clients to the JS&A family. Our expertise in the medical marketplace and our ability to deliver services and deploy best practices to a wide variety of medical trade shows allows us to lower operational costs for our clients,” said Susan Bracken, president and CEO of JS&A. She added, “Our healthcare team is equipped to launch broader… more
Jun 25, 2013
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ Asian Attractions Expo 2013, held June 4-7 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at Marina Bay Sands, broke previous attendance records, with 5,350 professionals. Billed as the largest expo of its kind in the region, the four-day event also had a record number of exhibiting companies displaying the newest products and services on the largest trade showfloor in the event’s history, according to show officials. In addition, the IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers was sold out and attendance was strong… 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