News

May 24, 2015
Groundwork on the purpose-built Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s (the Centre) expansion at the adjacent Lot 91 officially is underway as the Centre celebrates a decade in business this year. “We are thrilled to reveal that groundwork began in late April, and we expect the expansion to be completed in 2018,” said general manager Alan Pryor. Lot 91 will be a mixed commercial development comprising of office tower, convention centre and retail podium. The project has a prime location within KLCC Precinct and has been designed for seamless integration with the existing Centre. When operational… more
May 24, 2015
Human Resource Executive® magazine, the publication focused on strategic HR issues, in partnership with China Star, will launch the HR Technology Conference & Exposition China, taking place April 13-15 at the Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center in Zhuhai, China. “As a country with one of the highest employment growth markets in the world, Human Resource Executive and China Star recognized the tremendous opportunity that the HR Technology Conference & Exposition can bring to HR professionals in China,” said Rebecca McKenna, publisher of Human Resource Executive®… more
May 23, 2015
The Professional Convention Management Association and the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau have renewed their commitment to grow conference management education further in Singapore and Asia with a new two-year partnership agreement. As part of this agreement, PCMA and the SECB will grow the annual PCMA Meetings Forum Singapore that will see its second edition take place over two days in June. With the Association landscape in Asia at an early stage of development, opportunities abound for association leaders and executives to benefit from PCMA’s education in conference management… more
May 23, 2015
The first edition of C-star, Shanghai's International Trade Fair for Solutions and Trends all about Retail, featured 162 exhibitors from 23 countries, presenting the latest retail technologies and trends for the Chinese market on 53,800 square feet of net exhibit space. Exhibitors included industry leaders such as Sibu Design, Schlegel Concept, Interstore, Ezidone, Changhong Decorations, Octanorm System and LS Lighting as well as Nedap, Bizerba China, and Mettler Toledo. With nearly 50 percent of the companies having overseas headquarters, C-star is the most international retail trade fair in… more
May 22, 2015
U.K.-based Tarsus Group added to its expanding U.S. medical portfolio with the acquisition of PAINWeek from Aventine Co. for $27.5 million. PAINWeek runs the leading U.S. event for pain management, which takes place annually in September in Las Vegas.  “The acquisition of PAINWeek complements our existing medical businesses enabling us to address all four pillars of the preventative medical market,” said Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group managing director. “We see a number of opportunities for us to expand the PAINWeek business and to cross-promote our other medical events.” PAINWeek… more
May 22, 2015
Nine months after being appointed CEO of UBM Americas, Sally Shankland will be stepping down at the end of June to pursue an opportunity in a different industry. “Sally’s commitment to UBM has been significant. She has seen the Group transformed from a print-heavy conglomerate into an Events-focused media and communications business,” said Tim Cobbold, CEO of UBM. He added, “Her role within this transformation has been noteworthy, particularly her long tenure as leader of our U.S. medical media assets. I thank her warmly for her contribution and wish her every success in her new role.”… more
May 20, 2015
The 2015 SEMA Show will expand into a new area to accommodate additional exhibitors during the show Nov. 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Located in the outside area on the south side of the venue (adjacent to the Renaissance Hotel), this new First-Time and Featured Exhibitors area also will include a transportation hub and serve as a primary thoroughfare into the SEMA Show. "Industry professionals value and rely on the SEMA Show to do business," said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA  vice president of events and communications. "The expansion areas make it possible for businesses in the… more
May 18, 2015
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has selected Atlantic City, N.J., as the destination for its 2016 World Education Congress (WEC). The conference will be held June 11-14 at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center, a Caesars Entertainment property. “We look forward to hosting our World Education Congress in Atlantic City next year,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “When selecting venues for MPI events, we look for destinations that provide great infrastructure, world-class facilities and memorable experiences. Having grown up spending my summers… more
May 18, 2015
More than 1,500 attendees were on hand for the he Experiential Marketing Summit (EMS), held in San Francisco May 11-13, to hear from a wide range of fantastic speakers on new topics and issues facing the industry.  And, it was clear that when it comes to marketing, experimentation has never been more important. In the morning keynote, CMO of Bacardi, Dima Ivanov discussed how Bacardi reviewed their brand and the customer experience in an effort to get back to the roots of the company. One key component was the identification of where the experience takes place, and maintaining that… more
May 17, 2015
The latest in a series of webinars on TSNN is "Beyond the Hype: Discussing Effective Use of Trade Show Technology", on tap May 21 at 1 p.m. EST. Please register HERE. The use of technology in trade shows and expos has become ubiquitous. Event apps, paperless meetings, and social media walls are just par for the course. Our discussion in this webinar will be on the most effective ways to use technology at our trade shows and expos. Our panelists will discuss how they are using technology to build community, to market to attendees and exhibitors, and to gain insights into their audience. We… 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