News
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
Feb 06, 2019
Diversified Communications’ President and CEO Theodore Wirth promoted Mary Larkin to President of Diversified Communications’ U.S. operating division.
“In 2014, we took the unusual step and established a three-person EVP team. Bill Springer, Mike Lodato and Mary Larkin were able to grow the business, but three-person leadership teams are challenging at best and we felt it was the right time to appoint one leader,” Wirth said.
He added, “We greatly appreciate what Bill, Mike and Mary accomplished together and throughout their careers here and look forward to the future of Diversified… more
Feb 05, 2019
Is the next recession coming? Joe Popolo, CEO of Freeman, doesn’t seem to think so. In the past twelve months, the Dallas-based company completed several acquisitions and sales to stay nimble in the changing marketplace and is gaining ground around the world.
TSNN sat down with Popolo at EFI Connect, a conference for digital imaging and printing that took place last month in Las Vegas, where he shared his thoughts on growing a family company to a $3 billion business, the role of new technologies and overall market trends.
Freeman recently sold Encore Event Technologies to PSAV. What’s the… more
Feb 05, 2019
Full-service sourcing, housing and event management company Connections Housing has acquired Par Avion, a full-service convention housing and travel company based in Lawndale, Calif.
Both Connections Housing and Par Avion are women-owned business and are respected leaders in housing and travel services with mutual emphasis on executing superior and seamless events.
The announcement comes from company executives Nancy Hallberg and Kris Sieradzki, Connections Housing, and Toby Brenner, Par Avion.
“Both companies have been in business for 30-plus years with the paramount goal of… more
Feb 04, 2019
By Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director
Firstly a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored me for the Boston Marathon. I really appreciate it, and it will go a long way to help the charity achieve its goals this year.
For the first time, I’ve got corporate sponsors and a huge thank you to them - details of my various supporters are below - you have gone above and beyond. Finally, a big thank you to Rachel, Brian and Jeffery for their Herculean efforts on the fundraising - a fantastic team effort.
Training in January hasn’t quite gone to plan. I’ve picked up a hip injury -… more
Feb 04, 2019
Planners using Streampoint Solutions can now easily extend the software’s functionality with Pathable’s mobile event apps and conference microsites. Conversely, Pathable users now have Streampoint as a stable, affordable option for additional event management tools.
Streampoint provides event management software for the conference, tradeshow and special events community. Pathable is the latest in a growing list of the company’s application programming interface (API) partners, offering a wide range of complementary technology integrations.
“We are very excited about the integration with… 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