News

Oct 20, 2013
When Bob Vaez, president and CEO of EventMobi, heard about Double Robotics remotely controlled, mobile teleconferencing system robot a couple years ago,he knew there would be a place for it in the trade show and expo world one day. That day came for Vaez and the EventMobi team last week when they exhibited at IMEX America in Las Vegas. EventMobi invited customers and media, who were not attending IMEX America, to visit their booth remotely via the robot. The Double Robotics telepresence robot looks a bit like a mini Segway. The iPad stand is attached to a dual-wheel base allowing… more
Oct 20, 2013
Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Bob Costas and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will headline the program at the TEAMS '13 Conference & Expo when the event runs Nov. 4-7 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Both will appear at the show’s opening general session Nov. 5. This year won’t be their first time at TEAMS, with Romney taking part in 2001 and Costas appearing for the fourth time. In 2001, Romney was the head of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. He currently serves on the board of… more
Oct 17, 2013
The third edition of IMEX America, a trade show and conference for incentive travel, meetings and events, brought a taste of global destinations Oct. 15-17 to the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas. Modeled after IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America brought about 2,700 mostly U.S.-based hosted buyers (up from 2,400 last year) and 1,700 attendees, who got a chance to connect with about 2,700 exhibitors representing 200 countries. The size of the showfloor was up 17 percent at 140,000 square feet. “This has clearly been another year of significant growth,” said Ray Bloom,… more
Oct 15, 2013
Convention and visitors bureaus all over the United States made several hires in positions ranging from sales and marketing to business development. In addition, other companies also kept us the brisk hiring pace that has been the trend for the past year. The Fort Worth (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau (FWCVB) named Mitch Whitten as the new vice president of marketing and communications. A long-time resident of Fort Worth, Whitten is set to begin his new position Oct. 2. On Nov. 18, Amy Patterson will join Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) as vice president, business… more
Oct 14, 2013
A Bugs Bunny Symphony performance at the black-tie gala and a community celebration marked the official Oct. 10-11 grand opening of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center’s renovation and expansion. “The ‘new’ San Jose Convention Center advances downtown San Jose’s position as a premier convention destination and will help San Jose attract even more local, national and international events to spur economic activity and generate new tax revenues for our community,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. The expanded facility features additional 125,000 square feet of… more
Oct 14, 2013
Convention Centers have identified growing international competition and government policies toward meetings and events participation as their top concerns heading into a period of slow economic recovery, according to the latest annual survey carried out by AIPC, the International Association of Convention Centres. The survey, carried out between April and June 2013, achieved a 65 percent response rate from centers in 54 countries, with heavy participation from Europe. "Growing competition amongst centers worldwide has been an issue for some years, but this very real spike in… more
Oct 14, 2013
Gear Expo 2013, owned by the American Gear Manufacturers Association, saw growth in all three metrics – attendance, exhibitors and net square footage – at its recent show. The biennial event, held Sept. 17-19 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, attracted more than 3,400 industry professionals, an 11.8-percent increase in attendance, compared with 2011. The sold-out showfloor also had 219 exhibiting companies this year, a 26-percent increase, compared with 2011, and a 52,500 net square foot showfloor, which grew 29 percent since the 2011 show. National Trade… more
Oct 14, 2013
Taking advantage of the cooperative partnership between the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and União Brasileira dos Promotores de Feiras (Brazilian Union of Exhibit Promoters), Reed Exhibitions in Brazil enrolled 12 participants in IAEE’s Certified Exhibition Management (CEM) Learning Program. Those 12 went on to successfully complete the Exhibition and Event Sales Fundamentals and Event Marketing modules, which were held Sept. 2-3. "This has been a great opportunity to fulfill the skills of our talented management in Brazil with the ‘essence… more
Oct 13, 2013
The Palm Beach Show Group recently acquired Manhattan Media's Avenue Show, held at the Armory in New York City and focused on antiques, art and design. The AVENUE Show marks the PBSG's first foray into New York City, with other events in Los Angeles, Dallas, Naples, Chicago, Baltimore and Palm Beach, Fla., where the company is based. モWe are delighted to be merging the AVENUE Show into our national offerings,ヤ said Scott Diament, president and CEO of PBSG. He added, モWe have always known we wanted to have a premier venue in New York, and this show on Park Avenue in the heart of the… more
Oct 13, 2013
With Google serving more and more secure searches and not displaying the keywords that bring traffic to their websites, it is becoming difficult for webmasters to determine which keywords and phrases are delivering maximum results. While there are a number of options available for figuring this out in a roundabout way, e.g. by building powerful custom reports, one section that many webmasters may be neglecting to explore is the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) reports section in Google Analytics. These reports provide information about Google Web Search queries returning URL results from your… 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