News
Jan 04, 2021
Casandra Matej has been tapped as the next president and chief executive officer of Visit Orlando, effective Feb. 1. She assumes the same position she most recently held with Visit San Antonio.
Matej is credited for rethinking the structure of the San Antonio CVB that she served nearly a decade, first as executive director and then as president and CEO. During her tenure, Alamo City achieved record highs in convention sales and marketing programs. She also developed one of the largest tourism ambassador programs in the country—with over 2,000 CTAs brought aboard to ensure memorable visitor… more
Dec 30, 2020
One of the biggest challenges facing event planners as the world reopens are the inconsistencies between states regarding health and safety guidelines. The difference between say Florida and California are worlds apart. Trying to keep it all straight adds to the already stressful job of putting on meetings, conferences and trade shows.
Meetings Mean Business, the industry-wide coalition focused on advocacy, is trying to simplify the learning curve. Its new Meet Safe platform is a portal for event organizers to share recent experiences. A re-opening tracker is another valuable information… more
Dec 28, 2020
As of Sunday night, associations across the travel and hospitality world were able to celebrate a stimulus package to boost the U.S. economy’s recovery from the pandemic.
The bill offers much-needed assistance to airlines, hotels and tourism groups desperate for the world to re-open.
“We can’t emphasize enough how desperately needed this funding is, or how much this action by Congress will add momentum to a global travel and economic resurgence,” said Shane Downey, vice president of government and community relations for the Global Business Travel Association, in a statement when Congress… more
Dec 28, 2020
Let’s face it: Not everything about meetings is great. But after the way 2020 played out, event professionals are yearning for even the awkward stuff.
Rather than mope about all the good, bad and ugly of face-to-face gatherings we’ve missed, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is having some fun with it.
The CVB in December launched a series of short animated episodes, “What We Never Thought We’d Miss About Meetings.” The first three episodes—about 30 seconds each—focus on too much swag, close talkers and (too) late-night networking.
Think of it as “Seinfeld” meets “South… more
Dec 22, 2020
As it closed out the industry’s most challenging year in recent memory, The International Association of Exhibitions and Events honored individuals whose innovative ideas and strong work ethic will be counted on for the recovery from COVID-19.
The winners are some of the longest standing event professionals who have contributed far more than the events they have produced. This year’s virtually ceremony aired during Expo! Expo! put a renewed spotlight on Nancy Walsh, who accepted the Women of Achievement Award again, three months after first being presented the prize at IAEE’s Women’s… more
Dec 21, 2020
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has acquired the assets of the Las Vegas Monorail Company to preserve an important transportation option along the Las Vegas Strip. The transaction was finalized on Dec. 9, following approval of the sale by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Nov. 24.
The company was purchased for more than $24 million, according to LVCVA officials.
The transaction also allows for other transportation options on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard by eliminating the non-compete area around the monorail system while also paving the way for the Boring Company’s… more
Dec 18, 2020
The show for shows lived up to its billing, even if it looked different from past years. Expo! Expo!, International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ annual gathering, reunited more than 1,250 attendees in a virtual format to help spur trade shows toward a faster recovery.
“None of us expected 2020 to be the year it’s been,” said IAEE 2020/2021 Chairperson Bob McClean, executive vice president and PPAI. “We’ve all been faced with learning new and challenging things, and now we’re becoming experts at virtual events.”
Engagement levels suggest McClean is spot on, and also indicate how… more
Dec 17, 2020
Sometimes a little teamwork can go a long way. Emerald, owner of the International Gift Expo of the Smokies, and Clarion Events, which owns the Smoky Mountain Gift Show, recently celebrated a joint milestone for their companies – and the exhibitions industry overall – by pulling off productive and safe in-person trade shows last month in Tennessee.
To accomplish this feat during the pandemic, the event producers created Tennessee Market Week, a collaborative effort to safely and conveniently reunite brands, wholesalers and buyers from across both shows to form the gift, resort and souvenir… more
Dec 16, 2020
Snowsports Industries America is hoping that a dual-pronged approach to updating two long-standing expos will create an avalanche of excitement.
In announcing its new strategy and rebranding of events, SIA is getting the ball rolling with a new immersive platform, Snowboundfest.com.
The website serves primarily as a showcase for two November events: Rockies and New England Snowbound Festivals. It includes a healthy dose of ski-related news, notes and interviews to maintain engagement with attendees. Event swag like ski hats and face masks (it is 2020, after all) is available for purchase in… more
Dec 15, 2020
Swapcard, an AI-powered engagement and matchmaking platform for events, announced the launch of their second in-house 3-day virtual event and show, Evolve 2.0, which will be held from February 23-25, 2021.
To attend, please register HERE.
Following the success of their first virtual event back in May 2020, Evolve: The Virtual Event for Planners, which built a community of more than 4,000 event professionals, Swapcard made the move towards a 365 platform with the Evolve Community Series.
The team has continued to release new content monthly and the community has continued to grow and… 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