Oct 10, 2014
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events has selected this year's Top Public Events to be recognized at Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition on tap Dec. 9-11 in Los Angeles. The IAEE Top Public Events program was established in 2011 to honor the best consumer shows in the nation. Events that submitted applications were measured on broad criteria to include sound business practices, stability, exceptional customer service, and how the event serves the community and overall industry. With several top quality events to choose from, the judges had some tough… more
Oct 09, 2014
With business booming in the U.S., Portland, Maine-based Diversified Communications has reorganized its management structure into two leadership teams - one to support Diversified Communications’ global divisions, and another to lead Diversified Communications US. “These organizational moves will enable Diversified US to grow in the important and reliable North American market and create additional career path opportunities, while also improving corporate governance across all our divisions,” said Ted Wirth, president and CEO.  He added, “This new structure will provide additional… more
Oct 08, 2014
Global Experience Specialists has acquired two housing services companies – onPeak, with headquarters in Chicago, and Travel Planners, which is headquartered in New York City. The combined business will serve clients under the name onPeak, a GES Global Company (onPeak | GES). “Our clients told us that they want GES to create unique, integrated experiences delivered by just one trusted partner for their most critical event needs,” said Steve Moster, GES’ president.   He added, “We are honored to have earned our clients’ trust and are really excited to offer a complete event experience to… more
Oct 08, 2014
More than a week after students took to the Hong Kong streets demanding that Chief Executive C.Y. Leung step down from his post, as well as for full democracy and voting rights, the protest groups are much smaller and have not impacted the exhibition industry in the city, according to the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association. The protests began when three pro-democracy student leaders were arrested after a class boycott and their supporters were tear gassed. Tens of thousands of protestors flooded the streets as a result.  “HKECIA wishes to confirm to all… more
Oct 08, 2014
With Global Experience Specialists acquisition of two housing services companies – onPeak and Travel Planners - its clients now have an entire suite of services provided by one company. The combined businesses will serve clients under the name onPeak, a GES Global Company (onPeak | GES). GES President Steve Moster and Michael Howe, formerly president of onPeak and now executive vice president of onPeak | GES, took a few moments to talk with TSNN President Rachel Wimberly about the big news today and what it means for their clients and the industry overall. TSNN: What made this an attractive… more
Oct 07, 2014
Reed Exhibitions continues to expand into Mexico with the recent buy of event organizer Grupo Fidalex, which has 15 brands in the country. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "In 2015, Reed will deliver well over 75,000 net square meters of exhibition volume and serve almost 2,800 exhibiting customers and more than 140,000 buyers (in Mexico)," said Nancy Walsh, president of Reed Exhibitions North America. She added, "But this isn't about being the biggest in Mexico - which we are; it's about delivering the best value to our customers in Mexico, the partners from whom we acquired the events… more
Oct 06, 2014
The Federal Communications Commission has fined Marriott International and Marriott Hotel Services $600,000 for blocking Wi-Fi at events in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville. The FCC Enforcement Bureau’s investigation revealed that Marriott employees had used containment features of a Wi-Fi monitoring system at the Gaylord Opryland to prevent individuals from connecting to the Internet via their own personal Wi-Fi networks, while at the same time charging consumers, small businesses and exhibitors as much as $1,000 per device to access Marriott’s Wi-Fi network. The… more
Oct 02, 2014
Two industries that couldn’t be more different – Natural Products Expo East and the Great American Trucking Show - both saw increases on the showfloor at their recent events. NPE East, owned by Penton’s New Hope Natural Media, the East Coast's largest natural, organic and healthy products event, brought together more than 23,000 attendees and 1,277 exhibitors Sept. 17-20 at the Baltimore (Md.) Convention Center. Adam Andersen, show director, Natural Products Expos said, "We are very pleased to be the conduit where passionate, innovative natural products manufacturers bring healthy solutions… more
Oct 02, 2014
A few days ago, David DuBois, president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions & Events, sent out an e-mail giving several compelling reasons the industry should support the research done by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. The fundraising efforts went into hyper drive, after a return e-mail to the origiginal from DuBois was sent by Chris Brown, executive vice president of Conventions & Business Operations for the National Association of Broadcasters, pledging $50,000 on behalf of his organization, which was quickly followed by Chris Dolnack, senior vice… more
Oct 02, 2014
The 5th Annual TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence will feature a bevy of well-known personalities, including CEO of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Franchise – Len Komoroski, who will give the luncheon keynote; Celebrity Chef Michael Symon, who will host the Sunday Brunch; and Meteorologist Betsy Kling, who will be the event’s emcee. All three will take part in a celebratory weekend Nov. 14-16 in Cleveland that will kick off Friday night with an opening party and afterglow, with a conference and luncheon the next day, followed by the awards gala and afterglow that evening and capped… 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