News
Jan 27, 2023
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has always been the barometer of what’s trending in face-to-face marketing. At this year's show in Las Vegas, held Jan. 5-8, the the fast-changing experiential marketing landscape made it that much more exciting to see how brands chose to tell their stories and build connections at CES 2023–particularly through compelling and immersive tech activations at exhibits.
Among the key themes on the show floor, Tom Maher, director of strategy and growth for Pinnacle, an experiential marketing agency, pointed out the rise of active solutioning, where demos go… more
Jan 26, 2023
TSNN is growing its team with two new hires. Long-time trade show journalist Danica Tormohlen has joined as Vice President of Content for Tarsus Media (encompassing TSNN and Corporate Event News), and Bridgett Maddux has joined as National Sales Manager for Tarsus Media.
“I have known Danica for a long time, and she is bar none one of the most passionate people covering the trade show industry,” said Tarsus Media President Rachel Wimberly.
She added, “We are very fortunate that she will be a part of our team, along with Bridgett Maddux, who is a seasoned sales professional in the industry… more
Jan 24, 2023
Emerald has officially entered the B2C space with the recent acquisition of Lodestone Events, an event solutions company specializing in consumer lifestyle events and producers of the Overland Expo series of vehicle-based, adventure travel consumer shows.
According to Emerald officials, the acquisition supports Emerald and Lodestone’s shared mission to connect buyers and sellers, and builds on Emerald’s decades of experience in outdoor recreation via its Outdoor Retailer trade shows, the largest global B2B events serving the outdoor and winter sports industry. The deal also bolsters Emerald… more
Jan 23, 2023
Global B2B events and media business Tarsus Group is forecasting a strong year ahead, bolstered by the lifting of China’s strict zero-Covid policy and a robust organic launch strategy.
The group’s portfolio comprises a number of leading event brands, including the Dubai Airshow, Labelexpo, Hometex and Connect Meetings. In light of the growing demand for in-person events post-pandemic, Tarsus successfully launched eight new events in 2022, and 15 additional new launches are planned for 2023, alongside significant investment in digital initiatives.
The business’ footprint has for some time… more
Jan 20, 2023
Meet AC, Atlantic City's destination, meetings and events marketing organization, rebranded as Visit Atlantic City to enhance the destination's appeal among event professionals as an ideal place to gather for business while also experiencing all that it has to offer.
The initiative comes on the heels of a successful 2022 in terms of meetings, conventions and trade shows, and the organization is eyeing another positive year of business for 2023.
As Atlantic City is going through a major reinvestment to create a safer, culturally rich and sustainable community, the time was ripe for the… more
Jan 20, 2023
The Seattle Convention Center (SCC) is gearing up to host opening celebrations on Jan. 25 for Summit, its $2 billion high-rise convention center in downtown Seattle. With 573,770 square feet of event space, the addition nearly doubles the capacity of the SCC.
Summit features 62 meeting rooms, a 58,000-square-foot, column-free and divisible ballroom with 3,900 suspended planks of reclaimed wood, 248,450 square feet of exhibit space, 140,700 square feet of naturally lit lobby space and the 14,000-square-foot outdoor Garden Terrace. Covering 1.5 million square feet, Summit and SCC’s… more
Jan 19, 2023
Event Tech Live (ETL), which was founded 10 years ago and has been held annually in London, is revving up for its grand in-person entrance in the U.S. with a Las Vegas edition this spring—the only conference and exhibition in the country focused exclusively on event technology.
Registration is now open for Event Tech Live, Las Vegas, which will take place April 26-27 at The Expo at World Market Center. As with Event Tech Live, London, which this year is set for Nov. 15-16 at ExCeL, London, the Las Vegas edition is dedicated to bringing global event professionals together to experience and… more
Jan 17, 2023
Following the swearing-in of the new Congress on Jan. 3, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) announced its public policy priorities for 2023, reflected upon its advocacy accomplishments over its first two years and encouraged industry professionals to join its annual Legislative Action Day, which is returning to an in-person format this year in Washington, DC.
Founded in early 2021, ECA is an advocacy group for the face-to-face business events industry, designed to champion and support its recovery and advancement with legislators on Capitol Hill and in states and cities… more
Jan 16, 2023
A leading hospitality partner and a top exhibition industry organization announced some major leadership changes recently.
Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live! tapped proven international business leader Belinda Oakley as its new CEO, North America. Bringing two decades of foodservice management experience to her new role, Oakley is responsible for leading more than 20,000 team members at more than 150 partner venues throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Oakley replaces outgoing CEO Steve Pangburn, who will stay on with the company to help with the transition in an advisory capacity through the end of… more
Jan 13, 2023
ExpoPlatform, which uses AI-powered solutions to build events, communities and marketplaces across in-person, virtual and hybrid channels, unveiled the Event Tech Forecast 2023. The report focuses on how the digital evolution of the industry will shape businesses this year and features exclusive findings from professionals and expert insights from top contributors.
The four sections of the report include:
The amount of annual revenue expected to come from digital channels
The biggest windows of opportunity for event technology
The most important challenges facing 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