News

Nov 24, 2012
The recent American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions conference (AHA), held Nov. 3-7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, broke a record as the largest medical meeting ever held in the city. AHA attracted approximately 20,000 cardiovascular medical professionals from five continents and also was the second largest citywide convention overall in Los Angeles. This year was a record year overall for medical conventions for Los Angeles with four shows, including American Association for Clinical Chemistry, American Academy of Periodontology, American Nurses Association and AHA.… more
Nov 24, 2012
During the Cleveland Clinic Innovation Summit at the Hotel InterContinental on the Cleveland Clinic main campus, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald announced that the Cleveland Clinic and GE Healthcare will be participating as tenants in the under-construction medical mart in downtown Cleveland. The Cleveland Clinic Innovation Summit brought more than 1,000 physicians, medical company executives and entrepreneurs from across the country to Cleveland. Thomas Gentile III, president and CEO of GE Healthcare Systems, said the company will use its space at the medical mart for promoting… more
Nov 24, 2012
If timing is everything, then Advanstar Communications chose the perfect moment to expand its fashion trade show portfolio with the recent purchase of ENK International. Advanstar’s MAGIC International already dominated in several market segments – such as footwear, men’s, boy’s and women’s junior – to name a few, and ENK’s show group brought in not only overall women’s wear, but also the East Coast, where several ENK shows are held, according to Joe Loggia, Advanstar Global’s CEO. A deal to acquire ENK made sense, he added, since some… more
Nov 24, 2012
The recent staging of Messe Duesseldorf’s MEDICA 2012, International Trade Fair with Congress – World Forum for Medicine, and the collocated COMPAMED 2012, International Trade Fair – High tech solutions for medical technology, attracted 130,600 visitors from 120 countries to Duesseldorf, Germany. There also were 4,554 exhibitors from 64 nations at MEDICA 2012 that included visitor groups from countries such as South America, North Africa and Asia.  On the exhibitor side, 74 percent of the MEDICA exhibitors were from nations other than Germany, including a record 416… more
Nov 24, 2012
The Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, the largest gathering of cardiovascular health and care professionals in the country, was held Oct. 27-31, attracting close to 4,000 delegates to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The event is co-hosted by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and brings together a total of 20 different organizations. Delegates include physicians, surgeons, researchers, nurses, medical students, and allied health professionals. The delegates come together to share ideas and debate their work, foster important relationships… more
Nov 23, 2012
Mermaids, Hawaiian shirts and just about every type of equipment needed for a treasure hunt in a shipwreck took the spotlight at the 2012 DEMA Show, the world's largest trade-only event for the scuba diving, ocean sports and dive travel industries. It took place Nov. 14–17 at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas. "Diving is a discretionary industry, which makes it unique that the show is growing in size in this economy," said Robert Harar, chairman and CEO of National Trade Productions that produces the show for the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association.… more
Nov 19, 2012
Information on  a memorial fund set up in Joyce's name for an elderly woman she was helping take care of is posted below.   Joyce McKee, a well-known 25-year trade show veteran and most recently CEO of Joyce McKee & Company, passed away Nov. 19 after suffering a stroke.   Her company was a results-based marketing firm focused on direct marketing programs that created solid customer relationships and helped drive revenue goals.   “Joyce McKee was the most positive person I have ever known,” said Cathy Breden, COO for the International Association for… more
Nov 18, 2012
In March, the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association bought the Performing Racing Industry Trade Show, and now it’s expanded its reach even more, with the acquisition of the International Motorsports Industry Show, held annually in Indianapolis. The two motorsports shows will be combined in the process. “This consolidation is all about helping the racing industry to succeed,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. He added, “Unifying the racing industry’s trade shows makes it more affordable for all to participate and allows us to focus on providing… more
Nov 15, 2012
Advanstar Global, parent company of the biennial MAGIC Marketplace fashion shows, has acquired ENK International, owner of 14 high-end trade show fashion brands, including ENKUSA, ENKVEGAS, Fashion Coterie, Intermezzo and Sole Commerce. This acquisition adds to Advanstar’s existing events portfolio with shows such as MAGIC, PROJECT, FN Platform, Licensing International, among several other events and conferences. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Having ENK, MAGIC and PROJECT within the same family of companies provides the fashion industry a choice of intimate and… more
Nov 15, 2012
Houston-based Hart Energy’s DUG East trade show and conference for the unconventional resources industry has grown in leaps and bounds, each year steadily drawing more attendees and exhibitors to an ever-expanding showfloor. Held Nov. 13-15 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, the event attracted approximately 3,200 attendees and 315 exhibitors to a 45,800 net square foot showfloor, compared with just 25 exhibitors and 649 attendees to a 37,200 net sq. ft. showfloor when it was launched just four years ago. DUG East, one of five DUG-branded events owned and… 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