Blogs

Oct 25, 2018
Melissa Goodman, American Urological Association (AUA) Programs Manager and her team member, Erin Nichols, wanted a better way to track learner retention at their Annual Meeting. They wanted to set up benchmarks that determine learner knowledge before, during and after each session. Why track learner knowledge, retention and outcomes? Before we get to the details, let’s first tackle why Goodman and Nichols wanted to track learner knowledge and retention. Needs Assessment The first reason they want to track learner outcomes is to identify gaps in knowledge and retention. This allows AUA to… more
Oct 23, 2018
The rule of seven is one of the founding concepts of marketing. The principle states that a message must be received at least seven times before it really sinks in and drives the recipient to take action. In alignment with this rule, Out of Home advertising is designed to reach people in multiple, organic ways throughout their day. Similarly, trade shows implement the rule when delivering multiple messages to event audiences. When combining digital marketing tactics with Out of Home media for trade shows, the desired seven messages can be delivered in dynamic ways. Successful trade show… more
Oct 18, 2018
No. 6  “Good, Fast, Cheap. Pick any two.” vs. Value  In project management, there is a tool known as “the project management triangle.” This triangle is used to show the opposition encountered between a project’s quality, time and cost. The project management triangle’s meaning is very easily understood when it occasionally shows up on a succinct office sign that says, “Good. Fast. Cheap. Pick any two.” I saw this sign the first time — almost 20 years ago — and will admit to having one permanently hanging in my office. It’s a great reminder of one of the inevitable glitches of managing… more
Oct 16, 2018
One of the most important factors for success at a trade show is making sure you reach the right people in the room. Statistics show that upwards of  80 percent of trade show attendees have buying power– but not everyone will be in the market for your particular product or service. So, how do you make sure you’re attracting the right visitors to your booth? There’s a lot you can do before a trade show to help ensure the buyers you want show up, but one of the best tactics is to target them in your pre-show marketing efforts. Here are five steps to help you get started:   Segment your guest… more
Oct 11, 2018
With so much color, noise and evolution in the event tech landscape, it is sometimes a challenge to answer the question of “how can I get my stakeholders to buy the ticket and take the ride.” Yes, it is true that “If you build it, some people will come,” however early adopters and innovators do not represent the bell curve that is often required for event technology to be truly impactful. As such, here are six simple steps to consider when you are looking to encourage technology adoption at your event.   1. Align Event Tech with the Objectives of Attendees and Stake Holders The success of… more
Oct 09, 2018
We hear it all the time: video marketing is the way to go to help your business grow. Millennials want video. Video is sticky and keeps visitors on your website, helps lower your bounce rate and increase your SEO. So, the question is: how do we get and use video in our marketing programs and trade shows? One way to afford creating videos for your marketing content is to find as many uses for them as possible. You can create a video for your website and then do minor modifications to it so it can also be used in your trade show exhibit or include a link in your email marketing campaigns. I… more
Oct 04, 2018
Exhibiting at trade shows – how hard can it be? You just show up and talk to people, right? Actually, exhibiting is surprisingly harder than it looks. That said, trade shows still remain very popular (and even keep growing) because they can produce great results when done right. If you’re exhibiting for the first time, we want to help shorten your learning curve with these eight tips you need to succeed: 1. Know what your goals are for exhibiting Everything you do at trade shows should support your main sales and marketing goal. So, if you don’t know why you’re exhibiting, there’s no way… more
Oct 02, 2018
Touch is one of the first ways we learn as children. Toddlers are practically obsessed with being able to touch and feel everything so they can learn more. This is because the ability to physically touch and hold something can help increase our interest and help us understand things better. Touchable tech appeals exactly to this human nature to touch and experience things on our own. With simple solutions that engage more than just our brain but also our five senses, touchable tech is exactly what it sounds like: technology that you can touch. This technology has been a growing event trend… more
Sep 27, 2018
In the competitive meetings landscape, with a rise in smaller, more frequent events and continued emphasis for conventions and trade shows, planners are under immense pressure to deliver top-tier programs featuring those one-of-a-kind, local experiences that attendees increasingly crave. Destinations Marketing Organizations (DMO) and Conventions and Visitor Bureaus (CVB) are competing to garner the attention of event planners to entice future event bookings, but there is a clear disconnect between the parties. DMOs seem to find it difficult to communicate with meeting planners effectively… more
Sep 25, 2018
Trade show booths. If this phrase doesn’t excite you, you aren’t alone. We have all been to trade shows and seen countless booths without a single drop of inspiration between them. They are all too often boring. Stale. Corporate. With so many bland trade show booths out there, it’s no wonder that many people struggle to come up with engaging ideas for their own booths. How do you make something compelling, on-brand and unique when so much of what’s out there is so boring? Where can you draw a bit of inspiration from? Before you call up your old vendor and resign to a booth as uninspired 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