News
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
Despite a string of bombings two weeks ago, the calendar of events taking place in Thailand for the rest of this year remain full and cover everything from meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions and mega events, with total of 154 business events scheduled to be held between now until the December 2016, according to the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
Among the big events coming up in Thailand August and September 2016 are two meetings and incentives events in Phuket – Phuket is also popular with big conventions and meetings.
Planned Aug. 18-21is the Thailand Incentive… more
Aug 23, 2016
International Pizza Expo, a pizzeria business-to-business trade show owned by Emerald Expositions, will launch a new two-day trade show at the Atlantic City Convention Center that will focus on pizzerias and Italian restaurants.
“This is in no way a replacement to Pizza Expo for East Coast pizzeria operators and their staffs, but more of an opportunity to let them be a part of this regional two-day experience,” said Bill Oakley, group show director – Food Group. “Most of our eastern U.S. attendees have two days of travel in order to attend the Expo, making it difficult to attend the entire… more
Aug 23, 2016
Hainan Airlines recently filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch an historic new route connecting Las Vegas to Beijing, the first-ever nonstop flight between Las Vegas and Mainland China. The service will begin Dec. 2 and will initially operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Chinese tourists are one of the fastest-growing and largest-spending groups of international visitors to Las Vegas. With the reciprocal 10-year tourist visas and the introduction of hotels, programming and amenities geared toward Chinese visitors, Las Vegas has established… more
Aug 23, 2016
The expansion project of Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) is scheduled to be completed in November 2016. The venue’s management anticipates that US$170 million renovation and expansion will better position BITEC to attract major international concerts and theatre shows.
The expanded BITEC will feature three new event halls, 12 meeting rooms, three convention halls, retail and dining areas, an outdoor concert area and a mixed-use office building. More convenient transportation options such as the SkyTrain connection are included in the plans. After construction is… more
Aug 23, 2016
Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau has decided to form a dedicated body to coordinate the promotion, branding and facilitation of MICE events in Kuala Lumpur.
As a part of the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015-2025, this initiative aims to develop a Kuala Lumpur-specific MICE unit with focused strategies and initiatives. The new body will provide event support and facilitation for organisers as well as assistance such as liaising with Kuala Lumpur City Hall for event approvals.
Noraza Yusof, General Manager at Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, said that the dedicated unit will be managed by KLTB. It… more
Aug 23, 2016
An economic impact study, commissioned by the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA), concludes that the exhibition industry contributed HK$52.9 billion (US$6.8 billion) to Hong Kong’s economy in terms of expenditure in 2014, which was equivalent to 2.3% of the city’s total GDP. That represents a 29% increase from the previous study covering 2012. According to the study, the industry’s compound annual growth rate was 13.9%.
International exhibition visitors and exhibitors reportedly spent on average 61% more than general overnight tourists. Visitor expenditure… more
Aug 22, 2016
Close to 4,800 association professionals and industry partners took part in the 2016 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, held last week in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Attendees took part in more than 120 education sessions, two keynotes and five Game Changers, as well as 20-plus OpenSpace pop-ups and events. ASAE Foundation’s The Classic event also sold out for the second year in a row.
The final attendance breakdown includes: 2,669 executives, 1,739 exhibitors, 381 others, including guests, spouses, press, vendors, and staff, for a grand total of 4,789.
A total of 424 companies… more
Aug 21, 2016
As part of a consistent effort to provide added-value services that benefit all its trade show attendees, IMEX America has turned its sights on helping buyers to ‘match and meet’ other buyers.
A new service, which will be provided by networking specialists Zenvoy, will use intelligent data profiling to facilitate face-to-face introductions between pre-registered IMEX America hosted buyers and buyer attendees.
The move follows feedback from IMEX America 2015 which revealed how hungry buyers are to connect directly with each other and expand their networks of… more
Aug 18, 2016
Bonnier Corporation, which publishes dozens of magazines including “Field and Stream”, “Outdoor Life” and “Motorcyclist”, to name a few, has acquired the Sand Sports Super Show, a sand sports trade show and consumer expo.
The acquisition solidifies Bonnier’s leadership in the off-road, sand sports and motorsports segments, complementing the company’s repertoire of r publications and events geared toward enthusiast audiences.
The Sand Sports Super Show is an annual trade show and consumer expo where thousands of sand sports fans gather in Costa Mesa, Calif., to experience the latest products… 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