News

Feb 11, 2022
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has always been a showcase of thought leadership in exhibit design, and CES 2022, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in January, delivered next-level brand experiences that prove the value of in-person engagement. From highly interactive installations to customizable activations that blended metaverse with reality, there was no shortage of creativity and revolutionary tech to help brands and attendees build meaningful connections.  If the entire show served as a blueprint for holding trade shows in the current climate, many of the exhibit designs at… more
Feb 11, 2022
As the industry continues to emerge from the pandemic and increasingly hold in-person gatherings, ASM Global, featuring the largest portfolio of convention centers, arenas, stadiums and theaters in the world, will hold an ambitious, three-day virtual job fair to hire 1,000 employees at 100 of its venues.    The international, collaborative event, titled ASM Presents: The Next Great Opportunity, will take place online Feb. 15-17, with representation from venues in the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Aimed at addressing the global staffing shortages that have challenged the… more
Feb 10, 2022
As the trade show and events industry continues its steady pace along the road to recovery, event-related organizations far and wide are forming new strategic partnerships and extending existing contracts at a rapid pace—take a look! Cadmium Cadmium, a leading provider of event and learning technology specializing in continuing educational, professional development and content management solutions, has partnered with systems integration and event staging solutions provider IMS Technology Services to simplify the vendor selection process for event planners. The partnership unites event… more
Feb 10, 2022
Membership renewal is mission-critical to healthy and sustainable growth for associations. But the pandemic and its impact have created new challenges for associations of all sizes.  According to the 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report, 47% of associations reported declines in total membership, while 50% have reported that members are most likely not to renew because of a lack of engagement. Enabling meaningful engagement in an increasingly virtual and distraction-laden world is quite a challenge! Here are some actionable tips to ensure a member-centric engagement plan for 2022… more
Feb 09, 2022
By the close of the Winter 2022 Atlanta Market, exhibiting brands were touting shattered sales records as attendees demonstrated their buying power, eagerly sourcing new brands, products and trends across the bustling event. Held Jan. 11-18 at AmericasMart Atlanta, the country’s leading gift, décor and lifestyle market proved to be a veritable epicenter of buying activity, hosting retailers and designers from all 50 states and 39 countries. “Based on the reports of record-breaking sales and growth in order size, it appears that buyers found what they were looking for [at Atlanta Market]—and… more
Feb 08, 2022
Caesars Entertainment is gearing up to bring a renowned casino brand to the heart of the Las Vegas Strip this year. Starting this spring, Bally’s Las Vegas will begin its transformation into Horseshoe Las Vegas, an iconic, historic brand originally created by gambling magnate Benny Binion more than 70 years ago.  The multimillion-dollar project, which will take place in stages, will include a renovated exterior, new entertainment and food and beverage options and a reimagined casino floor and public areas. In keeping with the classic sophistication the Horseshoe brand is known for, the… more
Feb 07, 2022
A slew of promotions, as well as new hires and some executive retirements, continue as the trade show industry forges ahead toward recovery. Check out all the recent appointments and transitions happening at event-related organizations throughout the U.S. and beyond. SEMA After more than three decades of service, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) President and CEO Chris Kersting has retired. Kersting joined SEMA in 1996 to lead the organization’s Washington, D.C, office as vice president of legislative and technical affairs, later taking the helm as SEMA’s CEO in 2002 and… more
Feb 03, 2022
Event Farm, a MemberSuite company and leading provider of event engagement and safety solutions, announced four new partnerships to expand its event safety offerings and provide event organizers with COVID-19 testing solutions to meet event entry requirements.  The new partnerships with Azova Health, EverlyWell, Prevent System and Qured are in addition to the CLEAR Health Pass and Event Farm partnership that was announced in June 2021 and accelerated Event Farm’s Safety Toolkit, a suite of purposely built applications to keep event staff and attendees safe at in-person events. With CLEAR… more
Feb 02, 2022
Trade Show News Network (TSNN) and Lippman Connects, producer of information-sharing and networking experiences for the convention and exhibition industry, have teamed up to continue fostering professionalism among event organizers.  Under the agreement, TSNN will be the exclusive media partner for Lippman Connects Roundtables, a series of eight events in several U.S. locations throughout 2022 that will focus on attendee acquisition, exhibit sales and large shows. TSNN will raise industry awareness of the roundtables, provide readers with discounts to attend, offer on-site insights and… more
Feb 02, 2022
Clearco, the world's largest e-commerce investor and the company revolutionizing the way founders grow their businesses, today announced the launch of an extended partnership with FounderMade, a Tarsus company. This revised partnership includes the launch of a new $20M fund which will help provide equity-free capital and financial tools to grow and scale D2C and e-commerce businesses in the FounderMade ecosystem.  As part of this newly revised partnership, Clearco will launch FounderU—the first-ever D2C business training program designed specifically for high-growth entrepreneurs in the… 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