News

Jul 08, 2012
Trade show veteran Kevin O’Keefe has taken a new post at GLM as senior vice president, leaving his position at UBM Canon Communications at which he oversaw several 2011 TSNN Top 250 shows, such as Medical Design & Manufacturing West, East and Midwest, as well as other shows in the UBM Canon portfolio. O’Keefe has worked in the trade show industry for 20 years and will assume many of the duties of GLM’s departing Senior Vice President Phil Robinson, who has decided to leave the company as of Aug. 1 after 22 years, but will remain as an advisor through year-end, according… more
Jul 08, 2012
Northstar Travel Media, a business-to-business media company serving the travel industry, has gone from one private equity owner – BV Investment Partners – to another, Wicks Group, which purchased the company for an undisclosed sum.  “We are very impressed with the growth of Northstar Travel Media over the last few years during challenging economic conditions,” said Dan Kortick, a managing partner at Wicks. He added, “The management team has done an excellent job of migrating its core business to an integrated information and marketing solutions company.… more
Jul 08, 2012
Two suppliers – the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Shepard Exposition Services – both scored lucrative events contracts. Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2012 will take place July 8-12 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. An estimated 15,000 attendees representing technology companies in 156 countries will take part in the event, according to show organizers. WPC 2012 is set to be three times bigger than the last time the event was in Toronto in 2004. "Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference is one of the world's most prestigious and advanced… more
Jul 04, 2012
Germany’s Messe Frankfurt shrugged off the economic doldrums plaguing several countries in Europe and posted its best sales year on record last year driven by growth in group and foreign sales. The final figure for last year’s group sales was €467.5 million. “Even though 2011 was by no means an easy year from an economic perspective, we succeeded in further expanding our business activities,” said Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt. Accounting for sales revenue attributable to Messe Frankfurt service subsidiaries Accente Gastronomie Service… more
Jul 04, 2012
Chicago just received a big boost with the American Library Association signing on to bring its annual trade show to the city in 2020, 2023 and 2026. The association already was committed to having the event in the Windy City in 2013 and 2017. Each show is projected to bring in $50 million in estimated direct expenditures per year, according to Choose Chicago officials. “This is great news for our convention industry and shows that Chicago is the place for large, national organizations to come and do business,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. He added, “The reforms at… more
Jul 04, 2012
Attention trade show organizers: just when you thought you’d established a solid presence on all the key social media sites, not to mention figured out how to maximize their potential for your events, there’s a new digital platform that you might want to take note of: Pinterest.   So what’s the premise of this emerging social media tool that everyone seems to be talking about?   Pinterest is a virtual photo bulletin board that allows people to share images and links that they find interesting or inspiring, allowing users to create thematic “boards” and… more
Jul 01, 2012
A new report commissioned by the Professional Convention Management Association’s Education Foundation takes a look into meetings, events and conventions from the perspective of the Millennial generation to identify key motivations and challenges in engaging this emerging audience. “What the Millennial Generation Prefers in Their Meetings, Conventions and Events” reportis based on the findings of the largest survey conducted of its kind, according to PCMA officials. More than 2,000 respondents ages 18-30 participated in the study, which was led by a team of hospitality and… more
Jul 01, 2012
Dallas-based Freeman will sell Cincinnati-based Fern Exposition & Event Services, which it bought just more than a year ago as part of the acquisition of Wheelhouse Solutions, to Fern’s COO Aaron Bludworth and an investment group.  Both companies chose not to disclose financial information related to this transaction. The Wheelhouse Solutions deal in June 2011 also included Champion Exposition Services and Immersa Marketing, but while Champion was folded into Freeman, Immersa and Fern were operated for the past year as standalone brands. “I am excited to represent Fern… more
Jul 01, 2012
Temperatures are soaring across the U.S., and what’s typically a slower time in the trade show industry is filled instead with a bevy of industry meetings. Destination Marketing Association International’s Annual Convention is on tap July 16-18 in Seattle and will kick off with an opening keynote by Jason Ryan Dorsey, known as “The Gen Y Guy”, who will discuss “Crossing the Generational Divide: Leveraging the Power of Generations for Your Strategic Advantage.” Other events on the schedule for the three-day event include a volunteer activity with locally… more
Jun 30, 2012
Last week, Kazuhiro Tsuga was named incoming president of Panasonic Corporation during their general meeting of shareholders in Osaka, Japan, and the same day, the Consumer Electronic Association announced Tsuga will be the opening keynote speaker at the 2013 International CES.   The show is on tap Jan. 8-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and several venues around the city.   Tsuga’s keynote will be Jan. 8 in the Las Vegas Sands’ Venetian’s Palazzo Ballroom, immediately following a State of the CE Industry keynote address by Gary Shapiro, president and CEO 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