News
Jun 01, 2017
Summertime is heating up, and so are new and renewed business contracts between shows and a bevy of suppliers.
Experient recently renewed its contract with Emerald Expositions through 2023. With this new six-year deal, which officially begins in 2018, Experient will provide registration, lead retrieval and its EDGE marketing platform for Emerald’s 74+ shows each year, as well as housing services for select shows.
Emerald, the largest operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States, has been working with Experient since 2012.
Emerald serves a wide variety of industry sectors… more
May 31, 2017
More keynote speakers have been unveiled for the 2017 Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Annual Convention in Montréal, Canada July 11‐14.
“We are thrilled to have assembled such a diverse and respected group of speakers for the Annual Convention,” said DMAI President and CEO Don Welsh.
He added, “We look forward to inspiring and equipping our members with education sessions as well as giving them the unique opportunity to connect with industry peers in Montréal.”
Here are a few of the new keynotes:
Evita Turquoise Robinson
Since her first taste of Europe at the age of 21… more
May 31, 2017
The Outdoor Advertising Association of America, the trade association for the out of home (OOH) advertising industry, joined forces with event technology solutions company ACCESS Event Solutions and digital experience engine Blue Bite to deliver interactive engagements to attendees at the 2017 OAAA\ Geopath National Convention + Expo, held May 15-17 at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans.
In an effort to engage attendees throughout the annual event, each conference badge was enabled with dual-sensor technology.
Attendees simply tapped their phones against their NFC-enabled badges to receive… more
May 30, 2017
How many convention centers can boast having their very own farm, not to mention a slew of beehives pumping out delicious honey for in-house menus and catering? And out of those select few, how many facilities also have an enthusiastic young college intern ready and willing to help with beekeeping and farmhand duties?
The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland is fortunate enough to be such a venue, with a sustainable working farm situated on a quarter acre of land at the north end of the property.
Operated by Levy and SMG, the “Real FarmVille” is home to 500,000-1.5 million… more
May 29, 2017
Kicking off in New Zealand June 7 and circling the globe to end in Hawaii, the exhibition industry will be celebrating the 2nd annual Global Exhibition Day (#GED17).
Global Exhibition Day, founded last year by UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, was formed to shine a bright spotlight on the importance of the industry worldwide.
“UFI is calling on everyone working in exhibitions and trade shows to take part in Global Exhibitions Day on June 7 and share their initiatives loud and proud!” said Dr. Andreas Gruchow, president of UFI.
He added, “In 2016, the inaugural GED… more
May 25, 2017
Sharon Enright has joined NXT Events Media Group as its president and COO.
After serving in top operations management positions at Conference Management Corporation and Reed Exhibitions, Enright moved to Business Journals Inc. in 1997 as its director of operations, where she rose to the ranks of EVP of the company’s Trade Show Division.
As the second person in BJI’s 90-year history to earn this prestigious title, Enright helped build the company’s event portfolio from three to 27 annual shows, managing virtually all facets of the portfolio for more than 18 years.
Her special areas of… more
May 25, 2017
American Quarter Horse Association Improves Event Communications with AlertMedia Notification System
Once upon a time, the American Quarter Horse Association relied on the antiquated method of using email to communicate with attendees and event staff during their world shows and events throughout the year.
As a result, the largest equine breed registry and membership organization struggled to provide real-time updates and other important notifications that were crucial to the success of their events.
Enter emergency notification system provider AlertMedia, which helped bring AQHA’s mass communications methods into the modern age via a user-friendly, two-way notification software… more
May 24, 2017
Trade show marketing firm mdg has expanded its foorptint by opening a new office in Chicago to service several clients based in the area.
The downtown office will be led by Leana Salamah, account strategist and executive director, who has experience on both sides of the client/agency relationship.
Salamah was proactively recruited by ownership to serve as a strategic lead for existing Chicago clients and to be a resource for other association and for-profit event clients looking for audience acquisition solutions.
“Chicago, with its reputation as a world-class event destination and… more
May 24, 2017
With Outdoor Retailer looking for a new home after a public land dispute resulted in the decision to leave Utah, Denver in the hunt as one of the cities trying to capture it and the January timeframe getting crunched with different crossover shows, it makes perfect sense that Emerald Expositions would buy SnowSports Industries America’s SIA Snow Show.
Now, two of the strongest shows geared toward segments of the outdoor sports industry will both be combined under one roof – the Colorado Convention Center – in Denver starting January 2018.
“By merging these two January shows, we will bring the… more
May 23, 2017
By Elizabeth Johnson
Out with the old? Not so fast … While digital and data may be getting all the buzz these days, a few, let’s call them “experienced” tactics, are quietly getting the job done for many event marketers.
So before throwing out your old marketing plan, consider keeping some old-school workhorses that these event planners swear by.
Handwritten Notes
Although her company incorporates the latest technology and trends into its events, from virtual reality to artificial intelligence and interactive engagements, there are some traditional touches for reaching attendees that still… 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