News
Mar 15, 2019
The $130 million, 250,000-square-foot expansion of MGM Grand Conference Center is now complete, meaning MGM Resorts now offers a total of 4 million square feet of meeting and convention space on the Las Vegas Strip. (For reference, that’s more than all the convention space in Manhattan combined.)
“With our expansion, upgraded amenities, new outdoor space and user-friendly connectivity packages, we provide our convention customers an enhanced meeting experience with more options,” said Ernest Stovall, vice president of Sales for MGM Grand.
He continued, “I’m proud that many of our clients… more
Mar 14, 2019
On March 12, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) board of directors agreed to move forward with an upgrade and expansion of Cox Business’ wireless and wireline services at Las Vegas Convention Center.
The renewed agreement includes a high-density network upgrade to the Wi-Fi installation in the existing convention space with new access points that power the latest 802.11ax standard.
The three-year, multi-million-dollar renewed agreement also includes the design and management of a comprehensive Wi-Fi and distributed antenna system at LVCC’s $935.1 million, 1.4 million-… more
Mar 13, 2019
Sitting on your trade show floor is an exhibitor who is spending quite a bit of money to be there, but he or she may be thinking, “For this type of investment, I could be doing an amazing brand activation out of the confines of this booth.”
Or, “We really would like our products to be seen by our end-users, the consumers, but they aren’t allowed into this show.”
As a result, some shows are losing major exhibitors, such as E3 — the big video gaming show held annually in Los Angeles that’s had several major gaming companies drop out wanting to use their marketing dollars in other ways.
A… more
Mar 13, 2019
You could say the team members behind MAD Event Management are masters of creativity. Based in Warwick, New York, they’re owners and operators of several large pop culture conventions, from Long Beach Comic Expo to C3: Comic Creator Conference. As such, they’re frequently managing events that involve large numbers of attendees dressed in costume, as well as in-depth education sessions designed to help high-level comics creatives learn and grow in the industry.
Yet for its latest challenge, MAD stepped into a similar, yet different role in a new location: Havana, Cuba. Working with the… more
Mar 12, 2019
San Diego Convention Center is modernizing its approach to event signage solutions by selecting Digital Conventions as its official in-house digital signage service provider.
Expected to be up and running by this summer, SDCC’s new digital signage program will allow event organizers, advertisers and sponsors to have a turn-key approach to high-definition video advertising, wayfinding and announcements, according to convention center officials.
The new partnership is just one more way the facility is working to improve the customer and guest experience, said Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe,… more
Mar 12, 2019
In response to the enthusiastic feedback of its attendees and exhibitors, LIGHTFAIR International will return to Las Vegas for its next West coast show in 2020.
Staged alternately on the East and West coasts, the annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center after a six-year absence.
The last time the massive show was in Vegas, in 2014, LIGHTFAIR set new West coast occupancy and attendance records, according to Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers.
“LIGHTFAIR and Las Vegas are natural partners with a strong… more
Mar 11, 2019
Diversified Communications has acquired three North American events focused on renewable energy and clean energy storage – Intersolar, ees (electrical energy storage) and Power2Drive North America – from German-based Solar Promotion International and FMMI.
Held annually at San Francisco’s Moscone Center for the past 10 years in July, Intersolar and the two collocated events will forgo a 2019 edition and resume Feb. 4-6, 2020, at the San Diego Convention Center, according to Diversified officials.
“Our teams are very excited to be a part of the solar and energy storage industries, and for… more
Mar 07, 2019
If you could create the perfect event tech platform that would solve all of your event-related issues while helping you to achieve your ultimate trade show goals, what would that technology look like? We posed this question to three seasoned trade show professionals and here’s what they had to say.
Jenn Ellek, Senior Director of Marketing, Taffy Event Strategies
Since I am a marketer at heart and a data-follower by design, I’m always looking for ways to customize and personalize a prospect’s journey of engagement and their ultimate conversion to an event attendee. With unlimited resources (… more
Mar 06, 2019
Last month, the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority awarded Chemical Bank the exclusive naming rights for Cobo Center via a 22-year, $1.5 million-per-year agreement.
According to Claude Molinari, general manager of the downtown Detroit facility, the DRCFA’s selection of Chemical Bank represents strong financial future and a big move toward Cobo becoming a self-sustaining facility by 2024.
“This unprecedented naming rights agreement is a great win for all parties,” Molinari said. “Chemical Bank makes a strong statement of commitment to the region and secured naming rights to a… more
Mar 05, 2019
Hong Kong-listed Pico Far East reported its annual results for the year ended 31st October 2018. The company posted record-high revenues of US$590 million, up 16% year-on-year. However, the company’s net profit dropped 3.5% during the year down to US$35 million. Diluted earnings per share for the year were HK$0.2198 (US$0.028).
The company attributed the growth in revenue to the effectiveness of its Pico+ strategies which successfully mitigated the knock-on effect created by rising global trade tensions and weakening economic conditions in some key markets. The decrease in profit was… 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