Apr 21, 2015
At the 2015 Society of Independent Show Organizers’ 25th anniversary meeting, held April 13-16 at The Sanctuary on Kiawah, Island, S.C., the sessions tackled several heady subjects, including what keeps the CEOs of these for-profit trade show companies up at night? That question was the part of the first session that kicked off the annual event, which was led by Tarsus Group Managing Director Douglas Emslie and included Britton Jones, president and CEO of Business Journals, Inc.; Sally Shankland, CEO of UBM Americas; and Russell Wilcox, CEO of Clarion Group. In the room filled with not only… more
Apr 21, 2015
ISH China & CIHE – China’s International Trade Fair for Sanitation, Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning, hailed as Asia’s largest HVAC and plumbing exhibition, is scheduled May 13-15.   Organized by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and Beijing B&D Tiger Exhibition Co Ltd, the show will take place in Beijing at the New China International Exhibition Center. This year, 2015, marks the fair’s best year to date. The three-day event expects to welcome more than 1,100 exhibitors, covering 90,000-plus square meters across seven halls. With more exhibitors compared to the… more
Apr 21, 2015
Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and the Circulation Industry Promotion Center (CIPC), a subsidiary of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, have signed a cooperation agreement for Meat Expo China, China’s leading trade fair for the meat industry. Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt, said he was pleased about the expansion of the trade fair portfolio. He added, “This strategic decision is a significant step for Messe Frankfurt in our efforts to bring our food technology expertise to bear more effectively in China”. Messe Frankfurt has many years of expertise organizing food… more
Apr 21, 2015
Global Sources' 2015 spring electronics show second phase opened earlier this week with more than 1,900 booths focusing on mobile electronics. Held April 18-21 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, products categories covered included smartphones, tablets, drones, wearables and accessories. Global Sources Electronics is being held in two phases and features a total of more than 5,500 booths, making it the world's largest electronics sourcing trade show. The first phase was held April 11-14 and included a wide range of electronics for home, office, auto and security products as well as electronic… more
Apr 21, 2015
The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) has recently released its 2014 MICE statistics reporting a total of US$1.23 billion in revenue generated from MICE activities during the year. The number of MICE events grew by 21% over 2013 reaching more than 500. TAITRA’s flagship MICE promotion project, MEET TAIWAN, attributed the increases to leading trade shows including COMPUTEX, Taipei International Cycle Show, and the Taiwan International Boat Show. TAITRA also claims international trade visitors reached close to 190,000, and highlighted those originating from Japan, Korea,… more
Apr 20, 2015
Almost one year ago, unions serving the Pennsylvania Convention Center were asked to sign a new “Customer Service Agreement” that would allow exhibitors to do more of their own work at the venue, and two of the six unions, Carpenters Local 8 and Teamsters Local 107, opted out. As a result, the four unions who signed the agreement continued working in the center, and the two others were locked out.   The Carpenters and Teamsters, who were turned down when they requested hearings in front of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board last year to dispute that decision, now will have the… more
Apr 18, 2015
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has teamed again with the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) to produce its latest publication, “2015 Young Professional Exhibitor Needs and Preferences Study”.   CEIR has conducted research with young professional attendees since 2009. With funding from SISO, this first-ever initiative offers insights on young exhibitor attitudes and preferences about business-to-business exhibitions. “SISO is pleased to entrust this important exhibition industry research to CEIR with financial underwriting. Young exhibitors today… more
Apr 16, 2015
Meetings Mean Business (MMB) and other industry leaders brought together thousands at approximately 65 events April 16 for the first annual North American Meetings Industry Day (NAMID). This nationwide day of advocacy spotlighted the substantial value derived from meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions. NAMID is an expansion of the successful efforts in Canada who have for 20 years held the annual Canadian National Meetings Industry Day. The MMB coalition members, in addition to industry leaders across in Canada and Mexico, hosted events in… more
Apr 16, 2015
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) Board of Directors appointed Lori Healey as CEO of the agency that oversees Chicago’s McCormick Place. Healey comes to MPEA from the Chicago-based investment and urban economic development firm Tur Partners LLC, where she served as CEO. She succeeds Jim Reilly, who announced previously that he would be stepping down in 2015. “We are very fortunate to have someone with Lori‘s caliber of experience to lead the MPEA team during these exciting times, with construction of the event center and the headquarters hotel set to begin shortly,” said… more
Apr 14, 2015
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research released its full-year 2014 Index Report indicating that the trade show industry grew by a modest 1.8 percent last year, which was slightly less than the 2 percent originally predicted. The growth in 2014 also was 1 percentage point higher than 2013’s total growth. "We are optimistic for the performance of the industry overall this year. Economic and job growth should continue to drive expansion in exhibitions," said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates. The overall CEIR index is forecast to… 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