Oct 01, 2014
U.K.-based UBM has agreed to buy Advanstar Communications for $972 Million from hedge fund Anchorage Capital Group LLC and private equity companies Veronis Suhler Stevenson and Ares Management. The deal will make it the largest trade show organizer in the United States. “This is a great acquisition for UBM and its shareholders. In addition to being financially attractive, it strengthens UBM’s core events business, while balancing and complementing UBM’s strong events portfolio in emerging markets,” said UBM CEO Tim Cobbold. He added, “UBM will become the largest events organizer in the US –… more
Sep 29, 2014
Have you nominated your favorite show organizer to be named Show Manager of the Year? Nominations are accepted at no charge online HERE. The deadline is Sept. 30. The awards will be presented this year at the TSNN Awards (www.T-awards.com) industry celebration!  Since 2000, The Expo Group’s Show Manager of the Year (SMOTY) Awards have been given to individuals who are creating amazing experiences with their exhibition and in their marketplace community. "Our independent panel of judges struggles annually to choose winners from among the group of smart,… more
Sep 29, 2014
Several shows have recently signed on to renew their contracts or in the midst of long ones at Detroit’s Cobo Center, leading to what Thom Connors, SMG regional vice president and general manager of the venue, calls one of the most successful years in “memorable history”. The multi-year contract trend began in 2011 with the North American International Auto Show signing a 5-year contract. NACE/CARS and the Society of Manufacturing Engineer’s BigM agreed to return to Cobo next year, and SME just signed a new five-year agreement for their World Congress. The Shell-Eco Marathon energy efficient… more
Sep 29, 2014
Trade Show News Network will be offering another complimentary webinar in its well-regarded series – "The Big Bang Theory of Event Content Marketing". The webinar will be held Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. EST and you can register HERE. Your event’s content is likely it’s most valuable asset. Your presenters spend countless hours planning, researching, writing and preparing groundbreaking information to deliver to your attendees. And yet, that valuable content only gets exposed for an hour or 75 minutes. Then, it’s gone from sight. Show organizers need to make their content last beyond the… more
Sep 28, 2014
The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), which holds two world congresses each year and brings together thousands of practitioners, recently released the dynamic program for the 22nd Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine, scheduled Dec. 11-13 at the Venetian/Palazzo in Las Vegas. The program features three distinguished key speakers and three full days of innovative cutting-edge information from the fastest growing specialty in healthcare. “We are very excited about the level of enthusiasm we have received from speakers, sponsors and attendees for our annual Winter… more
Sep 28, 2014
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has appointed J. Spargo & Associates, Inc. as its registration, housing, and lead retrieval company for its 2015, 2016, and 2017 Annual Clinical & Scientific Meetings. The event highlights new technology, current clinical dilemmas, and “hot topics” facing those involved in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.  The 2015 Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting will be held May 2-6 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Founded in 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has… more
Sep 27, 2014
By Benjamin Rabe, CEM and Alexa Newman As trade show managers, it’s easy to get focused on the attendee and exhibitor experience at events and lose sight of the members who aren’t able to attend. But by taking some innovative actions, we can include and even engage members who are staying home. The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association (AHA), encountered this issue. ASHE hosts two annual conferences a year, each averaging 2,000 attendees and over 1,000 exhibitors. However, 6,000 members weren’t attending the events… more
Sep 26, 2014
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events unveils this year’s recipients of the IAEE Awards program, which recognizes professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the exhibitions and events industry. The recipients will be honored at the IAEE Annual Networking Luncheon and Awards Presentation to be held Dec. 9-11 during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Los Angeles. “The IAEE Awards Committee is very proud of this year’s honorees,” said 2014 IAEE Awards Committee Chairperson David Audrain, CEM. He added, “The dedication shown by these… more
Sep 23, 2014
The fourth annual Content Marketing World (CMWorld), a Content Marketing Institute event, took place Sept. 8-11, 2014 at the Cleveland Convention Center and saw a huge 54 percent attendee uptick. The event attracted 2,595 delegates from 50 countries, with 33 companies sending seven or more representatives. That is a significant jump in attendance from the 2013 event, which had just more than 1,700 delegates. The first CMWorld drew 600 delegates The exhibit floor grew as well, with 80 exhibitors participating, which was up from 60 exhibitors last year. To accommodate start-ups, CMWorld created… more
Sep 23, 2014
Summer hiring was brisk, and now with the busy fall season in full swing, suppliers and show organizers alike are hiring and promoting at an even faster pace than has occurred in the past few years. Emerald Expositions has promoted three veterans of the trade show industry and long-time members of the NY NOW sales team. Randi Mohr and Scott Kramer have been appointed to the new positions of vice president, show directors for NY NOW, and Allison Garafalo has been promoted to sales director.  These three internal promotions, all of which are effective immediately, include a restructuring… 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