News

Feb 18, 2014
Partnering with several of the city’s economic development and marketing organizations, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau recently launched a new business attraction co-op marketing campaign for Philadelphia – PHL: Here For The Making (www.discoverPHL.com/makeitPHL). The campaign’s tagline says it all: “Whether you’re looking to create successful convention, a game-changing venture, an important move, or just an unforgettable experience, make it right here in Philadelphia.” The PHLCVB joined forces with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of… more
Feb 17, 2014
International Carwash Association Unveils New Show in Amsterdam The International Carwash Association, which represents car wash professionals, will launch Car Wash Europe Oct. 5-7 at the RAI Exhibition Center in Amsterdam, The  Netherlands. The new event will held every other year and serve car wash operators and suppliers in the European market. “We’re  incredibly  excited  to  be  launching  Car  Wash  Show  Europe,” said  ICA  CEO  Eric  Wulf.  He added, “While  there are … more
Feb 17, 2014
Meeting Professionals International released the first edition of its new Meetings OutlookTM, a quarterly report offering a unique perspective on the future of the meeting and event industry with information provided by more than 5,000 MPI members, including 700 senior meeting professionals on MPI's Business Research Panel. The report covers new trends, as well as innovations on the horizon and replaces the bi-monthly Business Barometer previously published by MPI. Meetings Outlook is available for free for both MPI members and non-members, making it more accessible to the broader… more
Feb 17, 2014
U.K.-based Tarsus Group has had a busy few weeks with launches and acquisitions in several different markets, with the latest being the launch of the International Automotive Aftermarket and Tuning Fair (AAITF) brand into Turkey. The brand originated in China, where Tarsus bought an existing show and since planned launched in Bangkok, December 2014, and Indonesia, May 2014. The new show in Turkey, Istanbul AAITF, will be held June 11-13, 2015. “We are very excited by this opportunity to bring a major global brand like AAITF into Turkey’s dynamic automotive aftermarket sector,… more
Feb 17, 2014
In an effort to expand collaborations in China, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) signed a cooperation agreement Jan. 10 with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Chengdu Sub-council at the annual CEFCO event held in Wuxi, China. The strategic agreement encourages participation in exhibitions and events in Chengdu and fosters continued goodwill throughout China. "IAEE is the largest international association representing the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with more than 8,000 members,” said Mu Tao… more
Feb 16, 2014
The 2014 MD&M West show brought together more than 35,000 attendees and exhibitors interacting with more than 2,100 exhibits on an impressive 305,000 square feet of showfloor space. “We have seen not only an increase in repeat visitors from last year, but also many visitors coming for more than just one day,” said Roger Burg, vice president/Design & Manufacturing Portfolio Director at UBM Canon. He added, “We have been diligent in creating a conference environment that focuses on not only the attendee/exhibitor interaction, but also quality networking and… more
Feb 16, 2014
The Wilmington Convention Center, the largest convention center on the North Carolina coast, launched a brand new Web site, www.businessmadecasual.com. The highlight of the new site is a virtual 360° tour that takes meeting and convention planners on a digital journey of the center’s venues and amenities. The virtual tour gives users the ability to start with an overview map of the entire facility and to then take a closer look at specific interior and exterior meeting spaces, as well as areas surrounding the waterfront building. Specific images in the virtual tour include shots of… more
Feb 16, 2014
Most of the time, event mobile apps are selected well after the event management software is in place. Mobile apps are relatively new to trade shows and conferences and implementing the core operations software normally takes priority. This basic chronology can cause integration headaches for event organizers unless they ask some important questions of the mobile app vendor. Can the data from registration and the event management software be integrated with the mobile platform? To avoid having to re-enter existing registrant, exhibitor and schedule data into the mobile database, the mobile… more
Feb 16, 2014
Most of the time, event mobile apps are selected well after the event management software is in place. Mobile apps are relatively new to trade shows and conferences and implementing the core operations software normally takes priority. This basic chronology can cause integration headaches for event organizers unless they ask some important questions of the mobile app vendor. Can the data from registration and the event management software be integrated with the mobile platform? To avoid having to re-enter existing registrant, exhibitor and schedule data into the mobile database, the mobile… more
Feb 16, 2014
The Wilmington Convention Center, the largest convention center on the North Carolina coast, launched a brand new Web site, www.businessmadecasual.com. The highlight of the new site is a virtual 360° tour that takes meeting and convention planners on a digital journey of the center’s venues and amenities. The virtual tour gives users the ability to start with an overview map of the entire facility and to then take a closer look at specific interior and exterior meeting spaces, as well as areas surrounding the waterfront building. Specific images in the virtual tour include shots 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