News

May 29, 2023
The Inspired Home Show, produced by the International Housewares Association (IHA), will be held over three days instead of four and exhibits at Lakeside Center will be relocated to McCormick Place’s North and South Halls when it runs Sun., March 17, to Tues., March 19, 2024, in Chicago. While the overall size of the show will not decrease with these relocation plans, the show will no longer occupy the Lakeside Center.  After analyzing feedback from two industry-wide surveys and four special committees made up of both exhibitors and retailers, the IHA Board of Directors decided to reduce the… more
May 26, 2023
After nearly 18 months on the drawing board, IMEX Group’s bold new brand refresh went live at IMEX Frankfurt, which took place May 23-25 at Messe Frankfurt. The design incorporates elements of its legacy brand, while infusing it with a fresh concept that keeps inclusivity in mind and features the company’s first-ever sonic logo. The brand review process was conducted by IMEX’s in-house design team, led by Design Manager Anna Gyseman, who was a seminal member of the team that launched Grazia magazine into the U.K. market. Gyseman recruited ex-colleagues Tony Chambers, former editor and… more
May 26, 2023
JCK and Luxury trade shows, produced by RX, have partnered with BOSS Logics to provide access to Connect for Trade Shows, an appointment booking and scheduling system for both retailers and brands. This new tool from BOSS Logics, a technology solutions provider for the jewelry industry, is free to all show participants, empowering retailers to schedule meetings while also giving vendors an easier way to manage their show appointments.  An ongoing premium version of this offering is being introduced during the Las Vegas trade shows to help brands and retailers alike to encourage appointments… more
May 25, 2023
In keeping with its progressive sustainability initiatives, the Overland Park Convention Center (OPCC) recently took a major step toward combatting large-scale event food waste and hunger in its local community. Last month, the Overland Park, Kan.-based facility announced it had formed a partnership with Pete’s Garden, a food recovery organization based in Kansas City, Mo. that recovers surplus prepared foods from local caterers, restaurants and food service operations, then repackages and redirects the food as healthy take-home meals for families needing assistance in the greater Kansas… more
May 23, 2023
Las Vegas tourism and business leaders officially broke ground on a $600 million renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) on May 9. Work will continue through 2025, with construction designed to accommodate and minimize disruption to scheduled trade shows. As part of the renovation project, a newly designed parking lot outside of the Central Hall will feature a Vegas Loop station to transport convention goers to and from Wynn and Encore Las Vegas when the completed project debuts in Spring 2024. The renovation will extend the contemporary design, architecture and customer… more
May 22, 2023
The music products industry’s largest B2B trade show and a B2C event dedicated to music enthusiasts recently attracted record attendance to convention venues in Anaheim, Calif., and outside of Chicago, respectively.   The NAMM Show Presented by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the 2023 edition of The NAMM Show reunited the $17 billion music products, pro audio and entertainment technology industry April 13-15 at the Anaheim Convention Center, the venue it has called home since 1978.  The annual trade show and conference, which has been steadily working its way back to… more
May 19, 2023
As the events industry continues its robust recovery following the pandemic, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) Legislative Action Day will return to Washington, D.C., on June 1, bringing industry advocates and leaders to meet with members of Congress about important federal policy priorities. “It will be great to have this event back in person after four long years,” said Tommy Goodwin, vice president of government affairs for ECA, adding that the last in-person International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Exhibitions Day was in 2019, with the 2020 event held… more
May 19, 2023
Attendees at IMEX Frankfurt, which takes place May 23-25 at Messe Frankfurt, and IMEX America, set for Oct. 17-19 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, will benefit from enhanced digital navigation thanks to an innovative combination of indoor positioning technology from Crowd Connected and an interactive floorplan from ExpoFP. Crowd Connected, a pioneer in location-based visitor tracking, and ExpoFP, a leading provider of digital floorplans to the exhibitions industry, developed the QR code navigation solution to revolutionize the visitor experience by providing an unparalleled… more
May 18, 2023
Leading international live and on-demand events, academic and digital services group, Informa, has further bolstered its position in the growing specialist B2B foodservice market with the acquisition of Winsight, a leading specialist B2B events, data and media group focused on the food and beverage industry, for $380 million.  The combination of Winsight with Informa’s existing B2B foodservice portfolio significantly enhances Informa’s established position in this large and growing marketing by bringing together leading specialist brands in live and on-demand events. “Following on from the… more
May 16, 2023
Global, full-service event and experiential marketing agency Impact XM recently expanded its large-scale meetings and event management capabilities and expertise, as well as launched a valuable new service for its clients.  On May 2, the agency announced it had acquired Denver-based MorEvents, a female-owned event management and creative agency that has been serving global audiences for more than two decades. Specializing in delivering virtual and physical events across the globe, MorEvents has partnered with Fortune 500 companies including Mastercard and Dell EMC to shape how these… 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