Sep 27, 2014
By Benjamin Rabe, CEM and Alexa Newman As trade show managers, it’s easy to get focused on the attendee and exhibitor experience at events and lose sight of the members who aren’t able to attend. But by taking some innovative actions, we can include and even engage members who are staying home. The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association (AHA), encountered this issue. ASHE hosts two annual conferences a year, each averaging 2,000 attendees and over 1,000 exhibitors. However, 6,000 members weren’t attending the events… more
Aug 25, 2014
The District of Columbia Dental Society (DCDS) selected SmithBucklin to provide full-service association management. Founded in 1866, DCDS is the professional dental association of the nation's capital, representing more than 600 dentists, oral surgeons and dental professionals. DCDS promotes the growth of the dental profession through educational programming, advocacy for its members and raising the oral health literacy of the D.C. community. The society is a chapter of the American Dental Association. Doug Fesler, who works for SmithBucklin in the Healthcare + Scientific Industry Practice,… more
Aug 25, 2014
MEDICAL WORLD AMERICAS (MWA) will pair up with two collocation partners for the upcoming 2015 conference and expo April 27-29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. The American College of Healthcare Executives Southeast Texas Chapter (ACHE-SETC) will hold its annual educational meeting at MWA and will integrate into the overall conference programming by offering valuable CEU’s to attendees.  Vendome Group’s Healthcare Design Academy also will collaborate with MWA and offering business intersections between attendees through this collocation. “We are thrilled that… more
Aug 25, 2014
Recent labor changes at the Pennsylvania Convention Center already are paying off, with the Philadelphia-based American Association for Cancer Research selecting its hometown for its 2015, 2019 and 2024 Annual Meetings. The AACR Annual Meeting will take place April 18–22, 2015, at the SMG-managed center and will be the largest meeting held in the city next year.      “Philadelphia was a natural choice for our 2015 Annual Meeting,” said the AACR’s CEO Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc). “The city is not only our hometown, but it is also an epicenter for groundbreaking cancer… more
Aug 25, 2014
Developers of medical apps will have the opportunity to present their creations live at the App Competition during MEDICA 2014, World Forum for Medicine, to be held Nov. 12-15 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. MEDICA is billed as the leading international trade fair for the medical sector that attracts more than 4,600 exhibitors and 132,000 visitors from around the globe every year.  A MEDICA expert team will pre-select these app submissions for use in the daily routine of a physician or in the hospital, with 10 developers participating in the competition. The final… more
Jul 28, 2014
The 21st annual canfitpro International Fitness and Club Business Conference and Trade Show is set to take place Aug. 8-9 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.The show will have more than 200,000 square feet of exhibits and 200-plus leading fitness, health and wellness companies represented.Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from well-known fitness celebrities and experts on the trade showfloor, as they bring you the latest in exercise and nutrition information, classes and demos.Fresh off her Gold Medal win at the Sochi Olympics, Hayly Wickenheiser will present “It… more
Jul 28, 2014
The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) announced its officers and directors at the 2014 HCEA Annual Meeting, June 21-24, in Cleveland, Ohio. Diane Benson, CTSM, GE Healthcare, was inducted as President.Here are the 2014-2015 Board Officers:President-Elect– Christine Farmer, Sanofi; Vice President – Don Schmid, MBA, CME/H Hospira, Inc.; Secretary/Treasurer – Christine DiDomenico, MBA; and Immediate Past President – Sue Huff, Medtronic, Inc.Here are the Association’s 2013-2015 Directors:Ann Marie Bermudez, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.; Cassandra Costello, Actelion… more
Jul 28, 2014
The global medical device industry has grown significantly during the last five years and is projected to reach approximately $302 billion by 2017, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.1 percent.To serve this growing industry, Pharma EXPO 2014, on tap Nov, 2-5 at Chicago’s McCormick Place and collocated with PACK EXPO International, will provide solutions medical device manufacturers can use to enhance efficiency, speed and time to market, and to ensure regulatory compliance.“The U.S. medical device market is currently a $110 billion industry – the largest in the world. There are more than… more
Jun 23, 2014
If the standing-room only crowd in the “Healthcare Industry Trends Changing the Events Experience” session during the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association’s 2014 Annual Meeting was any indication, it was obvious that top of mind for a lot of suppliers, health care corporate exhibitors and medical associations was the topsy-turvy times in their industry. Chris Metzger, Freeman’s vice president of corporate accounts, led the session on the first full day of the meeting at the Cleveland Convention Center. “Medical and healthcare events have had a… more
Jun 22, 2014
It’s one thing to build an amazing booth and have the most personable, experienced salespeople possible standing in it, hoping that attendees stop by to check out everything your company has to offer; but it’s a whole other thing to actually do something truly experiential that not only creates a buzz, but also real engagement with possible buyers. There were several companies at the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association’s recent annual meeting and exhibition, held this week at the Cleveland Convention Center that thought out-of-the-box and made an impression on… 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