News
Feb 05, 2014
The recessionary times are firmly in the rearview mirror in Las Vegas, with the most business travelers in the past five years having attended meetings and conventions in the city.
According to the 2013 year-end Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority’s Executive Summary, Las Vegas welcomed nearly 40 million visitors in 2013 and reached a five-year high in two key indicators for the meetings and convention industry:
• The meetings and convention industry reached a five-year high, with 5.1 million delegates attending a convention, trade show or meeting in 2013, reflecting a… more
Feb 04, 2014
The past month has been a flurry of activity with companies either beefing up their ranks or promoting from within.
AMC, Inc.’s President and CEO Jeffrey L. Portman has gained another post as the company board’s vice chairperson, effective immediately.
Portman has led AMC, Inc. and AmericasMart Atlanta through a period of growth unprecedented in the companies’ 54-year history, commencing with the rebranding of the former Atlanta Market Center as AmericasMart Atlanta in 1996, and continuing with expansion of its U.S. market share and global business base.
FreemanXP, an… more
Feb 04, 2014
H.H. Backer Associates will cancel its pet industry-themed trade show – Total Pet Expo Spring - scheduled April 9-11 at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Convention Center.
“We simply could not get enough exhibitor support this year to allow us to produce a quality spring trade show that people have come to expect,” said Colette Fairchild, the show’s director.
H.H. Backer’s flagship event, Backer’s Total Pet Expo Fall, which is on tap Sept. 19-21 in Chicago, will continue as an annual event, she added.
Exhibitors that have contracted for the spring show… more
Feb 04, 2014
Bringing together two in-demand sectors, the IRCE Focus: Web Design + Mobile Commerce event will run for the first time Feb. 10-12 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando.
Craig Dooley, senior vice president of IR Event Group, which also oversees the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition, said the decision was made last year to bring two separate events serving Web design and mobile commerce together to form the new one.
“We wanted to create a stronger, more compelling event for attendees,” he added.
Attendees to the event can take advantage of both conference tracks, as well… more
Feb 03, 2014
Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense for President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush and author of the newly-published book “Duty: Memoirs of A Secretary at War”, will be the keynote speaker at the 2014 AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) Annual Convention and Trade Show on tap March 19 - 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
“AAHOA prides itself on providing information to our members as well as to our industry that is timely and relevant,” said Mehul Patel, AAHOA chairman. “The appearance by Robert Gates… more
Feb 03, 2014
The estimated economic impact of U.S. Travel Association’s IPW, formerly known as International Pow Wow, is four times that of the Super Bowl.
Bringing 6,000 travel buyers, suppliers and media to a host city for three days filled with upwards of 90,000 one-on-one business appointments, the three-day event packs an economic wallop that extends far into the future.
A comparison of the economic impact of the 2013 IPW event held in Las Vegas with a similar study of the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis shows that, while the Super Bowl attracted more attendees and visitors, the… more
Feb 03, 2014
Already in several cities worldwide, the Consumer Electronic Association’s International CES Unveiled event series will expand to three more - Shanghai, Warsaw and Sao Paulo.
The CES Unveiled event series brings innovative technology companies, top media, buyers, analysts and key industry influencers together to showcase new products and tech trends leading up to the 2015 CES.
The series currently goes to Paris, New York and Las Vegas.
Each Unveiled event will be tailored to the local audience and will debut regional and global research, provide CES news and showcase curated products… more
Feb 03, 2014
For people who love the game of football and always wanted to meet some of the best players face-to-face, Cleveland’s International Exposition (I-X) Center and the Pro Football Hall of Fame are giving them the opportunity with the launch of the venue’s latest consumer event – the Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan Fest.
Scheduled May 3-4, the event will enable attendees to interact with 100 Hall of Famers, including such football legends as Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath, Warren Moon, Anthony Munoz, Rod Woodson, Lynn Swann and Earl Campbell, to name a few.
“As a Pro Football… more
Feb 02, 2014
From marble to bamboo, flooring materials of every kind took center stage at the International Surfaces Event that took place Jan. 28-30 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The trade show unites SURFACES, StonExpo/Marmomacc America and a new TileExpo, and is produced by Hanley Wood Exhibitions. Turning the corner after the recession, it’s all set for growth with new additions and alliances.
“The show feels reenergized,” said Amie Gilmore, associate show director of SURFACES. “We went into this year with big goals, and we met them all. Next year… more
Feb 02, 2014
Already partnered with a few other shows to cross-promote attendance and other marketing, Advanstar Communications’ Licensing Expo partnered with one of the company’s other shows, MAGIC Market Week, on a similar initiative.
MAGIC Market Week biannually connects more than 5,000 fashion brands with more than 65,000 visitors, across 1 million square feet of exhibit space.
Licensing Expo, which represents the $230 billion licensing and brand extension market, draws more than 5,000 fashion, character, entertainment, art and consumer brands from 420 exhibitors and more than 15,000… 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