News
Sep 28, 2014
As we enter the last quarter of 2014, this is a good time for event marketers to start planning their promotional strategy for the coming year. To do that successfully, it is helpful to tune into the current digital trends and gain crucial insight into how attendees will interact with technology in the coming months.
1. Email sharing is big. Emails with social sharing buttons increase click through rates by 158%. (Source: webdam.com)
2. As is using responsive design to serve mobile users. 80.8% of users report reading… more
Sep 28, 2014
Signature Boston has added two partnerships to strengthen its portfolio of services available to meeting planners working at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) and the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center by offering Digital Event Solutions and Registration Services.
The new partnerships come as part of an ongoing effort of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s (MCCA) Strategy & Product Development Team to improve the customer experience, supporting the promise of a Signature Boston experience, according to bureau officials.… more
Sep 27, 2014
By Benjamin Rabe, CEM and Alexa Newman
As trade show managers, it’s easy to get focused on the attendee and exhibitor experience at events and lose sight of the members who aren’t able to attend. But by taking some innovative actions, we can include and even engage members who are staying home.
The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association (AHA), encountered this issue. ASHE hosts two annual conferences a year, each averaging 2,000 attendees and over 1,000 exhibitors. However, 6,000 members weren’t attending the events… more
Sep 26, 2014
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events unveils this year’s recipients of the IAEE Awards program, which recognizes professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the exhibitions and events industry.
The recipients will be honored at the IAEE Annual Networking Luncheon and Awards Presentation to be held Dec. 9-11 during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Los Angeles.
“The IAEE Awards Committee is very proud of this year’s honorees,” said 2014 IAEE Awards Committee Chairperson David Audrain, CEM.
He added, “The dedication shown by these… more
Sep 23, 2014
The fourth annual Content Marketing World (CMWorld), a Content Marketing Institute event, took place Sept. 8-11, 2014 at the Cleveland Convention Center and saw a huge 54 percent attendee uptick.
The event attracted 2,595 delegates from 50 countries, with 33 companies sending seven or more representatives. That is a significant jump in attendance from the 2013 event, which had just more than 1,700 delegates. The first CMWorld drew 600 delegates
The exhibit floor grew as well, with 80 exhibitors participating, which was up from 60 exhibitors last year. To accommodate start-ups, CMWorld created… more
Sep 23, 2014
Summer hiring was brisk, and now with the busy fall season in full swing, suppliers and show organizers alike are hiring and promoting at an even faster pace than has occurred in the past few years.
Emerald Expositions has promoted three veterans of the trade show industry and long-time members of the NY NOW sales team. Randi Mohr and Scott Kramer have been appointed to the new positions of vice president, show directors for NY NOW, and Allison Garafalo has been promoted to sales director. These three internal promotions, all of which are effective immediately, include a restructuring… more
Sep 22, 2014
Newton, Mass.-based Questex Media Group, which has more than over 100 digital media products and over 50 conferences, tradeshows and events, was bought by L.A.-based Shamrock Capital Advisors for an undisclosed sum.
The company was acquired in partnership with senior management.
“Shamrock Capital is the perfect partner for Questex at this point in our evolution,” said Kerry Gumas, Questex Group president and CEO.
He added, “They have a deep understanding of the media, communications and entertainment sectors and the customers we serve. They support our ongoing business initiatives and they… more
Sep 22, 2014
With UBM confirming it’s in discussions to possibly buy Advanstar Communications and Questex Media Group being bought last week by Shamrock Capital Advisors, yet another trade show organizer, U.K.-based Clarion Events, also is rumored to be on the sales block, according to The Sunday Times.
Clarion, which currently is controlled by Veronis Suhler Stevenson, is the largest trade show organizer in the U.K., and the sales price is reported to be $327 million.
Clarion's Executive Chairman Simon Kimble and VSS Managing Partner Jeffrey Stevenson have not responded to a request for comment.… more
Sep 21, 2014
Hit the ground running at your next industry event! Make contact and connections with others in your field before you arrive at the venue so that your face-to-face meetings are productive and not centered around “Who are you?” and “What do you do?” questions. New technology is popping up daily to address this very issue. Below are a few new and old, but good, ways to network prior to an event.
Event Web Site
Many events offer a web portal that requires a login and profile. This isn’t just an extra hassle put in place to annoy you. In most cases, this… more
Sep 21, 2014
Hit the ground running at your next industry event! Make contact and connections with others in your field before you arrive at the venue so that your face-to-face meetings are productive and not centered around “Who are you?” and “What do you do?” questions. New technology is popping up daily to address this very issue. Below are a few new and old, but good, ways to network prior to an event.
Event Web Site
Many events offer a web portal that requires a login and profile. This isn’t just an extra hassle put in place to annoy you. In most cases, this… 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