Global Pet Expo Breaks Records Across the Board
March 17, 2013
There’s no question that people love their pets, especially taking into account the record-breaking show numbers that recently were revealed for the American Pet Products Association’s and the Pet Industry Distributors Association’s Global Pet Expo 2013.
The show, held Feb. 20-22 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, attracted 5,327 buyers, a 5-percent increase, compared with last year.
There also more than 3,000 new pet product launches, 964 exhibitors and 2,686 booths sold – the highest post-show numbers reported in Global Pet Expo’s nine-year history, according to show management.
The pet industry itself is going gangbusters with record-breaking numbers and results from APPA’s latest Survey showing pet ownership is at an all-time high.
“There’s no arguing that this industry continues to grow and there’s certainly no better place than at Global Pet Expo for exhibitors to showcase their products and give thousands of buyers from around the world a first look,” said Andrew Darmohraj, APPA senior vice president and trade show director.
He added, “We’d truly like to thank all the buyers, exhibitors and media who participated in this year’s show making this our largest event to date.”
The show also featured more product launches than it’s ever had before, with 900 entries into the New Products Showcase alone.
“The 3,000 new product launches at this year’s show included advances in technology, like self-cleaning fish tanks and pet doors you can control from your smart phone, as well as advances in enrichment products from tennis ball cannons to ice cube vitamin supplement kits,” Darmohraj said.
He added, “Whether you’ve been in this industry for years and have dozens of products or you are just starting out with a single product launch, Global Pet Expo is a must attend event.”
One key reason for the growth was there was a strong international presence. On the showfloor, there were 172 international exhibitors, up from 145 in 2012. In addition, 27 percent of the attendees were international buyers that represented 71 countries.
Social media also played a big role in driving awareness before, during and after the event. There were 4,300 tweets about Global Pet Expo, generating over 13.5 million impressions. The Global Pet Expo Twitter page has grown 38 percent and the Facebook page has grown 36 percent, both in the past year.
Global Pet Expo’s YouTube channel has shown the biggest increase, with more than 29,000 views, up 58 percent from the 2012 show.
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
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