News
Feb 12, 2019
As part of its ongoing partnership with the American Heart Association’s Orange County Division, Visit Anaheim has donated eight life-saving CPR kits to two more high schools in its local community.
Launched in November 2017 in conjunction with the AHA, the CVB’s multi-year Heart-to-Heart campaign was created to give back to local residents by providing more than 15,000 Anaheim high school students with life-saving CPR skills and education.
“Inspired by American Heart Association’s decision to host their 2017 Scientific Sessions at the Anaheim Convention Center after a 16-year absence and… more
Feb 12, 2019
As technology continues to become an essential part of the trade show ecosystem, some show organizers are creating dedicated showfloor spaces for tech innovations that make sense for the industries their shows represent.
Case in point: PROCESS EXPO, which will unveil its Augmented Reality Showcase as one of its new showfloor activities, Oct. 8-11 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Organized by Harvin AR, the AR Showcase will provide attendees with new ways to experience processing and packaging equipment through AR holograms and guided AR training simulations by participating exhibitors.
The… more
Feb 12, 2019
The sun will shine bright in San Diego next week as the National Grocers Association convenes in the city for the first time ever for the 2019 NGA Show.
The 35th annual trade show and conference for the grocery industry brings together independent retailers and wholesalers, food retail industry executives, food/CPG manufacturers and service providers for learning and networking opportunities.
This year’s show, produced and managed by Clarion UX, will feature more than 400 exhibiting companies occupying a total of 57,000 square feet of space across San Diego Convention Center, Feb. 24-27.… more
Feb 12, 2019
Are you feeling uncertain about how to get more millennials to your event? Then you won’t want to miss our next Ask Me Anything chat, Marketing Your Next Event to Millennial Professionals, set for Thursday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. EST.
Join our host Dahlia El Gazzar of DAHLIA+ AGENCY and special guest Michaela Alexis, one of North America’s most in-demand speakers on topics related to LinkedIn and personal branding, to learn best practices for marketing your event to an audience that is critical to your event’s future success.
RSVP for this free chat HERE today via Facebook or simply join HERE… more
Feb 11, 2019
Messe Frankfurt — known as the world’s largest trade show, congress and event organizer — has deployed electric StreetScooters transport vehicles for deliveries on its exhibition campus. As part of a two-year trial, the zero-emission vehicles are being used for Messe Frankfurt exhibitors and visitors.
With an area the size of 90 football fields comprising 11 exhibition halls, more than 90 conference rooms and 26 restaurants, the Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds are a veritable “city within a city.” It offers services including booth construction, visitor marketing and catering, ensuring… more
Feb 07, 2019
AEG Facilities, the venue management subsidiary of AEG, and SMG, an Onex portfolio company and venue management company, have signed a definitive agreement to merge.
This combination will create a new, standalone global facility management and venue services company that will operate as ASM Global (“ASM”).
Onex and AEG’s subsidiary will each own 50 percent of the company following the completion of the transaction.
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Wes Westley, CEO and president of SMG, said, “This merger is a major step for our industry. We are excited to bring… more
Feb 07, 2019
TicketSocket, a white-label ticketing, registration and data marketing company, has released Ice Cream Social (ICS), a social commerce platform that harnesses affiliate marketing concepts to help turn customers into promoters.
This social invite tool enables vendors to increase their sales via customer referrals that incentivize their network of friends in an effort to turn customers into influencers and their connections into leads.
According to Mark Miller, CEO of TicketSocket, this new system seamlessly integrates with e-commerce sites to track conversions and aggregate customer data,… more
Feb 07, 2019
The biannual MAGIC fashion trade show is reinventing itself by offering a new one-stop shopping experience at a single venue, following feedback from MAGIC buyers.
Starting in August, MAGIC will take place entirely at the Las Vegas Convention Center, eliminating the need for retail industry buyers to hop between this venue and Mandalay Bay Convention Center to shop the massive marketplace.
At the LVCC, MAGIC’s many distinct shows will be able to exist as unique, curated neighborhoods within a single campus. Each marketplace will have its own look, feel and sense of community while… more
Feb 06, 2019
Last month, representatives of global events, tourism and sustainability bodies ushered in the new year with the launch of four Principles for Sustainable Events designed to guide and motivate event organizers worldwide to embrace and implement green practices.
This multi-stakeholder group, convened by the Events Industry Council (EIC) through two forums held during IMEX in Frankfurt and Las Vegas, agreed that the focus of these principles should include:
Shared responsibility for implementation and communication between event organizers and suppliers
Identification of basic… more
Feb 06, 2019
This year has already been a busy one for trade shows, with five major events wrapping up in January. Take a look at some of the highlights, each indicators that the industry looks strong for 2019 and beyond.
World of Concrete
This signature event for the international concrete and mason industries marked its largest show in a decade, drawing 60,511 attendees and more than 1,500 companies—including 259 brand-new ones—exhibiting across nearly 777,000 net square feet of exhibit space at Las Vegas Convention Center. The show’s educational component enjoyed a 5 percent increase in attendance… 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