Association Show News
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May 25, 2014
Walking into the Sweets and Snacks Expo at McCormick Place, the smell of candy and popcorn was almost as powerful as the bright colors of the 650 booths seen covering 165,000 plus square foot of exhibit space.
And the 16,000 attendees clearly were enjoying the expo and samples of candy and snacks that were plentiful during the show that was held May 20-22.
“We have seen a strong jump in attendance in our show, both with exhibitors and attendees,” said Theresa Anthony, senior director of the National Confectioners Association Expo.
She added, “We have also… more
May 24, 2014
At the recent Shepard Exhibition Services’ three-day client event, Sandbox, which recently was held in Atlanta, Brian Casey, the president and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, presented trade show industry trends occurring now and into the future on the final day.
Casey began his session by talking through the latest CEIR Index Report numbers, which tracks the overall health of the trade show industry by looking at 14 different industry sectors.
The good news is; the industry still is growing, albeit at a slow and steady pace.
Casey then broke down the trends into… more
May 21, 2014
Focused and busy would be one way to describe the vibe at RECon 2014, a trade show and conference for retail real estate that took place May 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Spanning approximately 1 million square feet, it featured about 1,100 exhibitors and brought together 33,500 industry professionals who were ready to capitalize on the improving real estate market. While square footage remained the same as last year, attendance and exhibitor count saw a slight uptick.
“During the recession, the bottom fell out, and since then, it’s been a steady climb for us that… more
May 20, 2014
Just less than 1,500 meetings professionals attended American Society of Association Executive’s annual Springtime Expo at the Walter E. Washington (D.C.) Convention Center May 15, with both attendees and exhibitors reporting strong activity on the showfloor.
Springtime is the largest one-day trade show in the meetings and events industry.
“Traffic was excellent and exceeded our expectations,” according to the Rose Bowl’s Jens Weiden, who participated with the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau. “When I was walking around the showfloor, booths… more
May 18, 2014
John J. Toner V, vice president, convention and industry relations at United Fresh Produce Association, may spend up to 100 days on the road every year promoting his organization and its trade show, but the time on planes, in hotels and on showfloors is worth the return on investment.
“The trade show is the primary revenue generator here and (promoting the show on the road) is the only way I know how to really drive revenue,” Toner said.
He added, “I can sit here in D.C. until I am blue in the face sending e-mails or even have people cold call, but it’s not the same.… more
May 12, 2014
When the International Home + Housewares Show packed up at the end of their show, held March 15-18 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, they encouraged their exhibitors to donate products to five local charities.
At this year’s show, 225 exhibitors took part in the donation program, a 29 percent increase, compared with donations the previous year.
The charities use the products for various activities, ranging from auction items at their annual fundraising galas to merchandise in their resale shops.
Charities participating in the product donation program this year were: Cystic… more
May 12, 2014
The same day that the Center for Exhibition Industry Research launched a new support campaign to ensure the annual CEIR Index continues to be the essential source and predictive tool for the exhibitions and events industry data, Shepard Exposition Services donated $75,000 to the organization.
“While Shepard has relied upon CEIR’s strategic reports on trends and industry predictions for the past 18 years, this crucial data has become even more valuable to organizers in recent years,” said Shepard Vice President of Sales Richard Maples.
He added, “We encourage everyone… more
May 07, 2014
For every, single show, organizers have to evaluate not only how they are going to spend their dollars to draw people there, but also what methods they will use.
In the latest in its series of reports, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research examined spending and the marketing-mix allocation for attendee promotions and marketing tactics found to be most effective in driving attendance at exhibitions - Cost to Attract Attendees.
Exhibition organizers use a broad range of traditional and digital tactics to attract qualified attendees to their events.
E-mail still reigns supreme, with 96… more
Apr 29, 2014
The Meetings Mean Business campaign - a national communications and advocacy platform that showcases the substantial value of meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions - recently launched an industry-wide mobile app.
“It’s critically important that our industry continues to speak with one voice to communicate the value and benefits of meetings to communities, businesses and the economy,” said David Peckinpaugh, president of Maritz Travel and Co-Chair of Meetings Mean Business.
He added, “The MMB app is another significant tool to ensure that everyone,… more
Apr 26, 2014
The United Fresh Foundation will host the first Fresh Produce Pavilion at the School Nutrition Association Annual Convention July 14-16 in Boston.
The pavilion establishes a destination area on the trade show floor that will focus exclusively on promoting fresh fruits and vegetables.
“Our goal with this pavilion is help schools maximize their success in serving a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables,” said United Fresh CEO Tom Stenzel.
He added, “We’re committed to helping school foodservice directors understand the ins and outs of purchasing produce, as… 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