News

May 04, 2022
The future is beaming brighter for in-person professional meetings and events, with a recent Q1 2022 survey revealing that 84% of American business travelers expect to take at least one trip to attend conferences, conventions or trade shows in the next six months. The survey, which had more than 2,500 respondents, also found that less than one in 10 business travelers are uncertain if they would travel in the next six months and that business travelers expect to resume traveling at a slightly slower pace compared to pre-pandemic levels, averaging about 1.6 trips per month (compared to 1.7… more
May 03, 2022
There is no doubt that when a trade show goes the extra mile to make a positive difference in its host community, the impacts can be incredibly meaningful. Case in point: the 9th annual Design & Construction Week (DCW), held at the Orange County Convention Center Feb. 8-10, which generously donated $13,300 in leftover kitchen, bathroom, living room and outdoor items to an Orlando-area nonprofit with support from the venue’s sustainability coordinator.  As the largest in-person trade show to take place at the facility since the onset of the pandemic, the massive event consisted of two… more
May 02, 2022
Exclusively sponsored by Cadmium Cadmium simplifies the production of events and maximizes the value of online learning with a single, flexible platform designed to capture the chemistry of people, ideas, and knowledge. More than 900 content-driven organizations worldwide count on Cadmium technology for every step of event planning, delivery, and distribution. Let’s take a closer look at Cadmium’s award-winning event management software. For most, it all begins with EdgeReg—a powerful, flexible, and simple online registration solution. EdgeReg offers unprecedented modularity for simple and… more
May 02, 2022
As the trade show industry moves full speed ahead into a busier and more robust season, event-related companies and organizations across North America and beyond are busily forming new business partnerships, opening new offices and strengthening their market share via strategic acquisitions. Check them out! AUVSI The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has partnered with Messe Düsseldorf North America Inc. (MDNA) to co-host XPONENTIAL, the world’s leading trade show for uncrewed systems and autonomy, to broaden its reach to user communities and new market entrants… more
Apr 29, 2022
Leading event management software provider MeetingPlay + Aventri released ExpoPRO, their first major product to be created since the two companies merged in January. The exhibitor task management platform is designed to offer a comprehensive solution for onsite, hybrid and virtual formats and aims to solve major pain points for event planners and exhibitors in the large-scale exhibition market. The company is confident that ExpoPRO will become a must-have tool for event organizers, exhibitors, and sponsors and set a new industry standard for large-scale events, according to Eric Lochner, CEO… more
Apr 28, 2022
Leading information services company Questex has repositioned and renamed its Event Operations Division. Now named Event Performance, the team supports Questex’s strategy of zeroing in on the experience economy with a laser focus on customer engagement at all touch points online and offline.  “As the world returns to live events, we are taking this opportunity to refocus and align our team with Questex’s commitment to ensuring the best customer experience,” said Kate Spellman, CMO of Questex. “In addition to our Q Activate platform, this change allows us to combine event and content… more
Apr 28, 2022
New York’s Javits Center buzzed with activity as vision care professionals converged at Vision Expo East 2022, held March 31-April 3. As the first Vision Expo to take place in New York City in three years, the annual four-day conference and trade show brought together thousands of enthusiastic eyecare and eyewear professionals from across the U.S. and the globe to reconnect with their peers, conduct business and take advantage of plentiful education and engaging programming.  “Following Vision Expo’s successful return to in-person shows at Vision Expo East 2021 in Orlando, and keeping the… more
Apr 26, 2022
Event industry suppliers, CVBs, marketing and tech companies throughout the U.S. and abroad are fine-tuning their departments and promoting team members as the industry continues its robust hiring and promoting trend. Take a look! Spiro   Spiro, the brand experiences agency within the GES collective, has named Carley Faircloth chief marketing officer, responsible for Spiro’s global brand launch and beyond.   Bringing extensive experience leading brand-building strategies in the events and experience sector, Faircloth previously spent just under six years at Freeman, most recently serving… more
Apr 25, 2022
Some people are fortunate enough to be born into their life’s calling. Chef Purvill Chaney is such a lucky individual. A consummate culinary professional who discovered his passion for cooking while working as a chef in his parents’ restaurants in his hometown of Flint, Mich., the budding chef wasted no time in embarking upon a professional career path in hospitality after college, cutting his teeth as a sous chef at a local Hyatt Regency. Since then, Chaney’s long and storied career has included more than 27 years with Hyatt at a dozen different locations in multiple cities followed by a 15-… more
Apr 22, 2022
As the world celebrated Earth Day April 22, event professionals, organizations and venues took stock of the impact their carbon footprint has on climate change and implemented initiatives to be more sustainable. Following are three convention centers that unveiled green initiatives to mark Earth Week. Javits Center The rooftop farm at New York City’s Javits Center joined the New York State Grown & Certified program, a statewide effort that identifies local producers who adhere to higher standards in terms of food safety and environmental stewardship. Located more than eight stories… 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