News

May 18, 2016
With the subject of food safety in the news after various recalls across the United States, it’s no wonder the 18th Annual Food Safety Summit, held recently for the first time in Rosemont, attracted nearly 1,700 registered food safety professionals. Attendance was a 12-percent increase in registered attendees, compared with last year’s event, and more than 200 exhibiting companies also were on the showfloor, a 20-percent increase from 2015.  During the three-day event, which is run by BNP Media and was held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, food safety professionals… more
May 17, 2016
A truly global group of talent from the exhibition industry has been selected as the first-ever recipients of the new “Next Generation Leadership Grant” launched by UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. The program promotes the next generation leadership in the exhibition industry, who show clear initiatives in driving change and innovation in their respective area. Out of the numerous applications from 16 different countries, a jury, chaired by UFI President Sergey Alexeev, selected the five recipients of the grant. They are (in alphabetical order): • Adeline Larroque… more
May 17, 2016
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events celebrated a sold-out Women’s Leadership Forum April 26 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. More than 200 attendees took part in this year’s event, which featured education sessions for women at all stages of their career. “This year’s attendance reflects the overwhelming interest in programming addressing topics specific to female professionals,” said 2016 IAEE Chairperson Julie Smith, CEM, CTA. She added, “We have received very positive feedback about the forum and look forward to creating another… more
May 17, 2016
Forget early morning yoga. Though it’s a popular event at trade shows and conferences, it tends to in most cases to only attract a few die-hard enthusiasts, says Dr. Kim, president and CEO of X bytes, a byte-size wellness company. A much better solution would be to focus on combatting mid-morning and mid-afternoon sitting fatigue with a fitness break. Going a step further? How about turning your networking meeting into a cycling class? Incorporating wellness has become a popular move for trade shows and conferences, but making it fun and enticing remains a challenge. Though most people would… more
May 16, 2016
LIGHTFAIR International 2016 set new trade show floor and West Coast attendance records during its five-day run in San Diego Convention Center, according to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and COO of LFI managing partner AmericasMart Atlanta. “The convergence of light and technology marked every dimension of LFI 2016 with new product introductions, new design concepts and new connectivity setting clear direction for the way forward,” Portman said.  He added, “We expect our 2016 event to have transformative impact on the world of lighting design now and for years to come… more
May 15, 2016
Have you been tuned out from what’s happening in the technology space recently? Here is some not-to-be-missed news, as well as trends and stats on leading media companies and services. In a post published on Google’s blog, the search engine company announced that it is tightening the integration between Search Console and Google Analytics. This will enable web marketers to see the full range of acquisition, behavior and conversion metrics for their paid and organic search traffic within one landing page. According to an analysis published by Statista.com this month, Facebook… more
May 15, 2016
Have you been tuned out from what’s happening in the technology space recently? Here is some not-to-be-missed news, as well as trends and stats on leading media companies and services. In a post published on Google’s blog, the search engine company announced that it is tightening the integration between Search Console and Google Analytics. This will enable web marketers to see the full range of acquisition, behavior and conversion metrics for their paid and organic search traffic within one landing page. According to an analysis published by Statista.com this month, Facebook… more
May 14, 2016
EMS 2016 took place in Denver May 4-6 at the Colorado Convention Center, and with it, more than 1,300 attendees and 125 exhibitors, an increase from 2015.  “As the industry evolves, so does the Experiential Marketing Summit,” said Event Marketer Magazine Group Editor Jessica Heasley. “We continue to focus on the content and the overall experience.” Both the Pepsi and Chobani keynotes were the topic of conversation with attendees, especially the insights brought by Chobani Chief Marketing Officer Peter McGuinness.  “Everything done well can be an experience for your customer, and… more
May 14, 2016
Margaret Pederson entered the exhibition world by happenstance, like many in the field.  She studied marketing (along with international business and law), but not exhibitions 101, 201 or 301.  Pederson’s education included the University of Virginia, London School of Economics and Harvard Business School, none of which had a single course in exhibitions, conferences or events.  Yet, HBS did have Bob Krakoff as an alumni and that fortuitous meeting was her introduction to the exhibition world. Pederson shed some light on her time in the industry to TSNN. TSNN: How did you get… more
May 12, 2016
For the seventh year in row, Trade Show News Network will hold its prestigious and original TSNN Awards program that honors the top fastest-growing shows in attendance and net square footage Oct. 28-30 in Atlantic City, N.J. The list of 50 shows that will be feted during the three-day, celebration-filled weekend can be found listed below and also HERE.  “The Top 50 fastest-growing show winners were chosen by their show’s growth rate between 2013-2015 in attendance and net square footage,” said TSNN President and Editor-in-Chief Rachel Wimberly. She added, “We are really excited to fete… 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