Greater Houston CVB, Messe Duesseldorf North America Partner on Medical World Americas Launch

February 27, 2013

In a unique collaboration between the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau and Messe Duesseldorf North America, the two are partnering to launch Medical World Americas April 28-30, 2014, at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center.

Germany-based Messe Duesseldorf organizes MEDICA, the world’s largest annual medical trade fair, with more than 4,500 exhibitors and 130,000 attendees, which Medical World Americas will be modeled after, according to show management.

“The Americas represent some of the most significant players, if not the largest and fastest growing, in the global medical market,” said Joachim Schaefer, managing director of Messe Dusseldorf, “and therefore are a natural extension of the MEDICA brand and its commitment to innovation in the international health industry.”

Medical World Americas is not the first event that the GHCVB has partnered with to showcase what the city has to offer.

In November, the GHCVB had a minor stake in VP International’s Total Energy USA, a show that brought together several energy sectors all under one roof at the George R. Brown CC.

Greg Ortale, GHCVB president and CEO, said that Medical World Americas, as well as Total Energy USA,  is part of an overall strategy the bureau is committed to focusing on going forward.

"It is representative of a new initiative in our organization to capitalize on the business strengths of Houston and draw appropriate conventions and events, particularly in the energy, healthcare and aerospace industries,” he added.

At the Total Energy USA launch, Ortale had said, “This is the European model, so why don’t we learn from the Europeans?”

Houston isn't alone, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center also decided to take a chance on show ownership when it partnered with Imago Productions last year to launch the International Disaster Conference & Exposition. 

VP International has signed on as Medical World Americas show management, and Marketing Design Group also will work on marketing for the show.

"We're very excited to be a small part of harnessing the knowledge of the Texas Medical Center and the expertise of Messe Dusseldorf/ MEDICA to produce this event in quite possibly one of the most important periods of time across the healthcare landscape," said Vinnie Polito, who is managing director of VP International and previously was Reed Exhibitions' global head of life sciences and healthcare.

Medical World Americas is a conference and exposition that will allow participants to source a variety of medical products, equipment, technology and services for everything from prevention and diagnostics to therapy and rehabilitation, according to show management.

The conference component will be developed in collaboration with Texas Medical Center specialists and faculty members and focus on the following categories; Cardiology, Oncology, Infection Control, Hospital Occupational Health & Safety and Hospital Disaster Readiness.

As the largest medical center in the world, TMC will draw from its 52 member institutions constituting a workforce of 92,000 and exemplary programs, including the University of Texas MD Anderson and The Texas Heart Institute and Baylor College – both of which are ranked highly in their respective specialties by U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Robert Robbins, CEO of the Texas Medical Center, has agreed to chair the Executive Advisory Committee for the event.

“When people across the globe think of health, we want them to immediately think of Houston,” he added. “Medical World Americas gives Houston a powerful opportunity, a platform, to tell the story about the Texas Medical Center and our community.”

Besides the Texas Medical Center, Houston is a hub for several other science and biotechnology companies, cutting-edge hospitals and health clinics.

Add new comment

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