News
Aug 17, 2014
Ovation Hall in Atlantic City’s Revel Hotel and Casino was filled with the who’s who of independent show organizers earlier this week.
They were gathered there to witness the second annual SISO Executive Conference Event Innovation Battlefield in which three event technology companies would try to convince the audience their product was most deserving of being named the overall winner.
Spectators were taking their seats and the tension was mounting in the back of the hal,l as competitors were putting the final touches on their presentations and getting mic’d up. With… more
Aug 17, 2014
Latisys, a leading international provider of hybrid cloud hosting and data center solutions, has made an IT infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) agreement with Emerald Expositions.
Previously owned by the Nielsen Company, Emerald had served as Nielsen's trade show division until it was acquired by Onex Partners in 2013 to form Emerald Expositions.
The acquisition included certain requirements and deadlines for establishing Emerald as an independent business -- including the complete separation of its IT infrastructure from Nielsen.
Focused on rapid business growth, both organically and… more
Aug 16, 2014
Ovation Hall in Atlantic City’s Revel Hotel and Casino was filled with the who’s who of independent show organizers earlier this week.
They were gathered there to witness the second annual SISO Executive Conference Event Innovation Battlefield in which three event technology companies would try to convince the audience their product was most deserving of being named the overall winner.
Spectators were taking their seats and the tension was mounting in the back of the hal,l as competitors were putting the final touches on their presentations and getting mic’d up. With just six minutes… more
Aug 15, 2014
The Oregon Convention Center has been certified to the highest level of a new international sustainability standard.
OCC achieved Level Four certification for the ASTM Standard pertaining to the evaluation and selection of venues for environmentally sustainable meetings, events, trade shows and conferences.
The venue standard is one of nine standards introduced by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events in industry in 2012 to provide event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner.
“We are proud and excited to be the first… more
Aug 14, 2014
Atlantic City rolled out the red carpet, and then some, for 175 attendees to the Society of Independent Show Organizers’ Executive Leadership Conference, held Aug. 11-13 at the Revel Casino and Resort.
Even with news about some casinos closing and the fate of the Revel in the balance right now, the city forged ahead and put on a high-level event, with three days filled with networking and education opportunities.
“We loved it here,” said SISO’s Executive Director Lew Shomer. “They have been great to us. They really pulled out all the stops. The Revel was fabulous for its food and venue and… more
Aug 13, 2014
Cygnus Business Media shed another piece of its portfolio with the sale of its Heavy Construction and Logistics Group to AC Business Media, a new publishing company.
The sale consists of one trade show – National Pavement Expo – as well as nine publications and related Web sites.
“We are very pleased to have found a buyer of these highly profitable multi-platform properties serving the heavy construction and logistics print and digital publications business that will utilize the current team’s creativity and experience,” said John French, CEO of Cygnus Business Media.
AC Business Media is… more
Aug 13, 2014
Houston is on its way to a new hotel adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center, with an RFP being issued to find a team to develop and design the new property.
The RFP, issued by Houston First Corporation, said the team would privately finance, own and operatethe hotel, which would attach via sky bridge to the north end of the convention center. HFC expects to enter into a site/pad lease with the hotel owner.
The location has been designed to accommodate about 400 rooms on 15 floors above the 1,900-spaceparking garage and would include a ground-floor lobby and guest drop-off area. Up… more
Aug 12, 2014
A giant logo of Sony PlayStation is projected onto the terracotta wall of The Westin Resort and Spa Los Cabos, Mexico. The Sea of Cortez rushes against the shore in the background. Tomorrow, some 200 game developers will descend onto this luxury resort to show off their ideas, compete in “Olympics” on the private beach and talk geek over flaming margaritas.
“We’re back at pre-recession levels,” said Edward Burgos, tour and sales travel manager at the property. “Meetings are up and so is our incentive business.”
Along with the improving economic situation and ease of access from the U.S.,… more
Aug 10, 2014
Trade show and expo organizers and even exhibitors looking to add a fun, no-hassle charitable component to their event, need look no further than the Foundation for Hospital Art.
The Foundation for Hospital Art installs brightly colored murals in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities around the world. The murals are often painted by attendees at events.
This is an activity that all ages can participate in. There are no physical limitations, and no artistic ability is required. If you can color in the lines, you can paint a mural. Whether someone has just three minutes to… more
Aug 10, 2014
Our research has shown that 76 percent of attendees decide which exhibitors they want/need to visit at an event before they arrive at the event. Are your exhibitors capitalizing on this pre-event selling opportunity? To influence attendees at the pre-event planning stage exhibitors need to stand out from the many companies on the exhibitor list. The most direct way to do this is through an online eBooth that showcases a company’s products, services, news, and show specials in an appealing visual display.
Revenue Opportunities from Selling Enhanced Listings and Digital… 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