Feb 12, 2015
This month on Interview with a Trade Show Exec, part of an ongoing TSNN series conducted by Traci Browne, we’ll be getting to know a bit more about another one of our industry’s rock stars. While it may not have the Gothic setting of an Anne Rice novel, I think these main characters are just as complicated and deep as were Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac, but without all that brooding undead thing going on. Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr. Vice Chairman, president & COO AMC Inc. AmericasMart shows and markets and LIGHTFAIR 29 years in the trade show industry Traci Browne: Where… more
Feb 11, 2015
The Kentucky International Convention Center, located in Downtown Louisville, is set to begin an expansion and renovation project in August 2016 with an early completion date of summer 2018. Kentucky State Fair Board President and CEO Rip Rippetoe said that the accelerated construction schedule will “keep this renovation on time and within budget which is certainly a top priority.” The Fair Board oversees the center. The renovation of the convention center is projected to cost $180 million. The investment will increase contiguous exhibit space by more than a third, from 146,000 square feet to… more
Feb 10, 2015
A total of 434 exhibitors, compared with 431 last year, with 656 brands presented their products from the Outdoor, Action Sports, Ski, Sportstyle and Fabrics & Fibres segments on about 40,000 square meters of exhibit space. Nearly 30,000 visitors attended the fully booked exhibition center, which reflected another slight increase in the number of visitors. Klaus Dittrich, chairman of the management of Messe München GmbH, said of the show, “The four trade show days once again showed that the sporting goods industry continues to grow in China. This is also evident in the increasing number… more
Feb 10, 2015
More than 4,500 consumer technology professionals from 80 countries have registered for the inaugural International CES Asia™ since the launch of registration three weeks ago. CES Asia will run May 25-27 in Shanghai at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) and will draw global businesses to showcase the latest products and technologies entering the Asian marketplace.   “This strong response underscores the importance of and demand for CES Asia to showcase the full breadth and depth of the innovation value-chain in the Asian marketplace,” said Gary… more
Feb 10, 2015
World of Concrete 2015 that took place Feb. 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center showed the strongest results in six years. Attendance was up 20 percent, at 55,779, compared with last year’s numbers. Exhibitor count reached 1,400, a jump of 17 percent. Square footage also has grown by close to 20 percent to almost 700,000 square feet. “We’ve had a phenomenal show,” said Tom Cindric, vice president of World of Concrete, Informa Exhibitions U.S., Construction and Real Estate. “The economy is getting better on the commercial construction side.” The show also saw a boost in conference… more
Feb 10, 2015
UBM Asia has entered into a strategic partnership with Interexpo (M) Sdn Bhd to organise Interexpo’s annual Beauty Expo in Malaysia starting from the 2015 event. Beauty Expo is the biggest and longest-running beauty trade show in Malaysia and the largest such trade platform in Southeast Asia serving the beauty and wellness industry. The partnership is a significant addition to UBM’s portfolio of beauty, cosmetics and wellness events in Asia. UBM organises beauty exhibitions, namely PhilBeauty in the Philippines, ASEANBeauty in Thailand, Diet & Beauty in Japan and is a joint organiser of… more
Feb 10, 2015
With the establishment of Guangzhou Li Tong Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd., Messe Frankfurt has further increased its presence in China. The new subsidiary is a joint venture between Messe Frankfurt’s Hong Kong subsidiary Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. and the Chinese industry association Guangdong Toy Association (GDTA). Messe Frankfurt holds a 55 percent majority stake in the joint venture company.  The managing director of the new company is Wendy Wen, who has been with Messe Frankfurt for many years, holding managerial positions since 2003. Since November 2012, Wen has been senior general… more
Feb 09, 2015
The  Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle Systems Association, The Tesla Foundation and E.J. Krause & Associates will team up to produce the 2nd annual International Drone Expo (LA Drone Expo) Dec. 11-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The 2014 International Drone Expo assembled the largest ever global gathering of the commercial drone community, according to organizers. The two-day event featured exhibitors from around the world and attracted more than 3,000 buyers.  Industry leaders including DJI, 3DR, Drone Deploy, Aerial Media Pros, as well as many others, displayed their… more
Feb 06, 2015
This past year was a busy one for Global Experience Specialists, a division of Viad, with several acquisitions to bolster its service offerings, as well as working on some U.S.-based mega shows, including CONEXPO-CON/AGG and the International Manufacturing Technology Show. "We delivered significant growth this year and made great progress against our strategic growth plans,” said Steve Moster, who was promoted to president and CEO of Viad last year. He added, “Both business units finished the year in line with our prior guidance, with strong results driven by a combination of organic growth,… more
Feb 05, 2015
Long held in February every year, New England Grows! listened to its customers and decided to move the show to the December timeframe. The Northeast’s largest educational conference and green industry exposition will be held Dec. 2-4 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. In surveys, when asked for the single change that could improve their conference experience, more than half of all exhibitors and attendees requested an earlier show date, according to show management. "After 23 years of growth, we are setting the stage for even greater success," said Virginia Wood, executive… 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