News

Jun 30, 2013
Attendees will be getting a two-for-one by having two industry meetings collocate for the first time this year – the American Society of Association Executive's (ASAE) Annual Meeting and the International Association of exhibitions and Events’ Midyear Meeting. The ASAE meeting will run Aug. 3-6 and IAEE’s meeting will run Aug. 5-7, both in Atlanta. The collocation announcement was made at IAEE’s annual meeting in December by the organization’s president, David Dubois and John Graham, president and CEO of ASAE.   “This partnership makes sense,… more
Jun 29, 2013
Educational sessions, both on and off the showfloor, were a common sight at the 2013 HITEC conference in Minneapolis, Minn.  This year’s show focused on the combination of digital technology and engagement with hospitality clients on all levels, from bookings through check out.  And, with more than 700 booths and 275,000 square feet of space, the exhibitors certainly matched this theme to engage the nearly 5,000 attendees. This year’s show ran June 24-27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center and looked at new and innovative ways to incorporate technology to impact the… more
Jun 29, 2013
Educational sessions, both on and off the showfloor, were a common sight at the 2013 HITEC conference in Minneapolis, Minn.  This year’s show focused on the combination of digital technology and engagement with hospitality clients on all levels, from bookings through check out.  And, with more than 700 booths and 275,000 square feet of space, the exhibitors certainly matched this theme to engage the nearly 5,000 attendees. This year’s show ran June 24-27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center and looked at new and innovative ways to incorporate technology to impact the… more
Jun 26, 2013
Big-name brands such as Target, Walmart and the Food Network have dropped celebrity chef Paula Deen after she admitted during a recent deposition to using a racial epithet in the past. However, not only are there other retailers, but there also is The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show that have made the choice to stick by her. Deen is on the schedule as a presenter at The Tiny Kitchen’s MetroCooking Dallas – The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show Sept. 21-22 at the Dallas Convention Center, as well as two other shows this year. MetroCooking Dallas’… more
Jun 25, 2013
Already a name brand textile show in the United States, George Little Management’s SURTEX Asia is set to open Aug. 25-27 at the Pudong Hotel in Shanghai with an expected 1,500 textile manufacturers. The manufacturers will come from China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East to check out the designs for product development. “The positive response to SURTEX Asia by both the world’s top studios as well as design-focused Asian manufacturers has generated great momentum,” said Penny Sikalis, GLM vice president and SURTEX Asia show manager. She added, “There’s… more
Jun 25, 2013
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ Asian Attractions Expo 2013, held June 4-7 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at Marina Bay Sands, broke previous attendance records, with 5,350 professionals. Billed as the largest expo of its kind in the region, the four-day event also had a record number of exhibiting companies displaying the newest products and services on the largest trade showfloor in the event’s history, according to show officials. In addition, the IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers was sold out and attendance was strong… more
Jun 25, 2013
J. Spargo & Associates has been busy lately, snagging several new pieces of medical-event related business ranging from shows focused on nephrology to oncology. “We are delighted to welcome our latest medical association clients to the JS&A family. Our expertise in the medical marketplace and our ability to deliver services and deploy best practices to a wide variety of medical trade shows allows us to lower operational costs for our clients,” said Susan Bracken, president and CEO of JS&A. She added, “Our healthcare team is equipped to launch broader… more
Jun 25, 2013
ITE & MICE 2013, a collocation of the 27th edition of ITE and the 8th edition of ITE MICE that was held successfully June 13-16 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre was 6.6-percent larger than the previous show, occupying 16,000 square meters. There also were a record number of 680 exhibitors from 46 countries and regions, as well as a 5.8-percent increase, a total of 6,055, travel agents/tour operators who attended the trade portion of the event. In all, the two trade days drew 11,872 buyers and trade visitors, with 72 percent coming from Hong Kong, 20 percent from… more
Jun 25, 2013
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre may have found the secret to success in retaining staff, with 23 percent of the current staff force of 310 joined as part of the pre-opening team between 2003 and June 2005. “More impressive is the fact that 51 percent, or 158 team members have been with the Centre five years and longer,” said the Centre’s director of Human Resource, Rohizat Baharum, himself a 9-year veteran. Part of the Centre’s success is attributed to its’ ’70-20-10’ formula that entails 70 percent experiential learning, 20 percent networking,… more
Jun 25, 2013
Organised by Hong Kong-based Adsale Exhibition, the 16th edition of International Exhibition on Textile Industry (ShanghaiTex) reportedly opened to more than 1,000 exhibitors spread over 100,000 m2 ofexhibition space at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre(SNIEC). The show took place from 10th to 13th June 2013 and the organiser expected to attract more than 60,000 visitors and 30 associations and enterprise delegations. The theme of this year’s ShanghaiTex was “Leading the Transformation and Upgrading of China Textile Industry.” It also hosted group pavilions from… 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