News
Jan 30, 2016
San Antonio unveiled the $325 million Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center expansion, which marks the largest capital improvement project in the City of San Antonio’s history and increases the footprint to 1.6 million square feet.
Festivities were celebrated with the unveiling of “Liquid Crystal,” a public art installation by artist Jason Bruges that is located in the center’s expansive new lobby atrium.
Its 3,510 LCD interactive panels create a digital fountain effect where the flow depends upon the amount of people and activity filling the atrium. It is one of three new art installations in… more
Jan 28, 2016
This year kicked off right with the LA Fit Expo, where nearly 60,000 expected attendees were on hand to share their love of fitness and health.
The conference and exhibition was held Jan. 23-24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. With so much going on at the show, it was hard to know where to go first. And, with the two-day format, attendees packed the floor to get in as much as possible.
The showfloor had exhibitors, martial arts demonstrations and competition, group fitness classes, attendee competitions, such as body building and exercise, and the Healthy Eating Pavilion,… more
Jan 28, 2016
Not only do business leaders say in-person meetings are beneficial to operations, according to a new survey released by the national coalition Meetings Mean Business, but also face-to-face is critical to career development.
As a result, corporate leaders are making in-person meetings a financial priority and report increasing investment in face-to-face meetings in 2016.
“The survey looks at how face-to-face meetings help drive top-line growth and bottom line results for the business community, said Richard Harper, executive vice president at HelmsBriscoe and co-chair of Meetings Mean Business… more
Jan 26, 2016
The CHA Mega Conference and Trade Show, the annual show for the Craft & Hobby Association that was held Jan. 7-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center, celebrated its 75th year, and the attendees were ready to create, connect and learn in this $30 billion world-wide industry.
“There is such a passion for this industry, and our attendees reflect this passion,” said Maureen Walsh, vice president of marketing for the Craft & Hobby Association.
She added, “The energy we see when the exhibit floor is about to open is what we see throughout the industry and the conference. It is like our Black… more
Jan 26, 2016
Dallas-based Freeman has acquired another general service contracting company, Metropolitan Exposition Services.
Located in Moonachie, N.J., and founded in 2001, Metro produces more than 300 shows nationwide annually.
“New York market is very important to Freeman’s clients. We are honored to have the opportunity to support Metro and its clients through this transition,” said Joe Popolo, CEO of Freeman.
He added, “The Metro team has built a lot of strong client relationships with a team of highly skilled professionals who share our values of integrity, empathy, and a commitment to… more
Jan 25, 2016
The Incheon Convention & Visitors Bureau, located in Incheon, South Korea, has become the latest convention and visitors bureau to be certified to an international sustainability standard for the meetings and event industry.
The Incheon CVB achieved certification to the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Destinations for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows and Conferences.
The Destinations standard is one of the nine standards developed by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry to provide event planners and suppliers… more
Jan 25, 2016
Coex, the biggest exhibition organizer in Korea, will be expanding its exhibition organizing business in 2016, with the opening of the Stylish Life Show in Chengdu, China.
Scheduled Nov. 5-9 at the New Century Exhibition and Convention Centre, Stylish Life will be co-organized with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Sichuan Bureau of Expo Affairs.
Stylish Life marks Coex’s fourth international expansion, adding to its three shows in Vietnam: the Vietnam Baby Fair, The Vietnam Retail and Franchise Show and the Vietnam… more
Jan 25, 2016
ITE Asia has acquired a 70 percent stake in the organiser of the Fastener Expo in Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Fastener Expo Shanghai is an annual event held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center.
Fastener Expo Guangzhou, was launched in 2013 and has just held its third edition at the Guangzhou Poly Trade Expo Center.
The acquisition further expands ITE’s business in Asia where it has growing interests, principally in China, India and Indonesia.
The current management team including Mr Yang Jungfeng, will stay with the business.
Commenting on the acquisition, ITE’s Chief… more
Jan 25, 2016
The 2016 edition of Yarn Expo Spring now is less than two months away, and nearly 250 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions, including China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Lithuania, Pakistan, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and Uzbekistan, have already confirmed their participation.
The exhibitor number and the scale of the fair have surpassed the organizers’ expectation, and to accommodate the increased size, the fair will now occupy hall 5.1 of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) March 16-18.
The gross area of 14,000 square meters is an expansion of… more
Jan 25, 2016
In spite of the recent terrorist bombing in Jakarta, the industry is optimistic about the business travel sentiments in Indonesia. There have been no major event cancellations. Comments from various industry players show they remain confident.
Rajan, president & CEO of U.S.-based Air Safety Equipment, also sees no impact on his company’s business travel to Jakarta. “We are organising a Boeing aircraft equipment product launch in Jakarta in September 2016 and there have not been any concern from participants regarding their safety and well-being in the destination.”
Terrorism has been a… 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