New Business Contracts: Convention Data Services, Mills James, Fern and Corcoran Expositions Nab Contracts

January 3, 2017

Before 2016 wrapped up, a few suppliers signed new contracts and renewed others to provide services to shows and venues.

The American Telemedicine Association selected Convention Data Services (CDS) as its new registration partner. The contract runs through 2018 and calls for CDS to provide full registration and lead retrieval services, along with housing and membership integrations for two events: the ATA International Conference & Tradeshow and the ATA Fall Forum.

ATA, the largest telehealth-focused organization, produces these two events to help educate industry professionals and transform healthcare by improving the quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world.

The use of telemedicine has become a multi-billion dollar industry and is now becoming integrated into the ongoing operations of hospitals, specialty departments, home health agencies, private physician offices as well as consumer’s homes and workplaces.

With this advance, these two events require a streamlined registration process and the latest lead retrieval technology for their tech-savvy attendees and exhibitors.

“ATA is a growing organization with a strong focus on innovation and technology. We chose CDS as our new registration vendor because of their experience and commitment to our goals. We believe their innovative and flexible approach will best meet the needs of our members and event attendees,” says Courtney Mesmer, CMP, Director of Meetings and Events, American Telemedicine Association. 

The SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center chose Mills James and Fern Exposition & Event Services as new service providers for the facility, effective Jan. 1.

“Both Mills James and Fern have been great partners of the GCCC through the years and their quality work and focus on providing an outstanding customer experience have placed them in a position of great success,” said GCCC General Manager John R. Page.

He added, “As we enter into our future with an expanded and renovated convention center to sell and service, we look forward to raising the bar at the GCCC with continued growth in our customer base and enhanced experiences that will be provided through these new partnerships.”

Mills James will become the GCCC’s preferred provider of production services and its exclusive provider of rigging services.

The employee-owned company produces videos, spots, broadcast programs, corporate meetings, special events, digital signage and mobile apps for its clients.

“Our mission is to redefine convention center audiovisual services,” said John Aldrich, director of event technologies for Mills James and primary contact for the GCCC account.

He added, “Clients increasingly value one-stop shopping, and with our help, the convention center can now provide production support ranging from small business meetings to immersive experiences for thousands of people.”

Fern will become the facility’s new preferred general service contractor and will be responsible for decorating and other trade show services.

Fern is a leading national marketing support and trade show services contractor that provides unmatched customer service, best-in-class creativity and innovative solutions for exhibitions and large-scale events. Fern is among the top three face-to-face event service providers in North America, serving more than 1,100 live events annually, including many top 100 shows and dozens of Fortune 500 companies.

“Fern has served clients of the Greater Columbus Convention Center since the center’s opening in 1993,” said Fern Executive Vice President Mike Cox.

He added, “With the 2017 scheduled completion of an expanded and renovated GCCC, Fern is anticipating that GCCC will continue to attract many events for which Fern’s service offering is well suited.  As the in-house preferred contractor for the GCCC, Fern will be well positioned to assist the GCCC and Experience Columbus in continuing to maximize opportunities for Columbus.”

Corcoran Expositions, an independent trade show organizer, has been retained to manage one new trade show and also renewed with an existing client.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with the American Dental Hygienists Association, as well as the International City/County Management Association, co-sponsor of the National Brownfields Training Conference, in producing their upcoming trade shows,” said Tom Corcoran, founder of the 26-year-old Corcoran Expositions. 

He added, “We pride ourselves on our long client relationships, so are always thrilled when an existing client decides to continue working with us, as is the case with the International City/County Management Association who have been a client for 15 years and who we have partnered with for the National Brownfields Training Conference since 2011. We hope that the American Dental Hygienists Association also becomes a long-term client.”

For the Chicago-based, American Dental Hygienists Association, Corcoran Expositions will provide exhibit sales and management services for the “CLL 2017 94th Annual Session,” to be held in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2017 and in Columbus, OH in 2018. 

The most recent show featured 15,000 net square feet and drew 1.800 attendees and 130 exhibitors.

For the Washington, DC-based based International City/County Management Association, Corcoran Expositions will provide exhibit sales, sponsorship sales and management services for the “2017 National Brownfields Training Conference,” to be held in Pittsburgh, Penn. The most recent show featured 13,000 net sq. ft. and drew 3,000 attendees and 120 exhibitors.

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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