News

Aug 27, 2016
In the late 1800s, the need for safe drinking water was a critical issue. So, in March of 1881, 22 men representing water utilities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee met on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis for the first of what would eventually become the Annual Conference & Exposition of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Attendance wasn’t officially recorded until 1965 in Portland, Oregon, where 3,857 attended. When exhibits were formally added in 1979 in San Francisco, there were 7,195 attendees and 299 exhibit booths. The event… more
Aug 27, 2016
The Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched its first 360-degree virtual reality video featuring one-of-a-kind augmented reality graphics and a unique take on the 360-degree viewing experience. The video highlights the destination’s award-winning culinary scene and is the first of three virtual reality projects to be released in the coming months. Viewers are immersed in a culinary journey from farm to fork as they are guided through 10 local establishments including 8UP, Crescent Hill Craft House, Harvest, Jack Fry’s, Mike Linnigs, Monnik, Proof on Main, The… more
Aug 27, 2016
The Virtual Edge Institute [VEI] and Meetings + Conventions Calgary announced fall scholarship applications now are being accepted for VEI’s Digital Event Strategist [DES] newly updated course and certification exam. The scholarships support business event organizers seeking to further their education in digital extensions and live streams of events. Meetings + Conventions Calgary is the exclusive sponsor of these scholarships which support the application, online course and exam fees – a $1000+ USD value. The scholarship winners will participate in the next DES LIVE Online course… more
Aug 24, 2016
Exposition Development Company (ExpoDevCo) and Questex will partner on the launch of the Pennsylvania Foodservice Expo, an annual trade show serving the Restaurant, Foodservice, Nightlife and Hospitality industry in Pennsylvania. The inaugural show will be held Oct. 23-24, 2017, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The partnership and launch will incorporate Questex’s Nightclub & Bar brand by bringing the concept to the East Coast in a variety of tasting pavilions scattered throughout the showfloor. “These new partnerships are extremely exciting, as they… more
Aug 23, 2016
The 16th Shanghai International Children Baby and Maternity Products Industry Expo (CBME China 2016) closed its three-day run at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) July 22 with 85,111 trade buyers in attendance. There also were 2,366 suppliers (+10.2% YOY) representing 3,673 brands (+29.5% YOY) showcased their latest products in 223,305 square meters of exhibition space (+8.9% YOY). 32% were from overseas brands. A number of brands in attendance included: Angel’s Face, Babience Baby Coccole, Babyauto, Baby's Only Organic, Babystyle, Bellamy, Besafe, Brevi, Cocolico,… more
Aug 23, 2016
Sudesh Sharma has been appointed as Deputy Director of Operations of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). The new role is part of a plan to create internal support and succession planning. With 25 years of experience in hotel, banquet and convention industry, Sharma is well-positioned to manage various large-scale conferences, conventions and trade shows held in KLCC. Alan Pryor, General Manager of KLCC commented, “I am pleased to welcome Sharma to the team and I believe his extensive industry experience will undoubtedly be an add asset to the Centre. His appointment reflects our… more
Aug 23, 2016
Committing to venue and event sustainability, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is the first organization in Hong Kong to attain the ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System certification.   Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) took a further step to launch the LoveGreen Meeting Package, which can help event organizers to meet their corporate responsibility goals. In the package, HML aims to offer green meeting experiences to event organizers and delegates from event setting, menu options to after event… more
Aug 23, 2016
Trade Show News Network is excited to announce the five finalists for our TSNN “Best of Show” awards. We asked the shows to simply tell us why they felt their show was ‘best’, and the ones below exemplified innovation in the trade show industry. Now, they need all of YOU to vote for which one you think deserves to be named the overall BEST show. The overall winner will be announced at the TSNN Awards Oct. 29 in Atlantic City, N.J, The TSNN Awards honors the top 50 fastest-growing shows in the U.S. during a three-day weekend celebration. The deadline to vote is Sept. 16. Below are… more
Aug 23, 2016
The 16th Shanghai International Children Baby and Maternity Products Industry Expo (CBME China 2016) closed its three-day run at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) July 22 with 85,111 trade buyers in attendance. There also were 2,366 suppliers (+10.2% YOY) representing 3,673 brands (+29.5% YOY) showcased their latest products in 223,305 square meters of exhibition space (+8.9% YOY). 32% were from overseas brands. A number of brands in attendance included: Angel’s Face, Babience Baby Coccole, Babyauto, Baby's Only Organic, Babystyle, Bellamy, Besafe, Brevi, Cocolico,… more
Aug 23, 2016
Sudesh Sharma has been appointed as Deputy Director of Operations of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). The new role is part of a plan to create internal support and succession planning. With 25 years of experience in hotel, banquet and convention industry, Sharma is well-positioned to manage various large-scale conferences, conventions and trade shows held in KLCC. Alan Pryor, General Manager of KLCC commented, “I am pleased to welcome Sharma to the team and I believe his extensive industry experience will undoubtedly be an add asset to the Centre. His appointment reflects our… 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