Blogs
Mar 11, 2013
There has been a lot of debate recently over a questionable blog post in Inc. I am sure all of you already know the blog – how to leverage a trade show without actually paying for it was the basic premise. Here is the article link in case you missed it: “How To Commandeer a Trade Show: 4 Tips” by Don Rainey. It bothered me on a lot of levels, but there were two main things that stuck out.
First, it guided our colleagues with newer companies that they do not have to work hard to grow their business. It actually promoted using other companies’ hard-… more
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Mar 09, 2013
I was reading an interesting article in the New York Times this week about resolutions falling by the wayside. A quote about what resolutions should do grabbed my attention, “They can inspire you and help you keep the bigger picture in mind.” 2013 will be a year of empowering my career and personal life and completing the goals that I set for myself. On the lighter side of New Year’s resolutions I’ve decided to take some of the hassle out of travel.
In our business, travel is a prerequisite and never seems to end. I always think about ways to lessen the stress and… more
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Mar 02, 2013
The Minnesota Chapter ofMeeting Professionals International hosted a full day of learning called iConnect. I had the honor of being the kick-off keynote and the "Conference Catalyst", but also was able to sit in on several educational breakout sessions.
Doug Chorpenningfrom the Wet Paint Group hosted an interesting discussion called “Don't Put Your Event Before Your Brand.”
His talk was thought provoking, as it pointed out that logistics are not enough for planners. Below is a mix of his shared ideas combined with my own two cents:
Event participants expect… more
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Feb 23, 2013
Almost every exhibitor will tell you they go to trade shows to raise their company’s visibility and build their corporate image.
Those visual metaphors are not coincidental. It’s essential to be seen at a trade show. And yet, despite their best intentions, too many exhibitors end up … invisible. Could that be you, too?
Let’s throw a light on what makes exhibitors invisible, even when they really want to be seen:
A Camouflaged Trade Show Display
Your trade show display will fade into the background like a soldier’s camouflaged uniform in a… more
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Feb 22, 2013
A little more than12 years ago at a gathering of top tradeshow organizers in Santa Barbara, Calif., the keynote speaker – himself an organizer who had just bought one of the largest shows and most well-known show groups in the U.S – stunned the room by telling his audience: “You are nothing but a bunch of concrete salesmen” and then continued to skewer them for running, in his opinion, unsophisticated businesses, where they bought floor space at a discount and resold it at a premium. He went on to say that he was going to single-handedly change the exhibition… more
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Feb 14, 2013
I just read a blog by Rachel O’Sullivan on checking after-show invoices. She focused on material handling fees, but I have to say, you probably need to check all invoices for services you get at the show for accuracy.
Human error
There are times when your electrician or plumber or materials handler marks things for your booth as incorrect. Put another way, how many times have you received crates that didn’t belong to you (that has happened to me a couple of times) or have had to go walking around a show floor for a clearly marked crate for your booth? (I push back if… more
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Feb 09, 2013
It’s great to hear visitors to your trade show booth say things like, “You’ve got just what I need!” or “We love working with your company!” or “Your booth really caught my eye!”
But because trade shows are so complicated, it’s possible that, no matter how much you prepare, something could go wrong. And as the trade show manager, you’re probably the first one who’s going to hear about it.
How bad could it be? Well, hearing any of these 21 things in your trade show exhibit will sound as bad as fingernails on a… more
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Feb 02, 2013
In a previous blog post, I shared how I helped my clients at the American College Health Association incorporate wellness into their events by providing healthier food options.
While that was a great start, we wanted to take the wellness program even further. A little creativity was in order, but when it was all said and done, the end results turned out to be more successful than we imagined.
After the menus were adjusted, the second part of wellness was to get people up and moving. Of course, we didn’t want to take away time from all the sessions, as education was the focus of the… more
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Jan 26, 2013
When you’re shopping for your next trade show display, it’s all too easy to focus just on the price. After all, price is easy to judge – whoever costs the least, wins.
And yet, price is not the same as value. When you buy based on value, you find that spending a little more money may get you a lot more value in return.
So here are 10 other criteria beyond price that experienced exhibit buyers know to look for.
Let’s start with the display:
1. Quality: Be careful about buying a disposable display online, only to last for a show or two. A… more
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Jan 26, 2013
This is the final part of a six-part series on WiFi at events. The last “C” is all about exercising your freedom of choice, putting the free market to work to ensure you receive the highest quality network for your event at the most competitive price.
“I thought my only option was to use the venue’s in-house network” is something we hear far too often. Regardless of the default Internet “exclusivity” clause in your venue contract and event organizer “conventional wisdom”, the FCC’s Telecommunications Act of 1996 protects your freedom… more
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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