News
Oct 23, 2015
The Las Vegas Convention Center’s need for renovations and new exhibit and meeting space should have already occurred was the consensus among top trade show organizers who spoke Oct. 22 to the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee.
In a candid fact-finding session, they urged the 11-member committee to think strategically about the Las Vegas future and its position not just as a U.S., but also as a global trade show destination.
The session was the third of five the committee was conducting before making decisions on what would be priorities for next year.
The panel of trade show… more
Oct 21, 2015
Taking a major step to expand its overseas footprint, Dallas-based Freeman, a global provider of brand experiences, has acquired New South Wales, Australia-based Staging Connections Group Limited, a global event services company.
Founded in 1986, Staging Connections is an international business with offices in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and China.
With its 15 offices and 600 employees throughout ANZPAC, Staging Connections provides Freeman with an immediate presence throughout the region, according to Freeman officials.
“As our clients are expanding globally, they want… more
Oct 21, 2015
Trade show organizers and venues continued to ink new deals with suppliers as summer turned into fall.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation extended its relationship with CSG Creative to serve as the official marketing agency of SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show ) Show through 2019.
Based in Alexandria, Va., CSG Creative specializes in marketing campaigns for trade shows and member associations.
"For the last four years, CSG Creative has played a key role in the growth of the SHOT Show," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and CMO. "Those efforts have resulted… more
Oct 20, 2015
By Wendy Helfenbaum
When Kathie Canning first started working at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center in the mid 1980s, it was a bit of a circus. Literally.
“At that time, we were the only concert venue; we did a lot of civic events, and we did the circus every year. It was very interesting when Avon came in to do a meeting right after the elephants left,” said Canning, now the OCCC’s executive director. “Many things have changed drastically since then; it’s been quite an amazing transformation.”
Today, as convention centers worldwide explode in number, size, and technology, Orlando… more
Oct 18, 2015
Showcare Event Solutions, a company in the event registration and housing industry space, has teamed up with QuickMobile, a company with enterprise mobile event applications.
Both Showcare and QuickMobile see the relationship as a good strategic and cultural fit, according to company officials.
“Since their first application launch in 2008, no other event application provider has released more apps than QuickMobile,” says Robert Kozub, president at Showcare.
He added, “They are constantly improving their product and have also been very accommodating. We explored… more
Oct 18, 2015
Showcare Event Solutions, a company in the event registration and housing industry space, has teamed up with QuickMobile, a company with enterprise mobile event applications.
Both Showcare and QuickMobile see the relationship as a good strategic and cultural fit, according to company officials.
“Since their first application launch in 2008, no other event application provider has released more apps than QuickMobile,” says Robert Kozub, president at Showcare.
He added, “They are constantly improving their product and have also been very accommodating. We explored… more
Oct 16, 2015
The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year Awards winners for 2015 emerged from a field of hard-working nominees committed to their craft.
Created in 2000, the “SMOTY” Awards recognize show organizers who are creating amazing experiences with their exhibition and in their marketplace community.
"The dedication, innovation and downright determination of the people in this business continually impresses me and the judging panel, as well," said Ray Pekowski, president and CEO of The Expo Group.
He added, "We began this program to give back to the community by honoring unsung heroes, and I am… more
Oct 15, 2015
As the 5th IMEX America wrapped up in Las Vegas, records were broken across the board, with a total of 3,100 companies representing 150 countries exhibiting, including 80 new booths and 56 expanded booth.
In addition, the IMEX hosted buyer program brought a record 3,000 buyers from 54 countries to the show, for a total 10,600 people participating in the event.
There were 66,000 business appointments of which more than 57,000 were one-to-one appointments and booth presentations.
More than 40 leading buyers from the corporate sector also came for the annual Executive Meetings Forum. With senior… more
Oct 14, 2015
ibtm china’s Knowledge Programme, which took place at the China National Convention Centre (CNCC) in Beijing last month, was the best attended to date.
“We are extremely pleased with the attendance at this year’s Knowledge Programme in China,” said Cici Chen, ibtm china Event Manager.
He added, “Furthermore, in-depth analysis and research has confirmed that primary reasons for increased attendance were the sessions’ relevance to participant’s needs and the reputation of the presenters delivering the sessions. These findings confirm that as an event we are delivering a programme that… more
Oct 14, 2015
China’s State Council has approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial conference for exhibition industry.
The working group will have the goal of determining reforms of China’s exhibition industry.
The group’s brief is to reinforce the establishment and implementation of the sector’s development strategy, plans, policies and regulations.
The group will be chaired by the Ministry of Commerce and it will also include senior representatives from 13 other government ministries, such as National Development and Reform Commission (NRDC), State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC… 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