News

Feb 18, 2013
Shows posting record attendance numbers seem to be more and more commonplace these days, with the latest one being the biennial Automate 2013, which was collocated with Material Handling Association’s ProMat 2013 and held Jan. 21-24 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Automate 2013 was attended by a record 10,975 attendees from across the United States and 55 countries. “Automate 2013 exceeded all of our expectations,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, the primary sponsor of Automate 2013. He added, “All of our numbers were… more
Feb 18, 2013
Discover Design, home to 116 companies showcasing inspired design and cutting-edge product innovation, is sold out for the International Housewares Association’s 2013 International Home + Housewares Show scheduled March 2-5 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Among the new companies exhibiting this year are Aesthetic Movement, Areaware, Teroforma, Legnoart, Menu and Present Time. Returning in 2013 are Alessi, Blomus, Joseph Joseph, Magisso, Nambe, Room Copenhagen and Serene House. A new addition to the category for 2013, Design Debut, will introduce five exciting new companies: Anne… more
Feb 18, 2013
Six retail-oriented trade shows, five existing ones and one launch, have decided to form an alliance during Las Vegas Fashion Week called “Modern Assembly” that will debut in August at the Sands Expo & Convention Center and Venetian Resort/Hotel Casino. The collocation is described as a “move that dispels the myths and competitive nature between the fashion tradeshows of yesteryear, the shows that comprise Modern Assembly will provide an ideal mix of resources in the right environments, with the utmost of convenience by collocating and cross-marketing,” according to show organizers. Four… more
Feb 18, 2013
Chicago’s McCormick Place already has one hotel, the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, which is on track for a $110 million upgrade to be unveiled in the summer, but now the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority-owned venue also will have a new 1,200 room anchor hotel attached to the building. The new hotel will be connected by skybridge to McCormick’s West Building and, besides the new rooms, there will be a 400-seat restaurant and a grand and junior Ballroom. “Building a headquarters hotel connected to McCormick Place is a major step in taking Chicago’s… more
Feb 17, 2013
In May, attendees to the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ first education collective will have the opportunity to take part in not just one, or two, but four face-to-face opportunities tailored to meet their specific needs. The opportunities include the CEM Learning Program, which is devoted to certification; the Marketing Academy, which concentrates on increasing event attendance; the Sales Academy, which focuses on selling to exhibitors; and the launch of IAEE’s Women’s Leadership Forum, which centers on women’s issues in the exhibitions and… more
Feb 13, 2013
Expansion plans for San Francisco’s Moscone Center received a major boost, with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently approving the creation of the Moscone Expansion District, which will provide the majority of funding for the expansion of the city’s convention center. In a unanimous vote, the Board passed a resolution approving the establishment of the MED and three additional measures that will help finance the expansion through issuance of Certificates of Participation and allow the project to move forward in the environmental review process. “San Francisco… more
Feb 12, 2013
Advanstar Communications’ Licensing Expo will not only have four new areas merchandised by category for the first time, but also several key exhibitors have decided to expand their presence at the June 18-20 show at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The four new areas are Art and Design, Characters andEntertainment, Agents and Brands and Fashion. This change will create a “much-improved experience for retailers and manufacturers visiting the show, helping them to shop the show more effectively than ever before,” according to show officials. The new, dedicated… more
Feb 12, 2013
The Sands Expo & Convention Center is one of the busiest convention and meetings properties in the United States, with many thousands of attendees often at just one of the venue’s several annual events all wanting to be connected and stay connected at the same time. The challenge was, if let’s say 5,000 attendees were at a keynote and the speaker wanted everyone to answer a question through an audience response system, how could the Sands make sure they delivered as a venue in this moment? Justin Herrman, executive director of IT at the Sands, said a lot of the high-… more
Feb 12, 2013
The Sands Expo & Convention Center is one of the busiest convention and meetings properties in the United States, with many thousands of attendees often at just one of the venue’s several annual events all wanting to be connected and stay connected at the same time. The challenge was, if let’s say 5,000 attendees were at a keynote and the speaker wanted everyone to answer a question through an audience response system, how could the Sands make sure they delivered as a venue in this moment? Justin Herrman, executive director of IT at the Sands, said a lot of the high-… more
Feb 11, 2013
Malaysia recently hosted a large incentive group of 2,300 from Japan’s upscale cosmetics production and distribution brand, POLA, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur Feb. 5. The incentive programme, supported by the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), was participated by 150 company officials and top sales staff from various parts of Japan. “Connections were made by Minister of Tourism Malaysia, Dato Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen during her recent visit to Japan. Mr. Hiroki Yokoyama, the President of POLA was convinced by the Minister to implement its incentive programme in… 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