Hurricane Matthew Takes Aim at Eastern Seaboard, Events Begin to Cancel

October 5, 2016

Hurricane Matthew already has wreaked devastation across the Caribbean, and now the most current forecast has its trek taking aim at not only the East Coast of Florida, but also up through Georgia and the Carolinas.

With several places declaring states of emergency and people beginning to evacuate, trade shows and events up and down the possible affected areas also have started to cancel.

Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center has a number of events scheduled in the next few days.

On the venue’s Web site, the following statement was issued this morning:

“At this time, the Orange County Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the track of Hurricane Matthew. Currently, the National Weather Service (NWS) has reported that this storm is a category 3 hurricane with forecasted impact on Central Florida, primarily the eastern coastline of our neighboring counties, on Thursday evening.”

Orange County may experience sustained winds between 39-45 miles, as well as heavy rains.

The ANCC National Magnet Conference currently is in the OCCC and scheduled to move out tomorrow afternoon, while some events, such as the Florida School Nutrition Association’s FSNA Equipment & Food Expo on tap Oct. 7-8, decided to cancel.

Even so, other events, such as Jeunesse Expo 2016, scheduled Oct. 6-9, still are going forward.

On Florida’s East Coast, TheFitExpo Ft. Lauderdale – which is part of a series of expos held across the United States – was canceled. It was scheduled to be held at Oct. 8-9 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County Convention Center.

The show’s Web site had the following statement:

“Due to worsening conditions in Ft. Lauderdale and for the safety of all involved, the decision has been made to cancel TheFitExpo Ft. Lauderdale. We will provide more details in the coming hours, including any dates we may be able to reschedule the Expo for later this year. But for now, we just wanted to get this information out to everyone so you don’t board airplanes or get in cars heading to Ft. Lauderdale unnecessarily.

With regards to each of your individual issues, rest assured we will do everything we can to make things right. However, please understand we may not be able to respond to each of your inquiries individually in the next day or two given everything that we are dealing with.

Thanks again for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.”

At the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, the Southeastern Car Wash Association Tradeshow, on tap Oct. 8-10, currently is in a holding pattern.

On the SECA Web site, the organization’s president, Dale Reynolds, said they were monitoring the situation and would be letting people know if they decided to cancel the event.

“Our first concern is for the safety of everyone and do not wish to put anyone in harm’s way,” he added.

As of this afternoon, there was no decision on whether the show was going to be held or not.

SMG Jacksonville, which oversees several venues in the area, will be posting updates throughout the day to social media. They encourage people to follow @JaxEvents on social media for the most up-to-date announcements on this week's events at all of their venues.

The Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., the Charleston Convention Center in South Carolina and the Wilmington Convention Center in North Carolina did not have events on their calendars that would be impacted. 

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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