News

Jun 01, 2014
Exhibitors constantly are trying to find the next big thing that will make show attendees, who’ve seen it all before, stop in their tracks and take notice of the exhibitor’s booth. A new display unit by Pufferfish out of the United Kingdom just may be that next big thing. Pufferfish, the maker of PufferSphere spherical display systems, has a new smaller display called the PufferSphere M. This new sphere is powerful enough to stand out in a bright environment, such as a trade show floor. Nichole Potts, sales manager at Freeman said, “Projection mapping is all the rage now,… more
Jun 01, 2014
“People look at your brand’s voice as a true representation of its heart and soul.” - Lori Randall Stradtman, Online Reputation Management for Dummies (www.social-media-design.com) Brands with positive reputations attract more customers, have longevity and deliver higher than normal ROI to organizations. Many brand management teams pay a lot of attention to their customers’ feedback in direct interactions, but most neglect to proactively manage their brand’s online reputation. When a crisis erupts all of a sudden, such teams are caught off guard, and then it… more
Jun 01, 2014
Exhibitors constantly are trying to find the next big thing that will make show attendees, who’ve seen it all before, stop in their tracks and take notice of the exhibitor’s booth. A new display unit by Pufferfish out of the United Kingdom just may be that next big thing. Pufferfish, the maker of PufferSphere spherical display systems, has a new smaller display called the PufferSphere M. This new sphere is powerful enough to stand out in a bright environment, such as a trade show floor. Nichole Potts, sales manager at Freeman said, “Projection mapping is all the rage now,… more
May 30, 2014
The ballroom at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., was filled with the who’s who of the association and for-profit trade show world; all gathered together to take part in the record-breaking 13th edition of the Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum held May 27-28. Sam Lippman, who is president and founder of Lippman Connects and runs the event, said that the 216 registered attendees were a record, as well as the number of sponsors this year and supporting publications. “The 13th time is not the curse, it’s the charm!,” Lippman said. “The speakers… more
May 28, 2014
The Archery Trade Association has targeted Louisville again for its annual event – ATA Trade Show – in 2016, 2019 and 2024 at the Kentucky Exposition Center after visiting the city in 2013. The event is expected to draw 10,000 attendees with an estimated $17 million economic impact over the multi-year deal. “Louisville is a vibrant, accessible city that’s well suited to handle our national and international companies and their staff,” said Jay McAninch, ATA president and CEO.  He added, “The Kentucky Exposition Center offers abundant floor space and,… more
May 27, 2014
Less than a week after the San Diego Convention Center Corporation sent a letter to all of its clients announcing the implementation of not only fee hikes for shows coming into the center after July 1, but also exclusive contracts for security and event staffing, the changes were put on hold after swift industry backlash. Steven Johnson, vice president of public affairs for SDCCC, said they had extensive feedback from their clients expressing concern after the letter was sent. “The decision to suspend the changes was a result of the strong reaction from our clients and our desire to be… more
May 25, 2014
Walking into the Sweets and Snacks Expo at McCormick Place, the smell of candy and popcorn was almost as powerful as the bright colors of the 650 booths seen covering 165,000 plus square foot of exhibit space.    And the 16,000 attendees clearly were enjoying the expo and samples of candy and snacks that were plentiful during the show that was held May 20-22. “We have seen a strong jump in attendance in our show, both with exhibitors and attendees,” said Theresa Anthony, senior director of the National Confectioners Association Expo. She added, “We have also… more
May 25, 2014
Frost Miller Group recently began working on several graphic design projects for American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). AASLD, which serves all professionals dedicated to preventing and curing liver disease, quickly put FMG to work on a number of graphic design projects including tradeshow displays, direct mail, and print and web advertisements. “Our role with AASLD is to develop marketing materials that help drive association membership and promote its foundation’s fellowships and research awards,” said Kevin Miller, president of FMG. The FMG team is… more
May 25, 2014
PMMI has tapped into the fast-growing $1 trillion medicines market with the planned launch of Pharma EXPO coming up in November collocated with PACK EXPO International in Chicago. Already 85 percent sold out months before its opening, the exhibition is co-produced by PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the world’s largest not-for-profit association leading scientific, technical and regulatory advancement throughout the pharmaceutical lifecycle. To date, more than 160 solutions providers… more
May 25, 2014
 Pri-Med, the leading provider of professional medical education to a community of more than 260,000 clinicians, named Melinda Lindquist as director of continuing medical education (CME) and accreditation for pmiCME. pmiCME is the accreditation division of DBC Pri-Med, LLC.  In her new role, Lindquist will help lead Pri-Med’s collaborations with medical schools and associations nationwide to build CME curriculums that are tailored specifically to improve patient outcomes. “We are thrilled to welcome Melinda to our team as we continue to build out the next phase of… 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