News

Dec 09, 2013
Advanstar Communications’ Licensing Expo has made a lot moves to evolve the show, with the most recent being the decision to expand its showfloor at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas to include a Motorsports segment. The new area will be 5,000 square feet and in addition to changes made at the show this year that saw the exhibit floor reconfigured into four new areas: Art and Design, Characters and Entertainment, Agents and Brands and Fashion. The Motorsports Café in the Brands and Agents section of the show will be home to the several of the sanctioning bodies in the… more
Dec 09, 2013
As part of a new strategic plan to have a stake in launching new shows in Boston, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority has partnered with Sitarian Corporation to debut the Advanced Audio + Applications Exchange (A3E). A3E is an international tradeshow, conference and social network exchange focused on the exploration of new technologies that are transforming the music industry and the creative processes of musicians and audio professionals. “A3E marks the start of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s strategic partnership with new and exciting events, a game-… more
Dec 08, 2013
Since I did an ode to Google, I would be remiss not to write about my other love, Facebook.  Facebook is more than just a whole bunch of people (and when I say bunch, estimates show it at over 1 billion monthly active users) posting a bunch of useless info.  What if I told you the information shared is more valuable than you think, and since these 1 billion+ users are self-reporting, more accurate and more useful than you can imagine? Whether you are in hospitality, lodging, travel, events or trade shows, the key to successful engagement with prospects is the use of genuine… more
Dec 08, 2013
Since I did an ode to Google, I would be remiss not to write about my other love, Facebook.  Facebook is more than just a whole bunch of people (and when I say bunch, estimates show it at over 1 billion monthly active users) posting a bunch of useless info.  What if I told you the information shared is more valuable than you think, and since these 1 billion+ users are self-reporting, more accurate and more useful than you can imagine? Whether you are in hospitality, lodging, travel, events or trade shows, the key to successful engagement with prospects is the use of genuine… more
Dec 07, 2013
Turkey continues to be a hotbed for foreign trade show investment with two companies – Germany-based Messe Frankfurt and U.K.-based UBM Live – both expanding in the country. Messe Frankfurt planted another flag for its Texworld brand, Texworld Istanbul, which is  planned to take place in November 2014 for the first time at the Lütfi  Kirdar International Convention & Exhibition Center in central Istanbul. The following year, the show will enter the traditional cycle of fashion fabrics fairs and will take place twice a year in Istanbul. ”The launch of… more
Dec 05, 2013
If you logged onto the 2013 IMEX America homepage during recent trade show and conference in Las Vegas, you instantly got a taste of what was happening on the showfloor in real time through IMEXLive. It was like getting hooked on reality TV. The overlay (or pop-up) page featured a live webcam, a number of appointments currently in session, and search of exhibitors and educational sessions, as well as a live stream of content pulled with show-related hashtag searches from Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram. The show itself had a strong social media presence and generated its… more
Dec 03, 2013
The Association for Advancing Automation’s (A3) biennial Automate 2015 recently launched a new Web site in advance of its highly anticipated event, scheduled March 23-26, 2015, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Highlights of the new Web site include responsive design for easy viewing on mobile devices; an interactive exhibit hall floor plan; a redesigned new product showcase; and a new site search feature. Automate 2015 also will have an app available for mobile devices in the future. The 2013 event saw 80 percent of the exhibit floor space rebooked onsite and about 25 percent of the… more
Dec 02, 2013
Steady manufacturing recovery and an increasing need for faster, cheaper and better production drove record numbers at FABTECH 2013, a metal forming, fabricating and welding event, that took place Nov. 18–21 at McCormick Place in Chicago. A total of 40,667 attendees visited 1,573 exhibitors to see live equipment demonstrations, compare products side-by-side to find cost-saving solutions at product displays spread across a 650,000 square foot showfloor. That is an 11 percent increase in attendance, a 19 percent increase in exhibitors and a 25 percent jump in square footage, compared… more
Dec 02, 2013
When several thousand trade show organizers and suppliers gather this week in Houston for the Expo! Expo! International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ Annual Meeting & Exhibition, there not only will be a changed format to a two-day showfloor, but also plenty of networking and educational opportunities to keep everyone busy. The multiday event kicks off with the CEM Program with the following subjects: Event Operations, Finance, Budgeting and Contracts, Security, Risk and Crisis Management, Selecting Service Contractors and Strategic Planning and Management. The next day… more
Dec 02, 2013
Next year, ISC West will be collocated with the International Tourism Safety Conference in April at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. The International Tourism Safety Conference is hosted by the International Tourism Safety Association, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Las Vegas Security Chiefs Association. The International Tourism Safety Conference is an annual gathering for hundreds of safety and security officials in the travel and tourism industry worldwide and focuses on providing attendees to the show with… 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