Mar 30, 2015
USITT 2015 broke all previous attendance records, attracting nearly 5,500 people to Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Center last week for the backstage industry’s annual event. More than 280 exhibitors were at booths with state-of-the-art entertainment products for the largest Stage Expo ever – and 170-plus already have signed on for USITT 2016 in Salt Lake City. “So many people told us this was their best conference experience ever,” said USITT Executive Director David Grindle. He added, “We are very proud to be known for a show that shines in quality, excitement, and customer service.” USITT 2015… more
Mar 26, 2015
Meetings Mean Business, a coalition formed in 2009 to spread the word about the value that business meetings, travel and events bring to the U.S. economy, recently conducted a survey of 100 federal employees who organize, attend or influence meetings and travel as part of their jobs. Even with the pressures on government travel to meetings, a whopping 98 percent of the respondents said that in-person meetings are important for advancing their agency’s mission. Ninety-two percent said that engaging with colleagues, peers, partners and vendors face-to-face improves their ability to work… more
Mar 26, 2015
After making its home in Chicago for a long time, Graph Expo will be moving to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando in 2016 for the first time. The show, owned by the Graphic Arts Show Company, will be held Sept. 25-28. "We are delighted to be bringing GRAPH EXPO to Orlando in 2016," said GASC President Ralph Nappi.  He added, “Not only did Visit Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center superbly represent just how ideal a destination Orlando would be for our show’s date and size requirements, they also convinced us with the momentum behind Orlando's… more
Mar 25, 2015
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies has teamed up with Germany-based Koelnmesse GmbH to launch a U.S.-based trade show focusing on processing and packaging technologies for the food and beverage marketplace. PMMI produces the PACK EXPO series of shows and Koelnmesse GmbH produces the Cologne-based Anuga FoodTec, the international supplier fair for the food and beverage industry. "Koelnmesse, and its Anuga FoodTec show are world leaders in food and beverage processing," said Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO, PMMI. "With shows dating back nearly 100 years, the… more
Mar 24, 2015
The NPE2015: International Plastics Showcase, which was held March 23-27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, was not only the largest in its 69-year history, but also drew the highest attendance ever, especially from overseas. SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, which owns the show, projected the number of exhibitors to match and possibly exceed the record of 2,009 set at NPE2000 and attendance likely reached 60,000, well above the total for the successful 2012 show. The amount of exhibit space taken exceeded the previous record set at NPE2000 and was expected to… more
Mar 24, 2015
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) has launched a Professional Development Grant aimed at growing the next generation of local meetings industry leaders. The grant will provide three young local association executives the opportunity to attend the  ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Congress 2016, which will be held in Kuching, Sarawak, to engage with leading international industry professionals and expand their knowledge and capabilities in association management at the same time,  familiarise themselves with the global meetings industry and the… more
Mar 24, 2015
Last year, children from the Palabra Viva church in Las Vegas drew pictures of their dream playground, and this week, hundreds of orthopaedic surgeons and other volunteers attending the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) 2015 Annual Meeting joined forces with KaBOOM! and members of the community to bring those designs to life. Since 2000, the Academy has sponsored a one-day Safe and Accessible Playground Build as a gift to the AAOS Annual Meeting host community. This will be the Academy’s 16th playground build and the second in the Las Vegas area.   “The Safe and… more
Mar 24, 2015
Nat Wong, current president of Reed Exhibitions Greater China, will be succeeded April 16 by Hu Wei. Wei came on board March 16 to understudy Womng and be orientated to the business. “We owe a lot to Nat for his contributions,” aaid Paul Beh, regional president of Reed Exhibitions Asia-Pacific. He added, “Over this period of time, he has been instrumental in growing the business and we have seen RXGC scaling greater heights with expansion into new markets through acquisitions and launches of which I am fully appreciative and proud of.” Describing his tenure in RXGC, Wong said, “My time at… more
Mar 24, 2015
More than 300 delegates from 21 countries and territories broke attendance records when they gathered recently in Hong Kong for UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibitions Industry’s 10th Open Seminar in Asia. This year, the seminar returned to Hong Kong, which also hosted the inaugural edition in 2006. The seminar was co-hosted by both the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), and it was held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Speakers at this year’s seminar included a number of industry veterans… more
Mar 23, 2015
AHC Media, a medical media and publishing company, will launch the Emergency Medicine Reports’ Summit, an interactive seminar highlighting the key issues emergency medicine providers face every day. The two-day summit will be held Aug. 28-29 at Wynn’s Encore in Las Vegas and will focus on the top 10 matters affecting emergency medicine right now. “For more than 30 years, emergency physicians have counted on our bi-weekly Emergency Medicine Reports for concise and reliable coverage of the most up-to-date information,” states David Fournier, CEO and Publisher of AHC Media. He added, “With 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