Association Show News

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San Diego Convention Center
Feb 12, 2019
The sun will shine bright in San Diego next week as the National Grocers Association convenes in the city for the first time ever for the 2019 NGA Show. The 35th annual trade show and conference for the grocery industry brings together independent retailers and wholesalers, food retail industry executives, food/CPG manufacturers and service providers for learning and networking opportunities. This year’s show, produced and managed by Clarion UX, will feature more than 400 exhibiting companies occupying a total of 57,000 square feet of space across San Diego Convention Center, Feb. 24-27.… more
Feb 06, 2019
This year has already been a busy one for trade shows, with five major events wrapping up in January. Take a look at some of the highlights, each indicators that the industry looks strong for 2019 and beyond. World of Concrete This signature event for the international concrete and mason industries marked its largest show in a decade, drawing 60,511 attendees and more than 1,500 companies—including 259 brand-new ones—exhibiting across nearly 777,000 net square feet of exhibit space at Las Vegas Convention Center. The show’s educational component enjoyed a 5 percent increase in attendance… more
Feb 01, 2019
Nominations are open for five available positions on the ASAE and ASAE Foundation Board of Directors. The organization is seeking diverse leadership as defined by race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, appearance, geographic location and professional level. The board positions include secretary-treasurer and four at-large directors, with all directors serving on the ASAE Board and two of the four selected also serving on the ASAE Foundation Board. “Participation as a member of the ASAE Board is not only valuable for your professional growth, but… more
Jan 23, 2019
With the U.S. government shutdown still in effect — and stretched longer than any other in history — many association meeting planners and trade show organizers are concerned about how this might impact their events. Destination DC has been actively campaigning to let the world know that the city is open for business and ready to welcome both events and leisure travelers. The “DC is Open” campaign was first launched during a previous shutdown in October 2013, and has been redeployed to help visitors navigate the city. While the Smithsonian museums, National Zoo, National Gallery of Art and… more
Jan 22, 2019
Trade wars and a turbulent global economic outlook. Global opportunities, changing business models and disruption. The need for show organizers to remain flexible as well as pragmatic in running and planning their businesses going forward. These are just some of the pressing industry issues that will be addressed at the 2019 UFI European Conference, set for May 15-17 at the Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham, U.K.  Produced by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the annual event for exhibition professionals will focus on what organizers in Europe and beyond will be… more
Jan 17, 2019
The 53rd annual CES took place Jan. 8-11, attracting around 180,000 attendees and 4,500 exhibiting companies from more than 155 countries. Occupying 2.9 million net square feet of expo space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, this was the technology show’s largest-ever showfloor. Due to space constraints, the show’s attendance likely won’t grow much more. The goal is to keep attendance capped at around 180,000, says Sarah Brown, senior manager of event communications with Consumer Technology Association, which produces CES. Last year’s show saw 182,198 domestic and international attendees;… more
Jan 15, 2019
Pittsburgh put on one heck of a show for several thousand industry leaders last week at PCMA’s Convening Leaders annual conference, held Jan. 6-9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The theme hit hard on innovation in an ever-changing industry. “We built this conference around the theme 'Disrupt + Deliver' because that’s what the industry needs and wants,’’ explained PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat. “We leave here with a greater commitment and better understanding of how business events can and must drive economic and social progress.’’ A roster of standout speakers included… more
Jan 09, 2019
As part of its new vision that business events can be the drivers of social positive change, PCMA has committed to combat child exploitation by signing The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.  In partnership with ECPAT-USA, the leading U.S. policy organization that works to end the commercial, sexual exploitation of children around the world, The Code is the only voluntary set of business principles that companies and organizations in the travel, business travel and tourism industries can implement to prevent and eradicate human… more
Jan 08, 2019
The annual trade show for independent grocers, the NGA Show, has announced plans to feature seven specialty pavilions with exhibits specifically focused on meat, produce, specialty foods, coffee, technology, seasonal merchandise and Latino cuisine.  To be held Feb. 24-27 at the San Diego Convention Center, the new pavilions are designed to provide attendees with greater opportunities to make connections with specialty exhibitors as well as learn about the latest developments in the grocery industry, according to show officials.  “We thank our returning partners, the North American Meat… more
Jan 03, 2019
Across the world, trade show visitors are reporting overall satisfaction with the shows they attend but at the same time, 22-27 percent of show visitors from mature markets believe that shows are “getting worse.” Meanwhile, younger C-suite show participants are asking for trade shows that are more entertaining while still helping them meet their business needs. These are some of the core findings of the recently released 2018/19 Global Visitor Insights Study, which was jointly conducted by UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry and London-based event research specialists,… 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