News

Feb 22, 2013
When the 20,000 Safari Club International Convention attendees celebrated their 41st anniversary in Reno, Nev., this past January, they were able to navigate through their adventure with their smartphones and tablets. The SCI 2013 event app was made available courtesy of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA). The RSCVA has partnered with Guidebook, a mobile app company based in Palo Alto, Calif., to provide qualifying events with a free mobile event app. Part of that qualification process is booking your meeting through the CVB. Ben McDonald, communications manager for the… more
Feb 22, 2013
When the 20,000 Safari Club International Convention attendees celebrated their 41st anniversary in Reno, Nev., this past January, they were able to navigate through their adventure with their smartphones and tablets. The SCI 2013 event app was made available courtesy of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA). The RSCVA has partnered with Guidebook, a mobile app company based in Palo Alto, Calif., to provide qualifying events with a free mobile event app. Part of that qualification process is booking your meeting through the CVB. Ben McDonald, communications manager for the… more
Feb 21, 2013
The Institute of Finance & Management’s Accounts Payable Spring 2013 Conference & Expo has lined up several big-name sponsors, including IBM and Commerce Bank, for its April 10-12 at the at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Washington, D.C. "Time remains to sponsor and attend AP Expo Spring 2013," said RD Whitney, CEO of the IOFM. He added, "Our event is a destination no serious AP professional would want to miss. Smart practitioners will descend on Washington, D.C., in April to network, learn best-practices and earn their accreditation.” AP Expo Spring… more
Feb 21, 2013
Cygnus Business Media has decided to sell its agriculture-related portfolio, which includes five trade shows and two magazines. “With significant growth in our 2012 earnings, we enter 2013 with great enthusiasm,” said Cygnus’ CEO John French. He added, “The right strategic buyer for the Agriculture Group will provide us with an opportunity to improve our overall balance sheet and provide a substantial return to our ownership group.” The shows up for sale are the Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show, DakotaFest, Northern Illionois Farm Show, Minnesota Farmfest and… more
Feb 20, 2013
Nashville’s loss has become Cleveland’s gain, with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society signing on as an anchor tenant at the soon-to-open , newly-renamed Global Health Innovation Center there just a few months after plans for its prior potential home – the Nashville Medical Trade Center – were scrapped. HIMSS will lease on the fourth level 12,500 square feet for its Innovation Center, a testing, demonstration, exhibition and educational facility, with another 12,500 square feet of exhibition space. "We look forward to the opening in October… more
Feb 19, 2013
Two show management companies recently announced new events on the horizon: 1105 Media’s Office Technology Group will launch the Business Imaging Expo, and Messe Duesseldorf North America, a subsidiary of Germany-based Messe Duesseldorf, will debut  Energy Storage North America. 1105’s new show will be held Dec. 11-12 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. “The office technology industry is changing rapidly,” said Office Technology Group Publisher Patricia Ames. She added, “Printed pages are shifting to mobile devices, printers are increasingly becoming… more
Feb 18, 2013
Chicago’s McCormick Place already has one hotel, the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, which is on track for a $110 million upgrade to be unveiled in the summer, but now the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority-owned venue also will have a new 1,200 room anchor hotel attached to the building. The new hotel will be connected by skybridge to McCormick’s West Building and, besides the new rooms, there will be a 400-seat restaurant and a grand and junior Ballroom. “Building a headquarters hotel connected to McCormick Place is a major step in taking Chicago’s… more
Feb 18, 2013
Shows posting record attendance numbers seem to be more and more commonplace these days, with the latest one being the biennial Automate 2013, which was collocated with Material Handling Association’s ProMat 2013 and held Jan. 21-24 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Automate 2013 was attended by a record 10,975 attendees from across the United States and 55 countries. “Automate 2013 exceeded all of our expectations,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, the primary sponsor of Automate 2013. He added, “All of our numbers were… more
Feb 18, 2013
Discover Design, home to 116 companies showcasing inspired design and cutting-edge product innovation, is sold out for the International Housewares Association’s 2013 International Home + Housewares Show scheduled March 2-5 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Among the new companies exhibiting this year are Aesthetic Movement, Areaware, Teroforma, Legnoart, Menu and Present Time. Returning in 2013 are Alessi, Blomus, Joseph Joseph, Magisso, Nambe, Room Copenhagen and Serene House. A new addition to the category for 2013, Design Debut, will introduce five exciting new companies: Anne… more
Feb 18, 2013
Six retail-oriented trade shows, five existing ones and one launch, have decided to form an alliance during Las Vegas Fashion Week called “Modern Assembly” that will debut in August at the Sands Expo & Convention Center and Venetian Resort/Hotel Casino. The collocation is described as a “move that dispels the myths and competitive nature between the fashion tradeshows of yesteryear, the shows that comprise Modern Assembly will provide an ideal mix of resources in the right environments, with the utmost of convenience by collocating and cross-marketing,” according to show organizers. Four… 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