Jan 04, 2012
Graeme Selby, a 36-year veteran of the exhibition industry, has stepped down from his post as chairman of Diversified Exhibitions Australia, according to its parent company, Diversified Business Communications. Selby was managing director of Australian Exhibition Services (AES) from 1982 until 2005, when he became chairman, and focused on spearheading business development opportunities in Australia, India, Hong Kong and China. “When Diversified had the good fortune to acquire AES in 2000, we were even more fortunate to have Graeme Selby join our team,” said Nancy Hasselback… more
Jan 02, 2012
Trade shows aren’t the greenest of environments in the world, but the Consumer Electronic Association’s International CES, Jan. 10-13 at several venues around Las Vegas, is making an effort to be as sustainable as possible. “Our green and recycling efforts at the 2012 International CES are unprecedented for the largest annual event in the western hemisphere, covering more than 1.8 million square feet and welcoming more than 140,000 attendees,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA’s president and CEO. He added, “We’ve worked hard to ensure that we are using… more
Jan 02, 2012
When the Professional Convention Management Association’s annual meeting kicks off Jan. 8-11 at the San Diego Convention Center, there’s plenty in store – from The Learning Lounge to the collocated Virtual Edge Summit to innovative keynotes, educations sessions and networking opportunities. This year, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting is working with PCMA once again to organize part of the 2012 Convening Leaders Learning Lounge. There will be more than 100-plus education opportunities from Big Ideas TED-style presentations to “How To” iPad sessions to “Bring… more
Jan 02, 2012
Eleven destination marketing organizations have achieved accreditation from Destination Marketing Association International‘s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). The accreditation program is designed to recognize DMOs that meet or exceed industry standards. "Congratulations to these eleven destinations for receiving their DMAP accreditation," said James T. Wood, chair of DMAP and president and CEO of the Louisville CVB. He added, "The DMAP process is a comprehensive review of a DMO's business procedures and accountability. These DMOs have shown… more
Dec 28, 2011
Boston has a lot to look forward to in 2012, with events booked at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center estimated to generate $625 million in economic impact and 601,000 hotel room nights, a 34-percent increase, compared with 446,596 room nights booked in 2011. In addition, 2012 will be the first time since 2007 room nights have broken the 600,000 mark, when there were 601,990 room nights booked from events at the Hynes and BCEC. “Our 2012 bookings clearly speak to our ability to generate significant impact for the… more
Dec 27, 2011
Several trade show companies lent a helping hand to those in need during the holiday season, giving away warm coats to kids, donating funds, iPads and iTunes gift cards to a school for special education and giving funds to a program for people with intellectual disabilities and a shelter for homeless and abused women and children. Dallas-based Hanley Wood Exhibitions set a goal of collecting as many warm coats as possible for kids in its local community through the Winter Coats for Kids Donation Drive. Shows in the Hanley Wood portfolio, such as World of Concrete and Remodeling/Deck… more
Dec 26, 2011
UFI, the Global Association of Exhibition Industry recently released several exhibition industry research reports detailing not only the number of venues and events worldwide, but also what types of companies are holding the events. UFI’s 2011 “World Map of Exhibition Venues” identified 1,197 venues, with a minimum of 5,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space. The total number of venues equals 32.6 million sq. m. of gross indoor exhibition space. This is an increase of 57 venues since 2006, with an overall growth of 3.4 million sq. m.  Fifty-four percent of… more
Dec 18, 2011
Germany-based Messe Duesseldorf, along with PT Wahana Kemalaniaga Makmur (WAKENI), will launch the indometal 2013, International Metal & Steel Trade Fair Feb. 20-23 at the Jakarta International Expo in Indonesia. The event will be organized through Messe Duesseldorf’s Asia division and is designed as a platform for metal and steel businesses to tap into Indonesia’s markets. “We are proud to announce that we are further expanding our presence in Southeast Asia, offering our customers and partners even more opportunities to widen and strengthen their presence in… more
Dec 15, 2011
December may be a slower month for trade shows, but the executive shuffle was in overdrive, with several companies announcing promotions and new hires. John P. Gallagher will take the reins as as president and CEO of Germany-based Messe Frankfurt's U.S. subsidiary Feb. 1. He will replace outgoing president and CEO David Audrain in the Atlanta office. Gallagher previously was senior vice president at E.J. Krause & Associates, where he oversaw events such as plastimagen in Mexico (plastics), Pap for Russia (paper and pulp) and China Paper. In his new role at Messe Frankfurt, he… more
Dec 14, 2011
U.K.-based Tarsus Group’s biennial Labelexpo Asia broke all previous records and had its largest show ever when it ran Nov. 29–Dec. 2 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The four-day event attracted 18,019 visitors, a 9-percent increase, compared with the 2009 event, as well as 270 exhibitors, up 20 percent, compared with 2009. “We would like to thank everyone involved with Labelexpo Asia for their support and contribution in making 2011’s show the greatest yet,” said Roger Pellow, Labelexpo managing director. He added, “Not only has the… 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