News

Dec 14, 2017
CPhI North America, the only event to bring the complete North American pharma supply chain together, today announced the opening of 2018 event registration. CPhI North America will take place April 24-26, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. It will feature an expanded show footprint ideal for networking, sourcing, education and innovation in drug development and manufacturing. Two new zones including a Bioprocessing Zone and the P-MEC Zone, a machinery zone to promote the latest technology in manufacturing equipment, will join legacy zones, InformEx, iCSE, FDF,… more
Dec 14, 2017
The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association unveiled its new, streamlined Membership Structure. HCEA volunteers and staff reviewed membership needs with all categories and types of HCEA members, and introduced a simple membership structure that allows for more choice. HCEA’s membership categories remain the same: Association, Corporation, and Industry Partner. Now, members will choose how many individuals from the organization will participate in HCEA and have access to benefits. “HCEA appreciates the stellar work of the HCEA Membership Ad Hoc Committee in responding to the… more
Dec 14, 2017
Houston will soon host one of the largest meetings of dental professionals in the nation in 2022. The American Dental Association (ADA), Texas Dental Association (TDA) and Greater Houston Dental Society will combine respective conventions, collectively bringing more than 30,000 attendees to Houston's downtown campus, Avenida Houston. “We are enthused the ADA and its counterparts chose Houston as its destination for 2022,” said John Solis, senior vice president of sales for Visit Houston. He added, “As home to the largest medical center, Houston is a natural fit for medical meetings of… more
Dec 14, 2017
In just a few days, 2017 will be history. The year brought event professionals a host of challenges around technological advancements, security, politics and travel, to name just a few. While next year will continue to prove difficult in many of those same areas, experts are pointing out that 2018 will be filled with opportunities for show organizers to rethink how events can capitalize on the human factor. To wrap-up the year, here are a few predictions from five event industry veterans about what they foresee coming down the pike for events in 2018. According to Marco Pardi, managing… more
Dec 14, 2017
San Francisco-based data technology company, InsightXM, has unveiled a new insights package designed for event planners and marketers seeking powerful, easy-to-access data analytics. The InsightXM Analytics Essentials package provides a fixed price and quick access-to-data analytics tool tailored to help planners better understand their event audiences, uncover hidden opportunities and identify weaknesses. With the Essentials platform, users can: Discover trends that span across different events Understand audiences to better design future events Carry out real-time, complex analysis… more
Dec 13, 2017
Play Fair, a public celebration of play and entertainment for all ages, returned to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City for its second year with a larger showfloor, more exhibiting companies and a broader itinerary of immersive, family-friendly activities. Held Nov. 4-5 and Hosted by The Toy Association in partnership with LeftField Media, the event provided a sold-out crowd of more than 20,000 children, parents, families and fans with a first glimpse of the toys, games and entertainment expected to be topping wishlists this holiday season. Play Fair 2017 attracted 75… more
Dec 12, 2017
The 13th edition of the China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair - Shanghai (Shanghai Jewellery Fair) drew 6,522 unique visitors, up 36 percent, compared with the show's 2016 edition. The increase in visitor numbers proves that the fair – East China's leading jewellery event – is growing in the right direction and steadily expanding its international reach. Held from Nov. 17-20, in conjunction with the second annual Asia-Pacific Jewellery & Watch Expo at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, the fair featured 304 exhibitors of classic and trendy… more
Dec 12, 2017
 Czarnowski, a full-service exhibit and event marketing company, recently opened an office in Shanghai.  The Shanghai office is Czarnowski’s first in China and 24th worldwide.   “Our new Shanghai office will allow us to better serve our China-based customers as well as our United States and European customers as they increase their exhibiting activity in China,” said Bob DeFacci, global managing director for Czarnowski. He added, “We will leverage local knowledge, experience and a reliable partner network to offer innovative strategy and design services to customers in this important and… more
Dec 12, 2017
The 5th edition of ProWine China, International Trade Fair for Wines and Spirits, set new records and confirmed its status as the most international event for this industry in mainland China. The trade fair attracted 14,219 trade visitors - an increase of 14.3 percent, compared with the 2016 staging. This year, about 700 exhibitors from 39 nations presented their products within 16 country pavilions and 4 regional pavilions. The number of local exhibitors grew by 30 percent, compared with last year, reflecting the upward trend on the flourishing Chinese wine market.ProWine China 2017 was… more
Dec 12, 2017
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has launched a new education program in China. The inaugural UFI-VMA Venue Management School kicked-off Nov. 20. The three-day program was hosted by the Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre (SNIEC), a long-time UFI member and strong supporter of UFI’s activities in China. The program was oversubscribed with 34 students from 15 different venues across China. The program offered participants an unmatched learning environment. The curriculum included three days of lectures delivered in Mandarin by experienced senior-level… 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