News

Feb 06, 2015
This past year was a busy one for Global Experience Specialists, a division of Viad, with several acquisitions to bolster its service offerings, as well as working on some U.S.-based mega shows, including CONEXPO-CON/AGG and the International Manufacturing Technology Show. "We delivered significant growth this year and made great progress against our strategic growth plans,” said Steve Moster, who was promoted to president and CEO of Viad last year. He added, “Both business units finished the year in line with our prior guidance, with strong results driven by a combination of organic growth,… more
Feb 05, 2015
Long held in February every year, New England Grows! listened to its customers and decided to move the show to the December timeframe. The Northeast’s largest educational conference and green industry exposition will be held Dec. 2-4 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. In surveys, when asked for the single change that could improve their conference experience, more than half of all exhibitors and attendees requested an earlier show date, according to show management. "After 23 years of growth, we are setting the stage for even greater success," said Virginia Wood, executive… more
Feb 04, 2015
Trade Show News Network has named Atlanta as the host city for the 6th Annual 2015 TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence. More than 50 show organizers from the fastest-growing events in the United States will be feted during the three-day weekend event Nov. 6-8 (www.T-awards.com).  “We are very excited to bring the 2015 TSNN Awards to Atlanta,” said TSNN President Rachel Wimberly. “Known for not only its Southern hospitality, but also its amazing hotel and convention center products for shows big and small coming into town, Atlanta is a world-class city.” Besides the Georgia… more
Feb 03, 2015
The 2015 North American International Auto Show, which wrapped up recently at Detroit’s Cobo Center and drew more than 800,000 attendees, is just the first big show of many that are headed to the city this year. NAIAS attracted a total of 808,775 attendees at this year’s event, compared with 803,451 who attended last year. “For two weeks, we’ve seen the confidence and felt the commitment that auto manufacturers have placed in our show and in our city,” said 2015 NAIAS Chairman Scott LaRiche. He added, “They unveiled unbelievable products in dramatic fashion; they built beautiful new,… more
Feb 02, 2015
Most convention centers  typically run at a deficit, but the Los Angeles Convention Center has bucked that trend by turning a tidy profit of $3.3 million one year after it was handed over to a private company to run. AEG Facilities, a division of AEG Worldwide - which owns the adjacent Staples Center and L.A. Live - now oversees the center, and representatives of the company said running it more efficiently, such as cutting back on personnel, helped the building’s bottom line. “Converting to a private sector contract to operate the Convention Center was a bold experiment and AEG’s… more
Feb 02, 2015
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events has opened the Call for Nominations for its annual awards program to recognize exceptional professionals in the exhibitions and events industry. Each year, industry professionals who meet the outlined criteria may be nominated for any of the awards listed at www.iaee.com/awards. The deadline to submit nominations to IAEE is June 12, with the exception of the IAEE Woman of Achievement and IAEE International Excellence Awards.  The following awards represent IAEE's highest honors: The IAEE Woman of… more
Feb 02, 2015
Skyline Exhibits recently released a report, “Tech For Trade Show Exhibitor” that takes a look at the established, growing and declining technologies exhibitors are using based on recent survey results. In the fall of 2014, Skyline surveyed 15,000 exhibitors in order to understand what technologies organizations are incorporating into their exhibit programs. The report is a summary of the 380 responses they received as a result of that survey. Skyline found the majority of those surveyed have a positive perception of technology. Just more than 87 percent of exhibitors feel… more
Feb 02, 2015
Skyline Exhibits recently released a report, “Tech For Trade Show Exhibitor” that takes a look at the established, growing and declining technologies exhibitors are using based on recent survey results. In the fall of 2014, Skyline surveyed 15,000 exhibitors in order to understand what technologies organizations are incorporating into their exhibit programs. The report is a summary of the 380 responses they received as a result of that survey. Skyline found the majority of those surveyed have a positive perception of technology. Just more than 87 percent of exhibitors feel… more
Jan 31, 2015
Your Web Site is the main point of entry for a lot of people coming to your event, so it’s important to make sure it is effective as possible. 1.Start with the Domain Name Despite the hype about SEO, marketers often underestimate the importance of getting the domain name right for their website. Search engines give considerable weightage to keywords in domain names, so it’s important to ensure that yours has the one or two words that your audience is most likely to associate with your brand. Choose short words which are free of special characters and easy to type on a touch screen… more
Jan 31, 2015
Your Web Site is the main point of entry for a lot of people coming to your event, so it’s important to make sure it is effective as possible. 1.Start with the Domain Name Despite the hype about SEO, marketers often underestimate the importance of getting the domain name right for their website. Search engines give considerable weightage to keywords in domain names, so it’s important to ensure that yours has the one or two words that your audience is most likely to associate with your brand. Choose short words which are free of special characters and easy to type on a touch screen… 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