News

Mar 14, 2017
The American Society of Association Executives unveiled several of its game changers, as well as its closing keynote with Chef Jeff Henderson, who all will take part in the 2017 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition Aug. 12-15 in Toronto.  “We are excited for this year’s meeting in Toronto. Chef Jeff Henderson, the five game changers, and education session leaders will provide attendees with inspiration, new ideas and different perspectives on a variety of association management topics and challenges they are facing,” said ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE. He added. “… more
Mar 14, 2017
With Winter Storm Stella bearing down on the East Coast and the brunt of it striking today, trade shows up and down the East Coast from Atlantic City to New York City canceled or closed early. On Monday, N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency with parts of the state, as well as seven other ones, predicting blizzard conditions and more than 18 inches of snow. "In preparation for blizzard-like conditions, I will be activating the State Emergency Operations Center and have directed state agencies to continue proactively preparing communities and roadways for this major storm,"… more
Mar 13, 2017
The positive overall jobs report last week seems to be reflected in the trade show industry as well, with more companies bringing on new hires and promoting from within. Core-apps hired association and events veteran Christine Davis as sales manager and promoted long-time employee Megan Pierce to director of Account Management. Davis comes to Core-apps from roles at SmithBucklin, PCMA and in association management. Pierce has been with Core-apps for five years and now will lead the account management team as second in command for that division. Core-apps CEO Jay Tokosch said both women offer… more
Mar 13, 2017
Emerald Expositions is continuing its buying streak by snapping up the International Drone Conference and Exposition (“InterDrone”), a commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) trade show and conference based  in North America, from BZ Media LLC. Launched in 2015, InterDrone quickly has established itself as one of the top events focused on the commercial applications for UAVs, according to Emerald officials.  “Congratulations to Ted Bahr and his team at BZ Media for successfully identifying this market opportunity and building a strong event that provides a platform for commercial… more
Mar 10, 2017
Last year was a good one for convention business in the City of Brotherly Love. According to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), 2016 marked its highest convention booking year ever, with 713 events using 903,199 hotel room nights secured for future years. Those figures represent an 18.2 percent and a 5.8 percent increase in the number of events and room nights secured, respectively, compared with 2015.  Among the major conventions committed to hosting future events in Philly include the 2022 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery/American Society of… more
Mar 10, 2017
The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched a new suite of virtual site tour products designed to give meeting and event planners a taste of the destination while incorporating digital innovation and convenience into the sales and event planning process. The enhancements feature three new itineraries that are the latest addition to ACVB’s existing VR experiences, which were unveiled last Aug. 13-16 at ASAE in Salt Lake City. “Deploying virtual reality in this way allows our convention sales staff to provide (organizers and planners) with a much more… more
Mar 09, 2017
Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2016 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States. Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list had a record number of submissions and represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage. The full, searchable list, sponsored exclusively by Expocad and the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, can be found HERE. The Consumer Technology Association’s CES 2016 show snagged the No. 1 spot again and spanned more than 2.47 million net square feet at the Las… more
Mar 08, 2017
The Las Vegas Monorail has harnessed the power of cutting-edge technology to create a system that integrates Monorail ticket fares into trade show badges, making transportation to and from convention venues quicker, easier and more seamless for attendees and exhibitors. This convenient option was made available to attendees through a partnership with technology company NXP Semiconductors at the most recent CES, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 5-8, which was the first show to try out the new program by allowing attendees to purchase Monorail tickets using a customized link… more
Mar 08, 2017
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released an updated version of its Cost to Attract Attendees Report. As an invaluable resource for industry executives responsible for business-to-business exhibition attendee marketing, the report provides spending metrics and marketing mix allocation for exhibition attendee promotions, including the most effective marketing tactics for driving show attendance. “This report is a resource for organizers to compare their attendee promotion spend and marketing mix practices with industry trends,” said CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE. She… more
Mar 07, 2017
Over 230 delegates from 21 countries and territories gathered in Singapore recently for the UFI Asia Open Seminar to take stock of their industry, which continues to grow, despite plenty of economic and political uncertainties. Seismic changes such as Brexit, the emerging policies of the Trump administration and slow economic growth in key markets all suggest challenging times lay ahead. However, the Asian exhibition industry has proven time after time that it is well-positioned to grow in the face of less than ideal economic and political circumstances. The exhibition industry is changing… 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