News
Jun 02, 2015
The 96th annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and the collocated BAR (Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants) at NRA Show, held at Chicago’s McCormick Place on May 16-19, posted record exhibit space and a 3 percent uptick in registration in the key buyer category of restaurant and foodservice operators.
“Across all three halls and all four days of NRA Show and BAR, the optimism of the restaurant and hospitality industry could be felt around every corner,” said John Metz, Jr., 2015 NRA Convention Chair and Executive Chef, CEO and Co-founder of Marlow’s Tavern.
He… more
Jun 02, 2015
The 2015 Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum, held May 27 in Washington, D.C., drew more than 200 trade show organizers and suppliers to a packed room at the J.W. Marriott to take part in a day filled with engaging sessions.
In its 14th year, ECEF drew not only a record number of registrants, but also a record number of sponsors and participating publications, according to ECEF Founder Sam Lippman.
“This year has been a great year,” he added.
The full day kicked off bright and early with a keynote by Scott Schenker, general manager, Events and Production Studio,… more
Jun 01, 2015
The severe winter weather in much of the U.S. didn’t put a damper on the trade show industry, with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s quarterly CEIR Index Report tracking growth to be 4.6 percent in Q1 2015, compared with the same time period in 2014.
It is the highest increase since the second quarter of 2007, in other words, before the recession hit.
"The performance in the first quarter was remarkable considering that the east coast was frequently paralyzed under severe winter weather," said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for Global Economic Consulting… more
Jun 01, 2015
In its 26th year, LIGHTFAIR International 2015’s show broke attendance and showfloor records across the board when it was held May 5-7 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York.
“The convergence of light and technology is a defining factor in LFI’s 2015 unprecedented success,” said Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of LFI managing partner AmericasMart® Atlanta.
He added, “For more than a quarter century, LIGHTFAIR has created the world’s global stage for lighting and design innovation. At LFI 2015, technology emerged as the… more
Jun 01, 2015
2015 will be considered a watershed year in the history of mobile devices. This is the year when mobile adoption finally has surpassed PC adoption, something experts had been predicting since at least 2010.
This also is the year when leading search engines have made serving mobile users their official priority. Web and app design teams now are putting in special effort in adopting emerging best practices to ensure that the needs of the ever growing number of mobile users are catered to.
However, there still is a lot of confusion about what mobile users really want. It also doesn’t help… more
Jun 01, 2015
2015 will be considered a watershed year in the history of mobile devices. This is the year when mobile adoption finally has surpassed PC adoption, something experts had been predicting since at least 2010.
This also is the year when leading search engines have made serving mobile users their official priority. Web and app design teams now are putting in special effort in adopting emerging best practices to ensure that the needs of the ever growing number of mobile users are catered to.
However, there still is a lot of confusion about what mobile users really want. It also doesn’t help… more
May 31, 2015
Even after a public attack by Budweiser during Super Bowl 2015 mocking craft beer drinkers, it didn’t seem to faze those who are in the industry at all, with the recent Craft Beverage Expo selling out its showfloor.
In its second year, CBE 2015 not only gathered professionals in beer, wine, spirits and cider, but it also expanded its audience to include mead, sake and soda segments.
“The CBE staff has worked tirelessly to provide attendees with a diverse set of resources,” said Kellie Shevlin, executive director of Craft Beverage Expo.
She added, “We know these craft beverage producers are… more
May 31, 2015
Naylor Association Solutions acquired exclusive U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to Blue Sky Broadcast’s full range of online learning services for the association industry, including the Path™ Event Learning Platform, launched in late 2014.
Founded in 2002, Blue Sky Broadcast helps 200-plus associations capture educational content from live or virtual settings, and facilitates the management and delivery of content to a global audience through its award-winning learning platform.
“Associations know the value of the education that occurs during their face-to-face and… more
May 31, 2015
Naylor Association Solutions acquired exclusive U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to Blue Sky Broadcast’s full range of online learning services for the association industry, including the Path™ Event Learning Platform, launched in late 2014.
Founded in 2002, Blue Sky Broadcast helps 200-plus associations capture educational content from live or virtual settings, and facilitates the management and delivery of content to a global audience through its award-winning learning platform.
“Associations know the value of the education that occurs during their face-to-face and… more
May 29, 2015
After its purchase of Hanley Wood Exhibitions last November, U.K.-based Informa Exhibitions is adding onto its residential, commercial design and construction portfolio in the United States with the acquisition of Dwell on Design from Dwell Media.
Dwell on Design has two annual events in New York and Los Angeles and will be run by Informa Exhibitions U.S., Construction and Real Estate division.
The buy cements a formal partnership between Dwell Media and Informa with the goal of expanding the existing shows’ scope and taking it international.
“Dwell Media, the voice of modern design, has… 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