News

Mar 09, 2023
In the largest post-pandemic exhibition acquisition deal by far, Informa has bought Tarsus Group from private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners for $940 million. The acquisition was funded with cash and $210m of new Informa shares. "We have long admired the Tarsus business which, like Informa, has been built around major brands in attractive, specialist B2B markets in the growing regions of Asia, China, the Middle East and the Americas,” said Informa Group CEO Stephen A. Carter. The Informa Board believes the combination is both commercially and financially compelling, with strong… more
Mar 07, 2023
The steady influx of new hires and promotions continues as trade shows move full steam ahead in 2023. Take a look at who’s landing new career opportunities or moving up the ladder at event-related organizations across the U.S. and abroad!  ASM Global  Global venue management and event strategy leader ASM Global has appointed 20-year San Francisco travel and convention veteran Leonie Patrick as the new general manager for the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.   In her new role, Patrick will work closely with ASM Global to continue attracting business to San Francisco’s… more
Mar 06, 2023
Oftentimes, the careers we imagine for ourselves as children aren’t necessarily what we end up pursuing as adults. Ask Phil Evans about his path into the culinary arts and he’ll tell you a similar story. “My parents were the driving force for me to get into the culinary industry,” Evans explains. “I actually wanted to be a schoolteacher, but I grew up in the kitchen cooking with my grandmother and then my mother, so it came to me naturally. I inevitably fell in love with cooking.”  Now, as executive chef at Sodexo Live!, Evans boasts an extensive background in fine dining, catering and… more
Mar 03, 2023
Freeman, a leading global event producer, and Sessionboard, a next-generation SaaS provider, announced a strategic partnership that provides Freeman customers with enhanced speaker and content management technology solutions.   The partnership is a testament to Freeman's mission to redefine live for a new era, whether virtual, in-person or hybrid, with a data-driven approach and the industry's largest network of experts, and Sessionboard's quest to simplify the complex workflows and disjointed communications that exist around speaker and content management. “Partnerships like… more
Mar 03, 2023
Early bird discounts are still popular, but half of trade show attendees are registering less than one month out, according to part two of TSNN’s attendee registration survey. According to the survey, 83 percent of show organizers offer early bird discounts or a limited number of tickets for attendee registration, while only 17 percent do not. “Early bird discounts continue to influence registration patterns, although attendees tend to register later in the show cycle now, which has shifted the early bird strategy on some events,” said Jacy Barker, senior director of marketing services at… more
Mar 01, 2023
Pre-teen girls certainly have a lot of things on their minds but hatching a business—let alone brainstorming best marketing practices for its success—ordinarily aren’t some of them. Cathy Schlosberg, however, was an extraordinary girl, and those were the exact thoughts swirling through her 12-year-old brain when she and her brother came up with the idea to launch a catering business servicing events for their parents and parents’ friends. “That’s where my career in marketing and hospitality began,” Schlosberg said of the catering operation in her hometown of Framingham, Mass. “We called… more
Feb 28, 2023
For a large B2B trade show, there’s nothing better than starting off a new year with robust, record-breaking participation. Case in point: Dallas Market Center’s January Apparel & Accessories Market, the largest U.S. marketplace for women’s apparel, accessories and footwear. Held Jan. 10-13, the venue’s largest event in years enjoyed an overall attendance increase versus pre-pandemic shows and featured an expanded marketplace of approximately 750 exhibitors, including new permanent showrooms and temporary exhibitors.  In addition to overall participation gains, the January show welcomed… more
Feb 27, 2023
The U.S. will soon be getting a new global B2B event focused on data, analytics and machine learning and artificial intelligence (MLAI). Set to launch April 10-11, 2024 at Javits Center in New York City, Data Universe will bring together businesses and industry professionals representing the entire data universe, including analytics, MLAI, strategy, operations, governance and more.  Created and produced by leading global event producer RX, the annual education-led event will feature groundbreaking content and will build in collaboration with RX’s leading data event in the UK, Big Data LDN (… more
Feb 24, 2023
Leading event tech company Hubilo Technologies has purchased on-site event tech provider fielddrive in an effort to bolster its in-person event solutions. With access to greater resources, data and market insights, the combined company aims to deliver leading products and customer experiences as well as attract more top talent.  “The two companies combined really pools our products, expertise and talent, ensuring that we can deliver digital, hybrid and in-person events anywhere in the world,” said Vaibhav Jain, founder and CEO of Hubilo, adding that fielddrive will run as an independent… more
Feb 24, 2023
Taking place each February, Black History Month is an ideal time to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black people in the events industry and beyond and renew our commitment to continue fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). TSNN checked in with six industry leaders to find out how their organizations support the Black community and get their advice on championing DEI. Desirée Knight, Senior Director, Meetings and Events, American Psychological Association; 2023 Chair of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)   What tips would you share with fellow event… 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