News

Jun 12, 2019
GreenTech, a global platform for the horticulture industry currently taking place this week in Amsterdam, has announced it will launch GreenTech Americas in partnership with Tarsus Mexico and RAI Amsterdam. The new event will take place March 24-26, 2020, in Querétaro, Mexico, the heartland for agriculture production in the country. “Protected horticulture is the fastest growing area for agriculture production in Mexico,” says Paul St. Amour, vice president Latin America for Tarsus Mexico. “The growers have a desire to upgrade their production processes with better greenhouse technology,… more
Jun 12, 2019
Event marketers are used to seeing a lot of buzz onsite at their events. Between messaging pushed out by the host organization itself, social media sharing and media coverage, an event is a hive of marketing activity. But what’s often lacking, says Rachel Stephan, chief snöballer at snöball, is the authentic voice that comes from the people who are actually experiencing the event — the attendees, speakers, partners and exhibitors. That’s the idea behind snöball, a digital tool that helps event organizers harness the power of influencer marketing and put it to use at their events: to provide… more
Jun 12, 2019
Just in time for Global Exhibitions Day on June 6, UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry – launched a new report and online database designed to track global exhibitions industry sustainability initiatives and projects in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Initiated by UFI’s working group on sustainability and put together in collaboration with sustainability consulting and research firm Greenview, this first-of-its-kind resource showcases the environmental efforts of global event organizers, venues and service providers while inspiring… more
Jun 11, 2019
Adding a page to the comeback story of Puerto Rico, Connect announced it has selected the destination as host of Connect 2021. Formerly known as Collinson Media & Events (and also now owned by Corporate Event News’ parent company, Tarsus Group), Connect is known for its national marketplace-style shows for meeting planners in the corporate, sports, diversity, association and faith sectors. Connect 2021 is expected to bring 3,500 planners, suppliers and other industry leaders to Puerto Rico for face-to-face meetings, education, networking and its signature lively receptions. “We are… more
Jun 10, 2019
Exhibitions industry professionals around the world celebrated the fourth annual Global Exhibitions Day last week, June 5. From Australia to South Africa, the celebration was driven and supported by more than 40 partner associations in 90 countries and regions. “GED is a perfect symbol for our industry — it’s a huge success that is based on teamwork, trust, and collaboration,” said UFI President Craig Newman. “It is great to see everyone working in this industry getting involved and coming up with a range of interesting and unusual activities to promote exhibitions.” A wide range of… more
Jun 10, 2019
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research reported that the recent growth of the exhibition industry continued during the first quarter of 2019. The CEIR Total Index, a measure of exhibition industry performance, posted a decent year-over-year gain of 1.8 percent, even though it under-performed the inflation-adjusted GDP. “The performance during the first quarter shows the resilience of the exhibition industry despite a government shutdown through most of January and uncertainties surrounding trade negotiations with China and slowing world economic growth,” said CEIR Economist Allen… more
Jun 10, 2019
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Trade Show News Network will hold its prestigious and original TSNN Awards program, which honors the top fastest-growing shows in attendance and net square footage Nov. 15-17 in Dallas. The list of 50 shows that will be feted during the three-day, celebration-filled event can be found listed below and also HERE.  “The Top 50 fastest-growing show winners were chosen by their show’s growth rate between 2016-2018 in attendance and net square footage,” said Tarsus US EVP, Business Development, Rachel Wimberly. She added, “We are really excited to fete all of… more
Jun 06, 2019
At the 2019 Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum, which took place May 29 in Washington, D.C., 220 association and for-profit industry executives not only had the chance to take advantage of information-sharing sessions and networking opportunities, but also got hands-on access to some revolutionary customer service technology. Available 24/7 worldwide to answer any ECEF-related questions via SMS text, Sciensio’s Artificial Intelligence-driven EventBot went live on May 21 and provided attendees and exhibitors with 260 hours of real-time support before and during the event. “ECEF… more
Jun 06, 2019
A new state-of-the-art exhibition space is taking shape in Downtown Las Vegas. Earlier this year, International Market Centers, owners and operators of World Market Center Las Vegas, broke ground in January on The Expo, a $90 million, 315,000-sq.-ft. facility set to open in July 2020. Upon completion, The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas will become the new permanent venue for temporary gift and home décor exhibits at IMC’s semi-annual Las Vegas Market. That event showcases more than 4,000 gift, home décor and furniture resources across 5 million square feet of permanent showrooms and… more
Jun 05, 2019
Does your salary reflect what you think you’re worth? If you’re like most trade show organizers, the answer is probably no (more on that below); yet the forecast for our industry in this area is looking at least partially sunny. Nearly 75 percent of business events organizers received a raise over the past year, averaging a 7-percent increase, according to PCMA’s annual Salary Survey, released this week. While that 7-percent increase is more than twice the average raise for North American workers across all industries, only half of the 550 respondents in PCMA’s survey reported satisfaction… 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