News
Mar 14, 2022
The recovery of the trade show industry continues to pick up momentum as event-related organizations across the U.S. and abroad make acquisitions and form new strategic partnerships to further their long-term business goals.
ASM Global Tapped to Run Olympia London
Leading venue and event management company ASM Global has been appointed to manage Olympia London, a premier UK exhibition center located in central London and one of Europe’s most historic venues. The iconic, 135-year-old facility joins ASM Global’s extensive portfolio of more than 300 venues throughout the world, including… more
Mar 11, 2022
Freeman, a leading event management company, has partnered with Hubilo, a leading virtual and hybrid event platform, to provide its customers around the world with a seamless digital component for events.
The alliance is designed to allow Freeman’s customers the ability to tap into the company’s strategic expertise and event planning know-how combined with Hubilo’s best-in-class platform as a one-stop approach to planning and managing all aspects of virtual, hybrid and in-person events. Capabilities through Hubilo include custom branding, mobile ready, personalized networking, break-out… more
Mar 11, 2022
The 2022 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show(SHOT Show), owned and operated by the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF) made a strong return to Las Vegas, drawing more than 2,400 exhibitors and more than 43,000 attendees from 100 countries and featuring its largest floor plan in history.
Held Jan. 18-21 at Caesars Forum and The Venetian Expo, the 44th SHOT Show brought the firearm industry together in-person again after holding it’s 2021 edition virtually. As the fifth-largest trade show in Las Vegas, the SHOT Show provides an estimated $88 million in non-gaming revenue to the… more
Mar 10, 2022
Growing up, Cathy Breden thought she would one day pursue a career in medicine, an aspiration her father hoped she would one day fulfill. But while putting herself through college, the Tampa, Florida native realized her life was meant to take a different path, one she would shape through trial and error.
“I did not have the stereotypical college experience many students have because I was focused on keeping my head above water,” Breden says. “My grades reflected how stretched I was. I was carrying a full load of classes [at Florida State University] and working part-time at the Florida… more
Mar 08, 2022
The city of Dallas, Texas, will soon have the ability to attract even larger trade shows and other events to its destination. According to Visit Dallas officials, the Dallas city council approved plans last month for a new 2.5-million-square-foot convention center that will be constructed adjacent to the current Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD). Once construction is complete, all or most of the KBHCCD will then be demolished.
The new $2 billion center, which is expected to break ground in 2024 and open in 2028, will feature 800,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space; 300,000 sq… more
Mar 07, 2022
As the trade show industry continues to regain its footing, event-related organizations across the country are moving full steam ahead in appointing new executives, promoting hard-working team members and welcoming new staff. Check them out!
Aria Technology Solutions
Aria Technology Solutions LLC (Aria AV), providers of audio-visual rental equipment including digital signage, full-service LED video walls and display equipment for the live event industry, recently appointed award-winning sales leader Vishal Goyal to Chief Revenue Officer.
Bringing extensive experience in the audio-visual… more
Mar 04, 2022
From an early age, Sarah Soliman has been inspired to lead and driven to succeed.
“I am a results-driven person, so when I see how my passion can inspire others, it ignites the fire in me to do more,” Soliman said, before describing a time that flame truly burned bright—in high school, when she created a petition after the principal of her school cancelled “seniors week.”
Soliman, along with other classmates, thought it was unfair to take away such an important experience for reasons the students had no control over, so she went from class to class collecting signatures, organized a… more
Mar 03, 2022
According to a Marketing General Incorporated benchmarking report, 50% of associations reported that members do not renew their membership due to a lack of engagement. That’s why membership engagement has always been one of the top priorities for the leadership in associations. It’s important to recognize that different members prefer to engage in different ways, and their pattern of content consumption may vary. To help better align your engagement strategy across the multitudes of channels your members might prefer, we’d like to offer up 20 ways to boost your membership engagement across… more
Mar 03, 2022
6Connex, a provider of in-person, virtual and hybrid event solutions, and BizBash, a trade media platform, recently conducted a survey of event professionals that sought to gauge how events will take place in 2022 and beyond, with virtual and hybrid formats holding steady as go-to options.
The survey, which took place in Q4 2021 before the full impact of the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 were known, indicated that more than 75% of respondents will host at least a portion of their events virtually in 2022, while 51% expect most of their 2022 events to be produced in a hybrid format… more
Mar 02, 2022
A growing number of events industry organizations are condemning the acts of aggression on Ukraine, with some suspending business activities with Russia.
IMEX Group, Messe Frankfurt, Messe Düsseldorf, Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Events Industry Council (EIC) are among the entities that have issued statements on the conflict showing support for the people of Ukraine and denouncing the Russian invasion.
IMEX Group
IMEX Group suspended Russian businesses from attending its IMEX Frankfurt show, which is scheduled for May 31-June 2.
“Sadly, we have taken the… 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