News

Jun 16, 2015
Sustainability in the trade show industry is moving to the forefront again after it stalled during the recession, and Global Experience Specialists recently took a big leap forward to become the first general service contractor to be certified to an international sustainability standard for the meetings and event industry. GES exceeded Level One and achieved Level Two certification to the Accepted Practices EXchange/American Society for Testing and Materials (APEX /ASTM) Environmentally Sustainable Event Standards pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Exhibits for Environmentally… more
Jun 16, 2015
The American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE) 2015 Marketing, Membership, & Communications Conference (MMCC), held June 1—2, at the Walter E. Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, recorded the highest number of participants in its history, With more than 1,000 attendees and more than 60 exhibiting companies.  “We had another great MMCC conference this year. Along with its record breaking attendance, participants were energized and found ideas and solutions to questions they were seeking because of the high-level content, opening and closing general speakers, and… more
Jun 15, 2015
Las Vegas will once again host the largest travel trade show in North America in 2020, the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW. IPW is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S.   "IPW is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Las Vegas to the world and there is always something new to experience," said Lawrence Weekly, Clark County Commissioner and Chairman of the LVCVA Board of Directors. He added. "Since the show was last here just two years ago, we’ve seen new resorts open like the SLS Las Vegas, The Cromwell and The Delano, new… more
Jun 15, 2015
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry named Kai Hattendorf as its new managing director to replace Paul Woodward, who will be stepping down in November. The announcement was made on the opening day of the UFI Open Seminar in Europe, June 15-17 in Istanbul, Turkey. Hattendorf currently is vice president, Digital Business & Entertainment at Messe Frankfurt and was selected in a in a process led by the UFI president, Andrés Lopez-Valderrama and his Executive Committee, and supported by the international search firm, Heidrick & Struggles. “I am personally very pleased… more
Jun 15, 2015
E.J. Krause & Associates launch The Builder Remodeler Expo Southeast March 8-9 at the Cobb Galleria. The trade show and conference will encompass builders, designers, remodelers, and all those who sell and service the residential building industry. “Atlanta is the ideal market to develop BRE into a major platform to serve the Southeast’s residential building and remodeling industry,” said Ned Krause, president and CEO, E.J. Krause. He added, “BRE has already received considerable support from major manufacturers and distributors, as well as industry backing. We are looking forward to a… more
Jun 14, 2015
This past fortnight, we have seen some interesting and potentially game-changing announcements from the biggest players in the Search Engine and Social Media tech community. Read below to tune in: Twitter is expanding its character limit for Direct Messages to a whopping 10,000 characters. This is being done to enable users to report their issues to brands in detail without being bogged down by the character limit. https://twittercommunity.com/t/removing-the-140-character-limit-from-direct-messages/41348 Facebook's News Feed algorithm will now factor the type of content being actively… more
Jun 14, 2015
This past fortnight, we have seen some interesting and potentially game-changing announcements from the biggest players in the Search Engine and Social Media tech community. Read below to tune in: Twitter is expanding its character limit for Direct Messages to a whopping 10,000 characters. This is being done to enable users to report their issues to brands in detail without being bogged down by the character limit. https://twittercommunity.com/t/removing-the-140-character-limit-from-direct-messages/41348 Facebook's News Feed algorithm will now factor the type of content being actively… more
Jun 13, 2015
Following extensive research among the 355 members of the International Association of Conference Centres, the association released its Top 10 Meeting Tech Trends for 2015, which are influencing meeting planners and venue operators across the globe. “Meeting Planners are seeing their role influenced more and more by technology, not just for the meeting itself, but in researching and booking venues, how planners interact onsite and how they communicate following the meeting,” said Mark Cooper, IACC’s CEO. He added, “The balance between technology and… more
Jun 13, 2015
Following extensive research among the 355 members of the International Association of Conference Centres, the association released its Top 10 Meeting Tech Trends for 2015, which are influencing meeting planners and venue operators across the globe. “Meeting Planners are seeing their role influenced more and more by technology, not just for the meeting itself, but in researching and booking venues, how planners interact onsite and how they communicate following the meeting,” said Mark Cooper, IACC’s CEO. He added, “The balance between technology and… more
Jun 11, 2015
Hospitality design is booming, with the Emerald Expositions’ HD Expo, held May 13-15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, drawing a record crowd and exhibitors. There were 10,260 registered attendees at the show, which is produced by Hospitality Design magazine, marking a 10-percent increase from last year. The showfloor had 255,200 square feet of booth space, which was also an increase from 2014. “HD Expo continues to be at the forefront of the industry as we uniquely provide the ultimate platform to bring together and provide access to the world’s leading hospitality design… 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