More Conferences Canceled as Southeast Prepares for Hurricane Dorian

September 3, 2019
Hurricane Dorian

As Hurricane Dorian ambles its way toward the Southeastern United States, it’s wreaking more havoc on conferences and conventions. Show organizers are taking precautions to protect the safety of those traveling to events — as well as the teams helping to execute them locally — by canceling or postponing those scheduled this week.

In Orlando, Surf Expo and Imprinted Sportswear Show, both slated to take place Sept. 5-7 at Orange County Convention Center, have been canceled. Hotel reservations will be automatically cancelled (with no fees incurred) and attendees were notified via email.

“We understand that Surf Expo plays an important part in connecting buyers and sellers… but travel and logistical difficulties — and, more importantly, our customers’ safety — is at the forefront of our minds,” said Roy Turner, show director.

He continued, “Given the state of affairs regarding Hurricane Dorian today, we had no choice but to cancel Surf Expo. We recognize that many of our customers will be directly impacted by Hurricane Dorian and feel their focus should be on their families, businesses and community at this time.”

This year’s FLAEYC Conference, the annual event for Florida Association for the Education of Young Children that was scheduled to take place Sept. 4-8 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, has been canceled by the organization's board of directors. 

The board conveyed the following reasons in an official statement: “FLAEYC is committed to the safety and wellbeing of the nearly 2,000 persons (hotel staff, contractors, vendors, exhibitors, presenters, attendees, etc.) involved with our conference. The Board has made this decision with them in mind. They belong with their families, able to stay put or evacuate to safety together. Emergency workers need roads and interstates to be as clear as possible.”

Also in Orlando, the Florida RV Trade Association has canceled its state members-only convention that was planned for Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek for Sept. 5-8. 

Georgia Association of Realtors canceled its annual conference and expo that was planned for Sept. 4-7 at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. All registrations will be refunded over the next 10 days, and hotel reservations have automatically been canceled at the Sawgrass Marriott.

"Due to the size of this storm, travel will likely be treacherous in the lower half of our state and in Florida for several days. The safety of our members is our top priority, and we agreed that we didn’t want to put anyone in harm’s way traveling to the conference,” said Chris Jiles, 2019 president of Georgia Realtors.

Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Ga., has been under a mandatory evacuation order since noon on Sept. 2. The convention center reports two groups affected by this so far. A Schluter Systems conference and a United Way luncheon, both scheduled for this week, have been postponed.

Parts of the 18th annual Mustang Week, scheduled to take place this week in Myrtle Beach, S.C., have been canceled. Officials announced via Facebook yesterday that all track events for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were canceled, and that officials will continue to monitor the forecast before making a decision about Friday’s car show and Saturday’s cruise event.

In Columbia, S.C., officials with South Carolina’s Water Associations canceled the WEASC Mid Year Meeting planned for Sept. 5 at Pine Island Club. The news was announced via a video on Facebook.

Taking extra precaution, Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina is closing down Wednesday and Thursday, opening back Friday if the storm has passed, the resort’s PR team reports.

Meanwhile, North Carolina’s coastal cities are keeping an eye on the storm while taking a better-safe-than-sorry approach. 

According to Visit North Carolina officials, Wilmington Boat Show, which was set for Sept. 6-8 at the Wilmington Convention Center in Wilmington, N.C., is the only cancelation so far. However, with Dare County, Ocracoke Island, Oak Island, Bald Head and Cape Lookout all under mandatory evacuation orders, more cancelations are expected.

We will continue to update this story as more cancelations are reported. To all our friends along the Southeastern coastline, please be safe and know that you’re in our thoughts.

Has your meeting or conference been canceled due to Hurricane Dorian? Please email kogletree@tsnn.com to share more information and we’ll help spread the word.

Photo credit: CNN.com

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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