News

Nov 14, 2016
With the election last week, international trade remains a big topic. What does it mean for trade shows? Major players in the global exhibition industry are taking a “wait and see” attitude. However, the new Administration with their, “America First” position represents a terrific opportunities for US show organizers to increase their international visitors. Join us for this week’s #Expochat led by Stephanie Selesnick, who will discuss bringing international visitors to your shows.  Here are some questions: 1.       Do we want to recruit international… more
Nov 14, 2016
Those of us who have been associated with the tradeshow industry for a long time know that the key to having a successful event is in having satisfied attendees. If attendees accomplish their goals and objectives in attending the event, then they’ll automatically become cheerleaders for your brand. This may seem like something so obvious that it doesn’t need to be stated, but this is also something that confounds event managers when they don’t have a good insight into what their attendees’ specific objectives are and what would define a “successful experience… more
Nov 12, 2016
PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) has unveiled its new Digital Experience Institute, formerly known as the Virtual Edge Institute. “The revealing of the DEI is the latest step in the PCMA’s commitment to providing the best digital educational tools and resources for the industry,” PCMA CEO Deborah Sexton said, “Like the VEI before it, the Institute will represent our ability to harness future success for everyone involved.” DEI is designed to deliver insights and connections essential to attendee engagement in a changing climate of connected… more
Nov 11, 2016
By Elizabeth Johnson If you watched the U.S. Presidential Election coverage on Tuesday night, you likely saw a crowd of people gathered under the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s glass ceiling in New York. What you didn’t see was hidden underneath that crowd - NAB Show New York was set up and ready to open just hours later, early on Wednesday morning Nov. 9.    Despite some unique operational challenges not faced by many show organizers—think Secret Service level security during move-in—the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) team put together a strong, successful event.… more
Nov 10, 2016
In response to feedback, Emerald Expositions’ Outdoor Retailer will shift its 2018 dates to better align with buying cycles, as well as collocate its shows with Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s Connect. In 2018, Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will move to June 11–14, 2018, and Winter Market will move to Nov. 12–15, 2018. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s Connect will collocate with Outdoor Retailer Summer and Winter Markets in Utah, and will run June 6–9, 2018, and Nov. 7–10, 2018. In addition, OR will launch a Winter Expo in January 2019 to serve market segments and product categories that have… more
Nov 09, 2016
The 2016 NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) Show drew 23,301 overall attendees, marking the third consecutive year the convenience and fuel retailing industry’s biggest event in the U.S. has topped more than 23,000 attendees. The NACS Show attracted 8,228 buyers, which are classified as retailers and convenience distributors, including the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) registration. The last time the NACS Show took place in Atlanta was 2013, when overall attendance reached 22,236 and buyer registration was 7,784. Although this year’s attendee numbers are not the highest… more
Nov 09, 2016
Each year, Trade Show News Network compiles a list of the Top 250 Trade Shows ranked by net square footage in the United States. Submissions to be included on the 2016 lists now are open, and the shows must have occurred in 2016. Shows that are over 40,000 net sq. ft. have an opportunity to make the list. The form to fill out is HERE, and the deadline is Jan. 20. TSNN is proud to present valuable data to the industry, which is based on in-depth information provided by show organizers about their events. The Consumer Technology Association’s CES 2015 show snagged the No. 1 spot and… more
Nov 08, 2016
The largest educational trade show and second-largest education convention in the nation returned to the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center, as more than 9,000 attendees attended the 61st annual Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference and Trade Show Nov. 13-16. “This is the time that we get to shine for our members,” said Jeff Chambers, OSBA director of Communication Services. Among the highlights were the18th annual Student Achievement Fair, featuring five performing groups representing each of the OSBA regions, an artwork exhibition and 100 student groups sharing… more
Nov 08, 2016
Planning an event is more than just the number of hotel rooms and square footage of event space available.  These days, your attendee is interested in the destination itself and how activities can be planned to incorporate exploration of the city.  A city that is not yet over exposed, and has a great deal to offer is Providence, R.I. “We are a perfect destination, with the charm and history of New England, the bustle of a metropolitan city, and the intellectual capital of a university town, with both Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) nearby. And this is all… more
Nov 08, 2016
The largest educational trade show and second-largest education convention in the nation returned to the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center, as more than 9,000 attendees attended the 61st annual Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference and Trade Show Nov. 13-16. “This is the time that we get to shine for our members,” said Jeff Chambers, OSBA director of Communication Services. Among the highlights were the18th annual Student Achievement Fair, featuring five performing groups representing each of the OSBA regions, an artwork exhibition and 100 student groups sharing… 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