News

Jul 13, 2016
Earlier this week, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) published its annual report for the financial year ended 31st March 2016. Revenues generated from exhibitions and mission were US$246 million, representing moderate growth of 1.7% over the previous year. The HKTDC’s total revenues, including the government subvention of US$51 million, posted a year-on-year decrease of 1.9%, amounting to US$355 million. Revenues from product magazines and its online marketplace slipped 5.4% compared to 2015, down to US$24 million. The operations of the HKTDC-owned Hong Kong Convention and… more
Jul 13, 2016
Earlier this week, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) opened its 23rd Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer. The theme of this year’s edition was “Garden Breeze.” Running from 4th to 7th July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), the four-day event featured more than 1,200 exhibitors from 18 countries and region, showcasing the latest fashions, international brands, garments, fabrics and accessories. First time exhibitors this year were from Bangladesh, Italy, the Netherlands and the Philippines. This year’s Fashion Week featured some new themes and zones… more
Jul 13, 2016
The 24th edition of ProPak Asia was held from 15th to 18th June at Bangkok International Trade Exhibition Centre (BITEC). The exhibition attracts 1,976 exhibiting companies from 48 countries to showcase a variety of food, drinks, pharmaceutical processing & packaging technology.   Organised by Bangkok Exhibition Services (BES) Ltd, a total of 17 international pavilions, including ones from China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, UK, USA and new pavilions from Australia and Denmark, were featured at the show. The four-day show attracted nearly 41,000… more
Jul 13, 2016
Diane Chen has been promoted to the position of General Manager of the Shenyang New World EXPO (EXPO). It is a new venue located in northeast China offering 24,000 m2 of indoor exhibition space and an additional 4,000 m2 of convention, meeting and banquet space.   Chen previously worked with Ernst & Young in China. She joined EXPO in June 2012 as the Director of Business Development and was promoted to Deputy General Manager in September 2015.  In response to her new position, she stated “I am confident in leading the EXPO team to reach EXPO’s vision and mission using my… more
Jul 12, 2016
Las Vegas has a streak of good news with shows held in the first half of 2016 seeing major upticks in their numbers, with several reporting record growth. Through May 2016, more than three million visitors traveled to Las Vegas to attend a meeting or convention. That’s a 12.1 percent, compared with the same time last year.   CES 2016 broke its own record from last year with 2.47 million net sq. ft. showfloor, up from 2.2 million last year, taking over the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Expo & Convention Center and the Venetian, as well as the Wynn, Aria, Vdara and Cosmopolitan.… more
Jul 10, 2016
Detroit’s Cobo Center, which is managed by SMG, recently launched a new Technology Services Department. Thanks to the venue’s recent $279 million renovation, a new broadcast studio, digital signage, Internet and Wi-Fi upgrades, and an extensive fiber network represent meaningful change in the business model for providing Internet services to attendees, exhibitors and show management. The new Technology Services department at Cobo Center now in place to provide customers with state-of-the-art technology supported by a dedicated in-house team. "The creation of Cobo Center… more
Jul 10, 2016
Emphasizing the growing role that technology plays in the meetings world, key findings of new research carried out for IMEX America by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) show that more than 40 percent of the MPI Research Panel members surveyed use laptops or mobile devices to capture content real-time. Of that group, 10.5 percent of these professionals always use them for note taking and 31.6 percent use them sometimes. Handwritten notes continue to be the choice of the majority (57.1 percent), while just 0.8 percent record their observations. “In an era when capturing live… more
Jul 10, 2016
Detroit’s Cobo Center, which is managed by SMG, recently launched a new Technology Services Department. Thanks to the venue’s recent $279 million renovation, a new broadcast studio, digital signage, Internet and Wi-Fi upgrades, and an extensive fiber network represent meaningful change in the business model for providing Internet services to attendees, exhibitors and show management. The new Technology Services department at Cobo Center now in place to provide customers with state-of-the-art technology supported by a dedicated in-house team. "The creation of Cobo Center… more
Jul 08, 2016
The United Fresh Produce Association had a busy time during its show, United Fresh 2016, which was held June 20-22 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. First, the association made another substantial donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and second, it launched the Global Cold Chain Expo in partnership with the Global Cold Chain Alliance. Besides the launch event, United Fresh is collocated with several other shows, including the International Floriculture Expo and FMI Connect. In an effort to give back to the Chicago community, United Fresh donated 51,042 lbs. of produce and 641 lbs. of… more
Jul 08, 2016
The 2016 Summer Fancy Food Show was the largest in exhibit space since it was established in 1954. More than 2,670 exhibitors filled the halls of Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, with the latest in specialty food and beverages from across the U.S. and 55 countries. Owned and produced by the Specialty Food Association, the show ran June 26-28. More than 47,000 specialty food professionals were in the exhibit halls, which spanned the equivalent of six football fields. "The show is the place to be to discover the latest in specialty food and what's next for stores and restaurants… 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