Mar 22, 2013
Timed with the American Society of Association Executive’s annual legislative fly-in for American Associations Day, held March 18-19, the organization gathered letters to deliver to Senate offices opposing a proposed amendment to H.R. 933 that would prohibit federal agencies from sending more than 25 employees to any meeting or conference held in the United States.
The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), which was offered in response to reports last year of wasteful conference spending by the General Services Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, was… more
Mar 20, 2013
Improving expectations of sales and the position of the United States at the top of global market drove increasing exhibitor and attendee confidence at 2013 EXHIBITOR Show, the annual gathering of the trade show industry that took place March 17–21 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Some 296 exhibitors presented everything from motion-activated displays to live sculpting to inflatable chairs, not to mention the latest in creative strategy and social media integration. The show attracted about 5,600 attendees and spanned approximately 67,000 square feet, up 13.5 percent… more
Mar 18, 2013
The new convention center in Nashville, Tenn., is set to open its doors with a big grand opening celebration that will feature a free concert with musician Sheryl Crow, street party and open house for the community during the May 19-20 event.
“I continue to be impressed by the size and beauty of the Music City Center and encourage Nashvillians to see it for themselves during the grand opening,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.
He added, “There’s no doubt we are a city with momentum, and with the opening of the Music City Center in May, even more tourists and… more
Mar 18, 2013
The trade show industry started off last year with strong numbers, as tracked by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Index, with continued growth of 2.4 percent in the first two quarters of the year, but the third and fourth quarters saw a slowdown, with 2012 ending with overall 1.5-percent growth.
The numbers missed CEIR’s initial projections of 2.9-percent year-over-year growth for 2012, compared with 2011. Even though the last two quarter’s numbers were down, they still marked 10 consecutive quarters of growth for the trade show industry.
While the results… more
Mar 17, 2013
There’s no question that people love their pets, especially taking into account the record-breaking show numbers that recently were revealed for the American Pet Products Association’s and the Pet Industry Distributors Association’s Global Pet Expo 2013.
The show, held Feb. 20-22 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, attracted 5,327 buyers, a 5-percent increase, compared with last year.
There also more than 3,000 new pet product launches, 964 exhibitors and 2,686 booths sold – the highest post-show numbers reported in Global Pet Expo’s nine-… more
Mar 17, 2013
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events has chosen Galen Poss, COO of dmg :: events, as the 2013 "Legend of the Industry" for this year’s IAEE Krakoff Leadership Institute, as well as recently formed a strategic partnership with the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition, on tap June 11-13 in Chicago, to produce educational content.
The IAEE Krakoff Leadership Institute, which provides professional development for a group of industry professionals who were selected by the Krakoff Leadership Institute Committee as the industry’s future leaders based on… more
Mar 12, 2013
Association management company Naylor has bought Global Exchange Events – a producer of appointment-based events “exchange events”, which includes 10 events that were produced last year and another 13 that are planned for this year.
"Adding exchange event expertise and capability is a logical extension of the Naylor menu of print, digital and event offerings, and we now have market-leading expertise in what is a rapidly emerging type of event," said Alex DeBarr, Naylor president and CEO.
He added, "Exchange events can be a high value offering for… more
Mar 12, 2013
Military spending is running the gamut of so many issues right now that some conferences and shows already have canceled and others are seeing drops in exhibit floor spend. Fortunately, though, some still seem to be weathering the storm.
The Department of Defense is faced with not only the possible impact of nearly $500 billion in cuts over the next decade as part of the sequestration recently signed into law, but also compounding the problem is the absence of proper appropriation bills that has led to stop-gap funding called ‘Continuing Resolution’, as well as scrutiny… more
Mar 11, 2013
ITE Group has acquired Australian-based Baird Maritime's exhibition business and also will launch a new event - TransAsia - a trade exhibition for transport and logistics in Southeast Asia.
Baird Maritime's events include Asian Workboat and China Maritime, which are hosted in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Baird Maritime, led by industry veteran Neil Baird, connects the community of work boat owners in Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
Baird will stay involved in the business for two years, while ITE will move the operational management of these events to its offices in Hong Kong,… more
Mar 11, 2013
In its 30th year, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show just keeps growing, with 42,000 buyers from some 140 countries and regions, an 11 percent increase, compared with last year.
The emerging markets saw an even bigger boost in buyer attendance, with an 18-percent increase, compared with last year.
“The number of buyers from the Chinese mainland was up 24 per cent over last year, while Indian and Russian buyers both increased by 16 per cent; ASEAN buyers were up 11 percent,” said HKTDC’s Deputy Executive Director… 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