Mar 11, 2015
Going to ExhibitorLive, the annual gathering of trade show and event industry pros and rebranded from EXHIBITOR, is like going to a candy shop. With so much talent, ingenuity and innovation on display, it’s easy to remember why you fell in love with trade shows in the first place and stayed with them even after swearing off them more than once. This year was no exception. Though the industry as a whole has been showing only modest growth since the recession and the spending sprees of mid 2000’s are a thing of the past, there were plenty of ideas to create meaningful engagement in the world… more
Mar 02, 2015
The first day of OFFPRICE, held Feb. 15-18 at the Sand Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, kicked off with crowds of buyers in the aisles, with some exhibitors calling it the busiest day they had ever had at the show that was celebrating its 40th run. The showfloor spanned 132,000 net square feet, its largest one to date, and there were 8,8460 buyers, a 5.5-percent increase, compared with the same show in 2014, looking for products often priced at 70 percent below wholesale costs. It was the largest percentage gain in retailer attendance in more than seven years, resulting in the… more
Feb 26, 2015
During one week in February in venues spread throughout Las Vegas, there are no less than 17 individual fashion shows going on at the same time. Making sure each show is memorable as a standalone event is key and often accomplished through creating a unique experience that leaves in an indelible impression. Waling the aisles at Reed Exhibitions’ The Agenda Show, held at the Venetian/Sands and serves the surf, skate and street community, an attendee instantly knows that are not at your typical show. Music is thumping, the aisles are packed with interesting booths and products, skateboarders… more
Feb 10, 2015
World of Concrete 2015 that took place Feb. 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center showed the strongest results in six years. Attendance was up 20 percent, at 55,779, compared with last year’s numbers. Exhibitor count reached 1,400, a jump of 17 percent. Square footage also has grown by close to 20 percent to almost 700,000 square feet. “We’ve had a phenomenal show,” said Tom Cindric, vice president of World of Concrete, Informa Exhibitions U.S., Construction and Real Estate. “The economy is getting better on the commercial construction side.” The show also saw a boost in conference… more
Jan 14, 2015
After considering other destinations, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) decided to keep its annual trade show RECon in Las Vegas for another two years with the option for a three-year extension. ICSC's current contract runs through 2017. The new contract begins in 2018 to potentially 2022, if the extension is exercised. ICSC presented the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board with a demo check to the Las Vegas community for $223 million, which is the estimated non-gaming impact of the show for Southern Nevada. "We are excited to keep RECon in Las Vegas, where it… more
Jan 13, 2015
The Consumer Electronic Association’s 2015 International CES presented attendees from around the world, with the latest in autonomous cars, wearable technology, the Internet of Things and much more Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. The world’s largest tech event just keeps growing, taking over the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, much of the Sands Expo Convention Center and parts of Aria. This year’s show featured 3,600 exhibitors spread out over 2.2 million net square feet of space, or as Tara Dunion, senior director of communications for CEA, likes to say, “that’s 35 football fields of technology… more
Dec 17, 2014
The Consumer Electronics Association unveiled a series of awards and events for the 2015 International CES, including the new APPNATION IV, Wearable Tech Awards, Hardware Battlefield and Extreme Tech Challenge. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2015 CES will be haled Jan. 6-9 in several venues around Las Vegas.   “These awards and events at CES celebrate pioneering technology companies and entrepreneurs who are creating innovative products and services that will be all the buzz and ‘must have items’ for consumers in the months and years ahead,” said… more
Nov 30, 2014
Four of Las Vegas’ largest trade shows, including No. 1 International CES®, No. 2 SEMA Show, No. 8 World of Concrete Exposition and No. 9 ASD LV will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center. These four shows together will bring an estimated 394,000 business delegates to the destination generating nearly $518 million in non-gaming economic impact. Fresh off a successful 2014 show, the SEMA Show will return to the convention center Nov. 3-6.  The SEMA Show is part of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) that brings the industry’s top products and experts from all over the world to… more
Oct 25, 2014
NRG Energy and MGM Resorts International teamed up to unveil the installation of the world’s largest rooftop solar array on a convention center. Covering approximately 20 acres atop the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, the 6.4 megawatt (MW dc) [5.0 megawatt ac (MW ac)] photovoltaic array will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 1,000 U.S. homes annually and is the first of its kind on the Las Vegas Strip.   MGM Resorts and NRG also plan to build an additional 2 MW dc (1.5 MW ac) photovoltaic array atop a future expansion of the Mandalay Bay… more
Oct 22, 2014
Ted Bahr, president and CEO of Melville, N.Y.-based BZ Media, said now is the right time to launch a new show his company’s been strategizing about for a while: InterDrone, the International Drone Conference and Exposition will debut Sept. 9-11 next year in Las Vegas. “We have been tracking this market closely for two years and are convinced that this growing industry needs an event 100 percent focused on the commercial drone market and that the right place for that event to thrive and grow is Las Vegas,” Bahr added. He said, “Our goal is the build the largest dedicated commercial drone event… 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