News

Jul 08, 2015
The WTM Portfolio, part of Reed Travel Exhibitions, will launch two mew events in Malaysia and China next year, under the new brand, WTM connect. The new events will serve the growing Asian leisure travel markets and provide a platform for exhibitors to meet with elite hosted buyers. The event in Malaysia, WTM connect Asia, will be held at the Eastern Oriental Hotel in Penang in May 2016 and WTM connect China, will also be held in May 2016 in Sanya, Hainan Island. WTM Portfolio, Director, Craig Moyes, commented, “We are delighted to be able to take the WTM Portfolio to Asia and China, with… more
Jul 08, 2015
The ongoing MERS outbreak in South Korea has resulted in Taiwan’s government issuing a travel advisory covering all of South Korea – not only Seoul. In addition, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister, publicly advised Malaysians not to travel to South Korea. According to a TTG Asia article, flight cancellations to South Korea continue to increase at a double-digit rate. Bookings from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have fallen the fastest. Japan is the only market in Asia that has not recorded a drop in flight bookings. Business and corporate travel numbers are reportedly holding up well compared to leisure… more
Jul 07, 2015
Even with Greece throwing the Eurozone into uncertainty and the China stock market dipping precipitously, the trade show industry in these two regions, and the majority of others worldwide, is reporting positive gains, according to UFI’s 15th Global Barometer survey. An average of 6 companies out of 10 declared increases in their businesses. When compared to 2014, the situation is stable for the Americas and Europe, but it reflects a slight slowdown in Asia/Pacific or Middle East and Africa, who had higher levels of growth in 2014. However, both the United States and China outperform their… more
Jul 06, 2015
Adding to its expanding portfolio in Southeast Asia, U.K.-based Tarsus Group acquired 50 percent of the AMB Group via a joint venture vehicle - AMB Tarsus Exhibitions Sdn. Bhd. - from Andrew Siow and Richard Yew. “AMBT is an excellent strategic acquisition and allows Tarsus to build scale in South East Asia with an entrepreneurial partner,” said Tarsus Group Managing Director Douglas Emslie. He added, “Many of the ASEAN economies are growing strongly and the AMBT joint venture will offer us first-mover advantage in some key sectors in these exciting markets.” Established in 1996, the AMB… more
Jul 06, 2015
The U.S Travel Association’s President and CEO Roger Dow issued a strong statement after an article came out by The Washington Post that said the U.S. Justice Department was launching an investigation into whether some of the top airlines have colluded to keep prices high. The article states that prices were driven up by limiting routes and affordable seats. The article also states that representatives from Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines confirmed they were among those being investigated and said they were complying with Justice Department requests… more
Jul 05, 2015
MeetingMetrics now is offering a set of tools that will help corporate and association training programs with their testing and certification programs. This new knowledge testing and certification program (T&C) services will allow organizations to create a formal or informal knowledge testing and achievement certification program based on their organization’s specific requirements. MeetingMetrics describes their offering as a lower-cost alternative to large, complex LMS services for clients who need testing and certification services while managing their training scheduling and… more
Jul 05, 2015
In the old days, your event management software sat on one side of the “house” and your website sat on the other. The event management application came from one supplier. Websites, on the other hand, were built by a third-party website development company. It’s different today. One company and one platform can manage both sides of the house and make it so much easier for event planners. 1.      Data synchronization. One of the obvious advantages of keeping everything “under one roof” is the automatic synchronization of data. In other… more
Jul 05, 2015
In the old days, your event management software sat on one side of the “house” and your website sat on the other. The event management application came from one supplier. Websites, on the other hand, were built by a third-party website development company. It’s different today. One company and one platform can manage both sides of the house and make it so much easier for event planners. 1.      Data synchronization. One of the obvious advantages of keeping everything “under one roof” is the automatic synchronization of data. In other… more
Jul 05, 2015
MeetingMetrics now is offering a set of tools that will help corporate and association training programs with their testing and certification programs. This new knowledge testing and certification program (T&C) services will allow organizations to create a formal or informal knowledge testing and achievement certification program based on their organization’s specific requirements. MeetingMetrics describes their offering as a lower-cost alternative to large, complex LMS services for clients who need testing and certification services while managing their training scheduling and… more
Jul 02, 2015
Just days before Comic-Con International kicks off its annual convention, San Diego likely is breathing a huge sigh of relief, with its biggest event signing on to stay in the city through 2018. With 130,000 attendees expected July 8-12 at the San Diego Convention Center, the event has grown so large, there was talk that it might move somewhere else when the current contract expired next year. But, even with hotels booked for miles around and the halls filled to the brim with exhibits, the show will stay put. “We are thrilled to be the home for Comic-Con International for two additional years… 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