Oct 13, 2015
The International Association of Conference Centres has elected Alex Cabañas as global president, effective immediately.   Alex Cabañas, CEO of Benchmark Hospitality International, will serve a two-year term as head of the association, which has over 350 conference and meeting venue members in 22 countries worldwide.  Cabañas has been active with IACC for a number of years and serves as vice president of the IACC-Americas chapter, having joined the IACC-Americas board in 2011 and the IACC Global Board in 2012.    During his tenure, Cabañas co-chaired a task force to… more
Sep 18, 2015
Fall is a busy time in more ways than one in the trade show industry and several companies recently added to their ranks. The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau appointed Doug Bennett as senior vice president of Convention Development. He replaces Jennifer Barnett who retired from the position after 22 years of service.            Bennett’s responsibilities include managing the convention sales team to achieve annual room night goals, developing and implementing the convention sales and marketing plan, outlining specific sales objectives and priorities for… more
Sep 08, 2015
Michael Gehrisch’s 15-year tenure as president and CEO of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), the global association representing the destination marketing industry, has ended. “We are thankful and appreciative of the leadership and significant contributions Michael has made during his tenure which have made a positive impact on the growth and respect of the destination marketing industry internationally. We wish him the best as he moves on to a new chapter in his life,” said Bob Lander, chairman of the DMAI Board of Directors and president and CEO of the Austin Convention… more
Aug 18, 2015
Traditionally a slower time for trade shows, companies in the industry utilized their time instead hiring new talent and promoting from within before the fall kicks off a busy season again. The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) hired Jason Means as director of membership. In his new role, Means will lead recruitment and retention programs for current and prospective ACVB members while managing the membership department. Means brings nearly 10 years of combined hospitality and event experience to his new role. “Jason’s knowledge and experience within the local hospitality… more
Jul 29, 2015
U.K.-based Informa released its 2015 first-half revenue results today, and at the same time, announced Charles McCurdy would be brought on as the chief executive for the company’s Global Exhibitions division, replacing Will Morris, who is retiring at the end of the year. "I'm really excited about joining Informa's Global Exhibitions business," McCurdy said. "It has a deeply talented organization and powerful shows that are performing well. I'm looking forward to joining the team!" McCurdy most recently was CEO of George Little Management, and prior to this, he was CEO of Canon Communications… more
Jul 21, 2015
Summer hiring and promotions continued through the middle months, with the Meat Institute, Professional Convention Management Association and SnowSports Industries America all make executive announcements. The SnowSports Industries America Board of Directors has named Nick Sargent as SIA’s incoming president. Sargent, who most recently held the position of vice president of global business alliance at Burton Snowboards, will begin in a transitional role before succeeding David Ingemie as president following the 2016 SIA Snow Show in Denver and On-Snow Demo at Copper… more
Jul 08, 2015
Trade Show News Network will celebrate Britton Jones, president and CEO of Business Journals Inc. (BJI), as the TSNN Industry Icon Award honoree at the 6th annual TSNN Awards Nov. 6-8 in Atlanta. “I am truly honored to be named TSNN’s 2015 Industry Icon Award honoree. I am tremendously blessed to work with incredibility insightful, talented and dedicated people,” Jones said. He added, “We work in an environment that fosters creativity and real innovation. To me, this award is wonderful recognition of the impact and significance of our collective efforts to move the events… more
Jun 26, 2015
The trade show industry continues to be busy, with several promotions and new hires within supplier and show management companies. Rick McConnell, who already was president of Informa Exhibitions U.S. Construction & Real Estate, has expanded his role to include being named president of Informa Canada as well. “McConnell’s tradeshow career, expertise in growing businesses and strong leadership skills made him the natural choice for this dual role in managing and growing these North American teams,” said Will Morris, CEO of Informa Exhibitions. He added, “With his outstanding track record,… more
Jun 22, 2015
After 27 years with Reed Exhibitions, Chairman Mike Rusbridge will retire at the end of 2015. Chet Bruchett was promoted to CEO of the company earlier in the year.  “Mike’s achievement at Reed Exhibitions has been outstanding,” said Erik Engstrom, RELX Group CEO. “Over the two decades he has led the company and built the world’s largest exhibitions business, delivering consistent growth over 20 years. I wish him well for the future.” Rusbridge joined Reed Exhibitions as its CEO Europe in 1988, becoming president of Europe and Asia in 1994 and appointed Chairman & CEO in 1996. During… more
Jun 08, 2015
U.K.-based UBM has named Simon Foster, current CEO of UBM EMEA, as CEO of UBM Americas. Foster takes over for Sally Shankland, who stepped down a few weeks ago and has a new position with McGraw-Hill Education. “We feel Simon is very well placed to lead the UBM Americas business,” said UBM CEO Tim Cobbold. “He has extensive experience in managing integrations and has deep knowledge of our products, key customers and people in the region, having previously had responsibility for many of these business units.” Foster will step into his new post June 29 and his focus will be on continuing the… 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