Tech News

Feb 02, 2014
This past Sunday the GRAMMYs aired on CBS and if you were on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest or Instagram at the time you were bound to see discussions and images covering the performances, outfits, and winners.  GRAMMY.com recently announced, “Music’s biggest night is TV’s biggest social event of the 2013-2014 season with a record-breaking 34 million social media interactions.” This is an event manager’s dream!  You, too, can achieve spectacular success on social media for your event! The GRAMMYs started promoting their social media channels long… more
Feb 02, 2014
The Professional Convention Management Association continued with their tradition of experimentation by introducing a hackathon, sponsored by FreemanXP and QuickMobile, at this year’s Convening Leaders. The idea was to provide education and provoke interest for PCMA attendees in how mobile technologies can be used at events. The first hackathons date back to 1999, but they became more mainstream in the mid 2000s. A hackathon is an event where software developers come together to collaborate in a specific project. The key to the hackathon is its intensity. The word hackathon is a… more
Feb 02, 2014
The Professional Convention Management Association continued with their tradition of experimentation by introducing a hackathon, sponsored by FreemanXP and QuickMobile, at this year’s Convening Leaders. The idea was to provide education and provoke interest for PCMA attendees in how mobile technologies can be used at events. The first hackathons date back to 1999, but they became more mainstream in the mid 2000s. A hackathon is an event where software developers come together to collaborate in a specific project. The key to the hackathon is its intensity. The word hackathon is a… more
Feb 02, 2014
This past Sunday the GRAMMYs aired on CBS and if you were on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest or Instagram at the time you were bound to see discussions and images covering the performances, outfits, and winners.  GRAMMY.com recently announced, “Music’s biggest night is TV’s biggest social event of the 2013-2014 season with a record-breaking 34 million social media interactions.” This is an event manager’s dream!  You, too, can achieve spectacular success on social media for your event! The GRAMMYs started promoting their social media channels long… more
Jan 26, 2014
While no one has a crystal ball, there are certain social media trends that are gaining attention and are predicted to strengthen in 2014. The top three trends you should devote more time to when designing your social media strategy are: 1. Google+    Google+ has had a slow start, but they are making great strides to catch up with Facebook and as a result more people are looking at Google+ differently. Facebook has been a part of our lives for a decade now and the younger crowd is looking for something new. Google+ could be this something new. Google+ posts also help to increase… more
Jan 26, 2014
Freeman recently merged AVT Event Technologies and Encore Productions, two of its technology providers for the hospitality industry, to form Encore Event Technologies. The combination of AVT and Encore under the Encore Event Technologies brand will provide its customers with direct access to a greater pool of resources and capabilities, according to company officials.  Encore Event Technologies creates a one-stop shop for next-generation technology and full event production needs. “Establishing a single brand entity that represents Freeman’s hotel segment has always been… more
Jan 26, 2014
Freeman recently merged AVT Event Technologies and Encore Productions, two of its technology providers for the hospitality industry, to form Encore Event Technologies. The combination of AVT and Encore under the Encore Event Technologies brand will provide its customers with direct access to a greater pool of resources and capabilities, according to company officials.  Encore Event Technologies creates a one-stop shop for next-generation technology and full event production needs. “Establishing a single brand entity that represents Freeman’s hotel segment has always been… more
Jan 26, 2014
While no one has a crystal ball, there are certain social media trends that are gaining attention and are predicted to strengthen in 2014. The top three trends you should devote more time to when designing your social media strategy are: 1. Google+    Google+ has had a slow start, but they are making great strides to catch up with Facebook and as a result more people are looking at Google+ differently. Facebook has been a part of our lives for a decade now and the younger crowd is looking for something new. Google+ could be this something new. Google+ posts also help to increase… more
Jan 19, 2014
It was inevitable that the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses™ (WOCN®) Society would implement a mobile app for its annual conference. The rationale around using mobile apps was becoming clearer and mobile platforms were developing into efficient ways to deliver on conference objectives. Nevertheless, conference attendees weren’t exactly in love with technology and planners had to devise ways to help them let go of the traditional ways to navigate, network and learn during the event. Aside from the fact that nearly everyone who attends the WOCN conference brings a mobile… more
Jan 19, 2014
Technology moved from the periphery of last year’s Professional Convention Management Association’s Convening Leaders and became a featured topic at this year’s event held last week in Boston. Not only was there an education track specifically for technology, but also it was given its own stage in what was known as TechCentral. TechCentral was a hub of activity throughout the conference. Attendees kept technology vendors busy with hands on demos of some of the newest technology available for planners, as well as some old standbys. Attendee and panelist, Allison Green,… 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