News
Jun 08, 2021
The Exhibition Services & Contractors Association has launched a new campaign to demonstrate how its members are preparing to relaunch trade shows, meetings and events with safety top-of-mind. Aptly named the ALL IN Event Readiness Campaign, the effort aims to bring a renewed level of communication and information to the industry by sharing member stories on their readiness efforts, the challenges they’ve faced and how their resiliency has made them stronger in supporting their customers.
“ESCA and its members have an unwavering commitment, resilient confidence and a resolve to unite… more
Jun 07, 2021
A host of exhibition leaders will be joining Tarsus Group CEO Douglas Emslie at the Event Industry Backyard Ultra, some of them lending their legs as runners and others sharing their knowledge via an impressive roster of livestreamed education sessions.
Kicking off at 11 a.m. EDT (4 p.m. UK time), the event will feature more than 30 runners joining Emslie from across the globe as he runs a 5K race every hour for a straight 24 hours in an effort to raise $24,000 for the Meetings Industry Fund, Indian Red Cross Society and EventWell.
“The charities we have chosen will help people not only… more
Jun 07, 2021
Trade show, exhibition and the event professionals took a moment to celebrate the industry’s worth and influence before a grand kickoff of shows begins to flood the global marketplace.
Organizers from about 110 countries and regions participated in Global Exhibition Day via social media, meetings, videos, webinars and contests. The message was simple: “exhibitions are the fastest of fast tracks to economic recovery,” noted a press release distributed by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
Meanwhile, in a more targeted campaign, nearly 170 influential industry advocates… more
Jun 04, 2021
As the tourism industry gears up for a bullish recovery, Destinations International, the global trade association for destination organizations, has been busy forming a new alliance while shoring up an existing partnership in preparation for better times ahead. Before and during its hybrid CEO Summit, which took place May 25-27 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, Florida, the association announced the launch of its newly formed Canadian Alliance as well as the dates of its Destination Showcase, produced in partnership with PCMA.
Formed this year following the dissolution of the… more
Jun 03, 2021
Experience Kissimmee Senior Director of Meeting Sales and Services Michelle Moore couldn’t believe her ears at a recent meeting at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. In a pre-event meeting, the key players were discussing dine-arounds, branding activations and entertainment options.
“It was wonderful,” Moore said. “For the first time in over 14 months, we actually talked about non-health and safety stuff.”
Of course, COVID-19 was the elephant in the room. But significant vaccination progress and relaxed CDC guidelines have shifted the conversation from when, and not if,… more
Jun 02, 2021
Michelle Mason, a champion of associations for more than 20 years, has been named new president and CEO of ASAE, the organization’s board of directors announced on Tuesday. Mason, who assumes her position on September 1, succeeds Susan Robertson.
This will mark Mason’s second tenure at ASAE, where she was vice president of strategic and future-focused research from 1998-2006.
“Throughout her career, Michelle has demonstrated a commitment to the association community and ASAE, and a proven ability to drive alignment and results in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment,” said Stephen J.… more
Jun 02, 2021
A large majority of events will have a blend of digital and in-person elements this year. Many event professionals expect this to be the case going forward. After that, there is a mix — or dare we say “hybrid?” — of opinions, confusion and certainty, according to a recent Swapcard survey studying hybrid events.
The biggest takeaway is that three-quarters of the 364 respondents say they are planning to have virtual components of their program, but 30% don’t know how to define hybrid events.
In part, that’s because there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to accommodating in-person attendees… more
Jun 01, 2021
As the industry continues its gradual progress toward a full recovery, event organizations, destinations and venues are inking new deals and extending existing relationships as they gear up for an acceleration in business. Take a look:
Centerplate
Nashville’s Convention Center Authority has agreed to extend its eight-year agreement with Centerplate, the exclusive food and beverage partner for the Music City Center. The new, multi-year agreement will still encompass hospitality, catering and culinary services in at the convention center highlighting local Nashville purveyors and diverse… more
Jun 01, 2021
Like much of the events industry, Denzil Rankine, executive chairman of AMR International, will have his eyes on World of Concrete, which will be the largest trade show to operate in-person since the pandemic. But he has a bit of a narrow focus — a minor point that he admits is his new pet peeve.
“I truly hope Freeman and GES have not been paid to print signs, ‘See you next year,’” he said during a webinar TSNN hosted covering the topics in “Reinventing Live,” a book Rankine co-authored with Marco Giberti, founder and CEO of Vesuvio Ventures.
Click here to watch a replay of the webinar.… more
May 28, 2021
Fittingly, World of Concrete in Las Vegas will signal the return of trade shows as we know them. After all, the event organizers are looking to build a foundation of safety measures and business development in executing trade shows that remind the world of just how valuable meeting in-person can be.
While Surf Expo and other shows have drawn applause for operating during the pandemic, the schedule gets decidedly more crowded starting in June. Las Vegas will be fully open and other destinations will not be far behind. Buoyed by vaccination progress, a precipitous drop in COVID-19 cases and… 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