News

Jun 25, 2018
The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland and the Global Center for Health Innovation, managed by SMG, opened the Cleveland Convention Gallery, an exhibition space for local and regional artists located on the C2 Concourse in the Convention Center. The Cleveland Convention Gallery is located near meeting rooms 1 through 6, on the connector concourse overlooking Exhibit Halls A and B with a direct connection to the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. “As a Cuyahoga County-owned facility, the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland belongs to the people and our mission in creating an art… more
Jun 21, 2018
PSAV, a global leader in event experiences, entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by private equity and real estate funds affiliated with Blackstone from affiliates of Goldman Sachs and Olympus Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We are very excited to partner with Blackstone, one of the world’s preeminent investors in the hotel, tradeshow, travel and leisure, and business services sectors, to support the next phase of PSAV’s growth,” said Mike McIlwain, president and CEO of PSAV. He added, “Blackstone is an ideal partner who is highly supportive of our… more
Jun 21, 2018
The Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) has joined forces with Emerald Expositions (EEX) in a partnership intended to strengthen the presentation of Italian jewelry manufacturers in the U.S. market at EEX events, including COUTURE and the soon-to-be-launched PREMIER. Both events are set to place during Jewelry Market Week, which runs late May through early June in Las Vegas. The agreement is part of IEG’s long-term strategy to broaden its foothold in the U.S., which represents more than 43 percent of the world’s total trade show market.  “For the Italian Exhibition Group, this new partnership… more
Jun 21, 2018
Healthy Food Expo, a series of trade shows that brings together the leading purveyors of healthy, natural and organic products has partnered with the Green Restaurant Association, which has signed on as a participating organization.  The Healthy Food Expo is set to take place Aug. 19-21 alongside the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Coffee Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and Sept. 6-8 with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.  The event will also debut March 3-5 in New York City, where it will collocate with… more
Jun 21, 2018
Video creation, management and streaming solutions provider, Sonic Foundry, has launched Mediasite Connect, a secure online YouTube-type portal designed to provide everything event marketers need for a successful online event experience, including e-commerce tools, live chat, registration and social streaming. Designed to be an out-of-the-box, one-stop-shop solution, Mediasite Connect’s secure online portal allows remote event attendees to register, pay for, watch, engage with and share video content with ease.  “Using streaming video to engage in-person and remote attendees is important,… more
Jun 21, 2018
Oklahoma City is gearing up to welcome a brand new convention center. On June 15, officials from the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau (OKC CVB), local civic leaders and other dignitaries gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for the $288 million Oklahoma City Convention Center, which will open debt-free in 2020. “This is a great day for Oklahoma City,” said Mike Carrier, OKC CVB president. “This totally new convention center marks a significant milestone in OKC’s commitment to the meetings and convention industry.” Designed by the architecture and design firms of Populous… more
Jun 20, 2018
It’s been a busy year so far for Marketplace Events, which been actively acquiring even more home and garden shows to add to its already extensive consumer event portfolio, including its most recent purchase of the Minnesota Home & Patio Show from Cenaiko Productions. The four-day show, which celebrates its 40thanniversary in 2019, runs annually in February at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn.   Marketplace Events already operates four other shows in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market including two holiday shows and two other home shows. “Of the 32 markets in which we operate… more
Jun 19, 2018
With the help of 3D printers and laser cutters, MakeLab takes the ordinary and turns it into the extraordinary. The Toronto-based company sends its staff around the world, providing cutting-edge, interactive event experiences that leverage the power of technology. The studio has executed custom interactives for companies across a number of market segments, including automotive, cosmetics, technology and creative agencies.  “We have not seen any industry that isn't interested in these kinds of things,” said Jonathan Moneta, MakeLab founder and creative director.  MakeLab’s tech activations… more
Jun 19, 2018
The 2019 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) appears to already be breaking its own showfloor records eight months prior to the event.  The annual feed, meat, egg and poultry trade show, which is scheduled for Feb. 12-14 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, has already surpassed 560,000 square feet of exhibit space while securing more than 1,100 exhibitors booking up 92 percent of the expo floor. The 2018 edition of IPPE attracted 30,678 attendees and 1,218 exhibitors spanning more than 521,000 square feet of expo space.  “We are pleased that our decision to… more
Jun 17, 2018
UBM Sinoexpo, a subsidiary of UBM plc, acquired 70 percent economic interest in the Shanghai International Franchise Exhibition ("SFE") organised by Shanghai Exhibition-Conference Ltd (SEC). Organised twice a year since 2005, SFE is one of the largest franchising events in China hosting 221 exhibitors with more than 450 brands and 50,261 visitors in the spring 2018 edition.   SFE's exhibitors are mainly in the food, beverage and retail sectors, which is reflective of the trends in the Chinese franchise market today.  Every year investors, potential franchisees, distributors, agents,… 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