Sep 06, 2012
Medical meetings have continued to grow, despite the overall economy and other pressures the sector has faced in recent years. The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association recently released its annual list of the top 50 largest U.S. medical meetings held in 2011, and average reported professional attendance increased 3.2 percent from 2010, while average reported total attendance increased 2.2 percent. These results suggest an uptick in the number of medical professionals deciding to attend these bellwether events, according to HCEA officials. The Radiological Society of North… more
Sep 06, 2012
With Los Angeles’ largest trade show, the Entertainment Software Association’s E3 Expo, recently signing on to stay through 2015, there was even more good news for the destination that 2012 will mark the best year the city has had since 2001, with 24 citywide conventions. Besides the convention market, Los Angeles also is on pace for a record-breaking tourism year, according to officials from the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LA Tourism). A mid-year forecast projects the destination will welcome 41.3 million visitors by year-end, 2.4 percent above the current… more
Sep 05, 2012
Overall unemployment in the United States still might be down, but hiring in the trade show industry has continued to pick up speed though the summer and into the fall. L.A. Mart proudly recently brought back Frank Joens as senior vice president and general manager of the venue in Los Angeles. Joens returns to the L.A. Mart after a brief break in his decade-long tenure of service with the building. He began his career at the L.A. Mart in 2001 as director of marketing and then two years later was promoted to director of leasing, where he helped his team achieve a more than 90 percent… more
Sep 04, 2012
The National Association of Black Journalists and the National Society of Black Engineers both signed contracts with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority to bring their events to Boston in 2014 and 2016. “Over the last several years, the MCCA and city leaders have made a concerted effort to recruit minority events to come to Boston, allowing people from across the country and around the world to see our city in a new light,” said James Rooney, executive director of the MCCA. He added, “And it’s working. After the National Urban League and Blacks in… more
Sep 03, 2012
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, named Amsterdam RAI the winner of its debut competition on the theme “Best Sustainable Development Strategies“. Amsterdam RAI was selected as the winner from among six short listed finalists: Artexis Group, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Messe Frankfurt, Palexpo and UBM Live Amsterdam. The jury also decided to award an honorable mention to UBM Live Amsterdam for their systems management approach to sustainable development. Each finalist was invited to present its case study at the UFI Focus Meeting on… more
Sep 03, 2012
IAAPA Attractions Expo 2012, which takes place Nov. 12-16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., will offer more than 85 educational seminars, luncheons, roundtable discussions, behind-the-scenes tours, daylong institutes and half-day symposiums designed to keep attractions industry professionals up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in attractions management. Owned by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the event attracts supervisors, managers, senior executives, and CEO’s, who will all benefit from participating in the… more
Sep 03, 2012
Twenty young professionals under the age of 30 will have the opportunity to take part in the International Association of Exhibitions & Events’ Expo! Expo! through a sponsorship by the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and Austin Convention Center. The professionals, who may not have had the financial resources to attend otherwise, will be invited to attend the event Dec. 4-6 in Orlando. IAEE's 20 under 30 program provides industry education for professional growth in the exhibitions and events industry and helps participants establish a stronger career path and become… more
Aug 28, 2012
Across the United States, farm-to-table restaurants with a focus on locally grown produce are all the rage, and now convention centers are getting into the sustainable food movement. Atlanta’s Cobb Galleria Center enlisted the help of staff volunteers to construct two large raised beds on the campus behind the venue’s kitchen, which have been filled with a variety of herbs. Altogether, there are 20 different fully developed plants ranging from sage, mint, rosemary and several variations of basil in the garden. The herbs yield large quantities of ingredients regularly used in… more
Aug 27, 2012
Reed Exhibitions has been busy since it bought All-Energy, the U.K.'s largest renewable energy exhibition and conference, in July 2011. First, it spun off the show into Australia in early 2012, and now, Reed Exhibitions is expanding into the North American renewables market with the launch of All-Energy Canada. The new show is scheduled Oct. 2-3, 2013, at Exhibition Place in Toronto. All-Energy Canada will be held in conjunction with the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association and, like the two other All-Energy events, will encompass all aspects of renewable and sustainable energy and… more
Aug 27, 2012
Dedicated to bargain apparel, accessories and footwear, OFFPRICE Show may have gained its momentum during the economic downtown, but it continues to have a strong presence even as things begin to turn around. Held Aug. 19-22 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, the event spanned 125,000 net square feet and attracted approximately 500 exhibiting companies, which is on par with its February numbers of 126,000 square feet and 497 exhibiting companies. August attendance was also close to the 11,500 that attended the previous event, according to show officials. The show has… 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