Apr 29, 2013
If the activity on the showfloor at LIGHTFAIR International (LFI) is any indication of the health of the trade show industry, expos are back in business.
Not only were the aisles and booths crowded, but also what really stood out was the amount of people walking around with a smile on their face and a jaunt in their step.
While some of this positivity could be attributed to the foosball and table tennis in one showfloor lounge, it certainly cannot take all the credit.
LFI, which ran April 23-25 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, had in excess of 233,000 net square feet… more
Apr 29, 2013
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is setting it sites on the growing Latin American market with the planned launch of CONEXPO Latin America in 2015 in Santiago, Chile.
Plans for CONEXPO Latin America were unveiled during an AEM press conference April 18 at the bauma trade fair in Munich, Germany.
AEMhas signed a letter of intent with the Chilean Chamber of Construction to collocate CONEXPO Latin America with the Chamber’s Edifica exposition to be held October 2015.
“We value our longstanding relationship with the Chamber, and this collocation complements our mutual… more
Apr 29, 2013
The American Society of Association Executives recently introduced the first Diversity + Inclusion (D+I) tool for associations called the Association Inclusion Index.
It is an online, diagnostic tool that evaluates D+I policies, philosophies and practices against community standards.
The tool offers strategies and solutions for expanding an organization’s reach, relevance and reputation through practicing inclusive excellence.
“It’s critical for organizations to understand how diversity and inclusion plays a practical role in staffing, recruiting, retaining, and engaging… more
Apr 28, 2013
a2z's Quarterly Tradeshow Industry Index report, which analyzes data through the first three months of the calendar year 2013 (Q1 of CY 2013) has just been released for Q1.
The Index reflects a stronger-than-expected 3.1 percent quarter-over-quarter growth in net square footage in Q1 of CY 2013. This is a stronger gain than was predicted at the end Q4 of 2012.
The Index also forecasts NSF growth to come in at a significantly higher rate of 5.9 percent for Q2 of FY 2013. This is good news for the tradeshow industry, given the fact that the U.S. economy is projected to grow at a more… more
Apr 27, 2013
The first quarter of 2013 started out on a positive note for Global Experience Specialist’s parent company Viad, with revenues seeing an increase from $268.8 million in the first quarter of 2012 to $285.2 million this year.
The Marketing & Events Group, of which GES is a part of, also saw revenue increases in the first quarter this year, with $276.8 million, compared with $262 million in the same quarter last year.
Steve Moster, GES’ president, said the uptick came from not only positive show rotation, but also higher than forecasted same-show growth and cost-cutting… more
Apr 24, 2013
One of the many highlights planned for the 4th Annual TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence, on tap Nov. 1-3 in Reno, Nevada, includes the only time this year both the chairs of the Society of Independent Show Organizers and International Association of Exhibitions and Events will be on the same stage at the same time speaking on a “State of the Industry” panel during the event’s Saturday Executive Conference.
"The industry is growing again and there are a lot of opportunities for positive changes in the way we develop and grow our shows, so I am excited to be speaking at the… more
Apr 23, 2013
ASD Las Vegas is about to get a little bit bigger, with the debut of a new event – SourceDirect – Aug. 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.
SourceDirect will be geared toward Importers, Distributors, Wholesalers, Designers, and Production Professionals, who will be able to meet face-to-face with contract manufacturers and factories from around the world.
“By aligning supply chain leaders in front of the key decision makers to [ASD] a show they already attend, business opportunities are made that weren’t possible before now,” said Chris McCabe,… more
Apr 22, 2013
For the very first time, the Human Genome Meeting will be held at a U.S. Destination – Houston – in 2016 through joint efforts by the Texas Medical Center and Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau worked hand-in-hand with Texas Medical Center to secure this high profile medical conference,” said GHCVB President and CEO Greg Ortale.
He added, “The Texas Medical Center is certainly unique with its concentration of medical, research, and educational institutions. Houston is the obvious location for… more
Apr 22, 2013
The Professional Convention Management Association will launch its inaugural PCMA Global Medical Meetings Summit July 17-20 at ExCeL London convention center.
The summit is an invitation-only event for senior medical meeting professionals and medical association CEOs.
“PCMA was founded as a medical meetings organization,” said Deborah Sexton, president and CEO, PCMA.
She added, “While our membership has greatly diversified since our first annual meeting in 1956, we have continued throughout the years to provide robust education and resources to the medical meetings sub-… more
Apr 21, 2013
H. H. Backer, which runs what was once called the Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show every fall in Rosemont, Ill., has not only renamed the show – Backer’s Total Pet Expo – but also launched several new event features and debuted a new Web site.
This year’s event will be held Sept. 20-22 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
"Our goal is to help attendees get a jump on the competition for 2014 and finalize their holiday season buying for the year, which will be easier now that we have September dates," said Colette Fairchild, the show's director… 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