Aug 07, 2011
The American Society of Association Executives’ Annual Meeting & Exposition, on tap Aug. 6-9 in St. Louis, attracted 5,400 total participants, which was slightly more than the 5,270 participants that came to last year’s event in Los Angeles.
“We surpassed Los Angeles last year, and we’re really excited about that,” said Kathleen “Kitty” Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, at a press conference on the meeting’s third day.
There also were 672 booths and 400 companies on the showfloor at America… more
Jul 28, 2011
U.K.-based United Business Media bought International Business Events, the owner of the Ecobuild exhibition business, for an initial cash payment of $51 million followed by another $33 million payable during the next 12 months.
UBM acquired the business on behalf of its UBM Built Environment division, according to company officials. Ecobuild’s CEO David Wood will remain with the business until mid-2012.
Ecobuild, an exhibition for sustainable building products, was launched in 2004 and is held annually at ExCeL London.
“Ecobuild is a great show that complements our other businesses in… more
Jul 28, 2011
The first half of this year started off on a high note for U.K.-based Tarsus Group and looks to be even better going into the second half with the recent release of the company’s Interim Results ending June 30.
Overall revenue was $32 million, a 14-percent increase, compared with $28 million in 2010. Like-for-like revenues also were up 7 percent, compared with 2010, and adjusted pre-tax profits were $987,000, down from $1.8 million during the same period last year.
The company attributed the drop to increased interest costs in the period before receipt of proceeds from equity… more
Jun 20, 2011
Dallas-based Freeman bought all three companies owned by San Francisco-based Wheelhouse Solutions – Champion Exposition Services, George Fern Exposition & Services and Immersa Marketing – for an undisclosed sum. The transaction closes June 21.
Joe Popolo, CEO of Freeman, said the company always is looking to expand its business, and acquiring all three companies is not only a strategic fit, but also a cultural fit.
“Champion is known for great creative and technology … we believe we will also have the best team of employees,” he added. “We… more
Jun 19, 2011
U.K.-based United Business Media bought a 70-percent stake in the Catersource Conference & Trade Show and sister show Event Solutions on behalf of UBM Live for $5 million.
Catersource services the catering industry, and Event Solutions services the event planning industry.
Catersource will become part of UBM Live, adding to UBM Live’s portfolio of events serving the Food & Leisure industries both in the United States and internationally.
The portfolio includes brands such as Cruise Shipping, Food Ingredients, Health Ingredients, Leisure Industry Week and Confex.… more
May 08, 2011
The Houston-based Offshore Technology Conference boasted a 29-year attendance high for its recent show held at Reliant Park.
The show, held May 2-5, had 78,150 attendees, which was up 8 percent from last year and surpassed the 2010 total of 72,025.
The sold out trade show also was the largest since 1982 at 603,000 square feet, up from 568,000 square feet in 2010. The event had 2,520 companies from 40 countries, including 306 new exhibitors this year and added exhibitors from Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines.
New this year was the OTC Parkway, spanning from Reliant… more
Apr 27, 2011
The first part of this year has started off on a bright note for the Minneapolis Convention Center, with several consumer shows scoring increases in attendance, compared with last year. The shows ranged from a 6-percent increase all the way to a 26-percent increase in attendance.
The shows that reported higher attendance were the Minneapolis Boat Show, Minneapolis RV, Vacation & Camping Show, Minneapolis Home and Garden Show, Twin Cities Auto Show and Northwest Sportshow.
Besides more people at the shows, they also opened their wallets once they were there on the showfloor and… more
Dec 13, 2010
Just a year and a half after Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. bought the semiannual California Gift Show from dmg world media, MMPI has breathed new life into a show that had seen declines in recent years.
On the show’s opening day, held Jan. 21-24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Jan. 18-24 at MMPI’s nearby L.A. Mart permanent and temporary showrooms, the showfloor at the LACC was bustling with buyers looking for new products and exhibitors eager to shake off the gloom of tough recessionary times.
Exhibitor Jamie Ferling, owner of San Fernando, Calif.-based resort t-shirt company… more
Jan 10, 0018
On what was a packed day on the bustling CES showfloor, the massive consumer electronics show, a power blackout occurred at the Las Vegas Convention Center impacting meeting rooms in the North and South Halls for approximately two hours.
"Today at approximately 11:15 AM (PST), the Central Hall and South Hall bridge meeting rooms at the Las Vegas Convention Center lost power. Power in the South Hall was restored within minutes, and power has now been fully restored to all areas. A preliminary assessment indicates that condensation from heavy rainfall caused a flashover on one of the… more
When it comes to the age-old topic of sponsorships, you can never have enough new ideas. With event budgets constantly challenging you to do more with less, it’s important to explore untapped resources for new cash flow. A recent study shows that 63 percent of event organizers rely on sponsorships as a significant source of revenue.
Are you one of those organizations? If so, you need to be creating high-value sponsorship packages your sponsors won’t can’t afford to miss.
To learn how, please join us on our next Ask Me Anything chat, “Rethinking Assets to Increase Event + Sponsorship Revenue… more
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.