News

May 08, 2011
The Houston-based Offshore Technology Conference boasted a 29-year attendance high for its recent show held at Reliant Park. The show, held May 2-5, had 78,150 attendees, which was up 8 percent from last year and surpassed the 2010 total of 72,025. The sold out trade show also was the largest since 1982 at 603,000 square feet, up from 568,000 square feet in 2010. The event had 2,520 companies from 40 countries, including 306 new exhibitors this year and added exhibitors from Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines. New this year was the OTC Parkway, spanning from Reliant… more
Apr 27, 2011
The first part of this year has started off on a bright note for the Minneapolis Convention Center, with several consumer shows scoring increases in attendance, compared with last year. The shows ranged from a 6-percent increase all the way to a 26-percent increase in attendance. The shows that reported higher attendance were the Minneapolis Boat Show, Minneapolis RV, Vacation & Camping Show, Minneapolis Home and Garden Show, Twin Cities Auto Show and Northwest Sportshow. Besides more people at the shows, they also opened their wallets once they were there on the showfloor and… more
Dec 13, 2010
Just a year and a half after Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. bought the semiannual California Gift Show from dmg world media, MMPI has breathed new life into a show that had seen declines in recent years. On the show’s opening day, held Jan. 21-24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Jan. 18-24 at MMPI’s nearby L.A. Mart permanent and temporary showrooms, the showfloor at the LACC was bustling with buyers looking for new products and exhibitors eager to shake off the gloom of tough recessionary times. Exhibitor Jamie Ferling, owner of San Fernando, Calif.-based resort t-shirt company… more
Nov 30, 2010
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Mar 27, 0018
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has selected Grapevine, Texas, as the destination for its World Education Congress (WEC) in 2020. The association will collaborate with the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau to host the conference, which is scheduled for June 6–9, 2020, at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Grapevine is centrally located between Fort Worth and Dallas, where MPI is headquartered. WEC is MPI’s signature event through which it delivers premier education, business and networking opportunities in North America.  It attracts more than 2,000… more
Jan 10, 0018
On what was a packed day on the bustling CES showfloor, the massive consumer electronics show, a power blackout occurred at the Las Vegas Convention Center  impacting meeting rooms in the North and South Halls for approximately two hours.  "Today at approximately 11:15 AM (PST), the Central Hall and South Hall bridge meeting rooms at the Las Vegas Convention Center lost power. Power in the South Hall was restored within minutes, and power has now been fully restored to all areas. A preliminary assessment indicates that condensation from heavy rainfall caused a flashover on one of the… more
A leading event technology company and a full-service global event agency recently unveiled new service offerings to help show organizers and meeting planners produce more impactful events and elevate the attendee experience.  Bizzabo Bizzabo, the Event Experience OS, recently launched Bizzabo Studios, a premium event creative and production service that merges event technology with creative and operational expertise to produce more innovative and compelling digital or in-person events.  The new offering is the result of a successful multi-year partnership between Bizzabo and award-winning… more
Trade Show News Network (TSNN) and Honeycomb Strategies, thought leaders and experts for sustainability in the events industry, have teamed up to feature content across TSNN’s media platform to help events ‘go green’. “Our mission is to empower people with the knowledge to make positive change. We are bringing this to life with the new partnership with TSNN, which will enable us to connect with many more people in the vibrant events world about sustainability,” said Amanda Simons, principal, Honeycomb Strategies.  She added, “We are honored to be the hosts of this important  conversation… more
With the impact of COVID-19 continuing to affect the live events business, Clarion Events North America has released a new quartet of digital products. This includes Virtual Product Showcases, Episodic Content Series, On-Demand Education Membership Packages and Virtual MATCH Meetings. Through all of these virtual products, the emphasis is on fostering new, qualified relationships.  “The events industry has been overdue for a change and our teams have taken this as a time to reimagine our offerings, working with their customers to define what matters most across each of our industry sectors… more
Comexposium’s Eurovet Asia concluded the 15th edition of its event, Interfilière Shanghai last month posting record attendance numbers. Running from 26th to 27th September at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, the two-day trade fair showcased 150 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions presenting products including fibres, fabrics, lace, accessories, embroidery, OEM & ODM, machinery as well as textile designers, trend agencies and certification institutions. The organiser stated that the event recorded a 15% increase in the number of visitors. The top 12 countries and regions for trade… 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