News
May 15, 2012
The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute is giving attendees to PACK EXPO International 2012, Oct. 28-31 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, a two-for-one lecture special with James Carville and Dennis Miller taking part in a joint session.
“We’ll be barely a week away from the 2012 Presidential election,” said PMMI president & CEO Charles D. Yuska.
He added, “No matter which way you vote, this pair of pundits will offer unique perspectives on the elections and the issues in the national spotlight.”
Dennis Miller is one of America’s premiere… more
May 15, 2012
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research will hold its 2nd Annual Predict Conference Sept. 13 in New York City at the Time Warner Center.
The event will be limited to C-level executives and will focus on the results of the CEIR Index, which provides an objective measure of the annual performance of the exhibition industry, measuring year-over-year changes and predictions through 2014.
Attendees will interact with presenters and colleagues throughout the day to share best practices, ideas and future strategies including projected event growth, merger and acquisition strategies and… more
May 15, 2012
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events Public Events Council released its “Public Events Industry 2011” survey report and “Supplemental Report: How the Public Event/Consumer Show Engages with the Younger Generations/Professionals.”
In 2009, the Public Events Council distributed a survey to public event organizers across 22 public events industry sectors to examine overall industry performance.
The report identified which public event industry sectors fared well, which sectors struggled and their expectations for the future.
As a follow-up to that… more
May 13, 2012
Optimism on the showfloors from wide-ranging industries continues to abound with two more shows – the Offshore Technology Conference and Coverings – both posting substantial increases in attendance and other metrics.
The Offshore Technology Conference, held April 30-May 3 at Reliant Park in Houston drew a 30-year high attendance of 89,400, the third highest in show history and up 14 percent from last year.
Attendance surpassed the 2011 total of 78,645, and the sold-out exhibition was the largest in event history at 641,350 square feet with the addition of the outdoor pavilion,… more
May 13, 2012
It’s an extraordinary time in the world of DMOs, with three large city’s bureaus - the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, the Anaheim/Orange County Convention & Visitor Bureau and Visit Orlando - currently looking to find someone to fill their top posts.
After nine years running the bureau in Los Angeles, Mark Liberman recently announced he is going to retire to spend more time with his wife, Karen, as well as increase his work with the Alzheimer’s Association.
“The friendships, experiences and rewards have been many,” Liberman said.
He added,… more
May 12, 2012
Go to enough trade shows and you’ll notice that every event seems to have its own personality, flavor and attitude. Some shows are innovative and visually appealing, some lively and fun, while others more focused and serious.
LIGHTFAIR International, the world’s largest annual trade show and conference for the architectural and commercial lighting industry, could be described as all of the above.
Held May 7-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 23rd annual LFI attracted more than a projected 20,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors spanning 200,000-plus net square feet… more
May 10, 2012
A week ago, the trade show industry was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Gary Sain, president and CEO of Visit Orlando.
Below are the memorial and other arrangements to honor Gary.
Visitation will take place from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 301 N.E. Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804; 407-898-8111.
Additional visitation will take place at 10 a.m., immediately prior to the Celebration of Life and Funeral Service set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Northland, A Church Distributed, located at 530 Dog Track Road, Longwood, FL 32759; 407-949-… more
May 09, 2012
Even after a mild winter this year, exhibitors for next year’s SIA Snow Show are betting on good times, buying out all of the space on the showfloor nine months in advance.
The announcement came during SnowSports Industries America’s annual spring board of directors meeting that was held in conjunction with the National Ski Areas Association National Convention & Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas.
The SIA show, on tap Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at Denver’s Colorado Convention Center, will not increase its space and booth fees will stay the same for the seventh year in a… more
May 09, 2012
Mary Pat Heftman, executive vice president for the National Restaurant Association’s NRA Show 2012, remembers the exact day - July, 26, 2011 - she was told the event was going to have to move off of its traditional late-May show dates at Chicago’s McCormick Place for what was then supposed to be the G8 Summit (now NATO Summit) coming to town.
“We were 80-percent sold out,” Heftman said. “We saw 8-percent attrition (of exhibitors) at that point.”
The show’s dates were moved to May 5-8, but with a lot of hard work by the NRA show staff, the numbers… more
May 08, 2012
The overall unemployment figures still might be down in the United States, but the trade show industry job market seems to be very busy with several new hires and promotions announced in the first part of May.
After a three-month nationwide search, the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau recently selected Bennish Brown as the organization’s new president and CEO.
Brown has a strong background in the destination marketing industry and served the past 12 years as the executive director of Rock Hill/York County Convention and Visitor Bureau in South Carolina.
Brown… 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