May 19, 2013
It's difficult to stay at an average hotel after a trip to HD Expo, the annual gathering for the hospitality design industry that took place May 15–17 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Where else would you see a golden tree of crystal chandeliers, entire bedrooms decked out in silk and satin and flower walls that make you pinch the petals to see if they're real?
"This year, I can say for certain that the hotel industry is picking up," said Liz Sommerville, group show director for Nielsen Expositions, which runs the show. "The amount of new builds… more
May 19, 2013
The American Academy of Medical Administrators (AAMA) has selected SmithBucklin, an association management and services company, to provide full-service association management.
The partnership with SmithBucklin will relocate AAMA's headquarters to Chicago from Des Plaines, Ill.
“SmithBucklin’s significant expertise and breadth of resources will help AAMA retain and engage existing members as well as grow membership,” said Linda Larin, AAMA’s board chair.
She added, “This partnership will allow AAMA to develop innovative educational offerings and advance… more
May 19, 2013
PMMI, owner and producer of the PACK EXPO trade shows, and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering have partnered to launch Pharma EXPO, a new event designed to connect pharmaceutical, medical device and nutraceutical manufacturers with the packaging, processing and other supply chain technologies they need to meet rigorous industry regulations and grow business.
The event will debut in Nov. 2-4, 2014, and collocate with PACK EXPO International at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
In addition to the exhibits portion of the event, which is designed to meet the needs of… more
May 17, 2013
Fresh fruit and vegetables, stunning displays and samples and education on best practices and social responsibility within the produce industry – that was the recipe for the 2013 United Fresh show, which attracted more than 5,000 attendees, from 4,200 in 2012, and 275-plus exhibitors, a 10-percent uptick from last year, to 65,000 square feet of exhibit space.
This year’s show, with the theme “Discover Fresh Horizons”, was held May 14-16 at the San Diego Convention Center.
The United Fresh Produce Association's three-day event started with a keynote speech… more
May 15, 2013
Trade Show News Network, a division of U.K.-based Tarsus Group, is pleased to announce the 2013 TSNN Top 50 Fastest-growing Trade Shows in Attendance and Net Square Footage Growth that will be honored during the 4th Annual TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence Nov. 1-3 in Reno, Nev.
A full list of winners for the TSNN Awards, the original event honoring fastest-growing shows, can be found below and here: http://www.t-awards.com/Top50.
“The Top 50 fastest-growing show winners were chosen by their show’s growth rate between 2010-2012 in attendance and net square footage,… more
May 14, 2013
More than 1,000 destination marketing professionals are expected to attend the Annual Convention for Destination Marketing Association International, taking place July 15-17 at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando.
The professional development conference connects a community of 600-plus official destination marketing organizations (DMOs) that collectively command more than $2 billion in annual budgets around the world, according to DMAI officials.
Industry experts and out-of-industry specialists will share "best practices" and "next practices" in executive leadership,… more
May 14, 2013
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will continue its HSMAI’s MEET series with the second event this year May 29-30 at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel.
The first show of the year was HSMAI’s MEET Mid-America show in Chicago.
To help set the stage in Anaheim, keynote speaker, Jim Davidson, will speak on the power of partnership and divulge advice from his experience as a corporate manager, high-altitude climber and resilience expert.
“His stories are inspiring, and he makes them applicable to partnership and business challenges faced by HSMAI… more
May 13, 2013
George Little Management has decided to postpone the second running of its LAUNCH LA show that debuted last year in Santa Monica, Calif.
The show was scheduled to be held July 16-17 at Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar.
"We have decided to put the LAUNCH project on hold,” said Roy Turner, senior vice president of GLM shows.
He added, “Based on the reviews we received after the first LAUNCH last year, showcasing emerging California lifestyle brands is important.We will continue to evaluate the best way to highlight these brands in a venue that maximizes all the… more
May 12, 2013
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) held its 113th Annual Session May 3-7 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, with an attendance of more than 14,400 according to the unofficial count.
The attendance number was on par with attendance at the 112th Annual Session held last year in Hawaii.
Chris Vranas, executive director of AAO, said that 44 percent of their active members come to the Annual Session. Even during the height of the recession in 2009 and 2010, their numbers did not drop, and they continued to grow their membership.
Part of that growth is attributed… more
May 08, 2013
In the midst of a national debate over gun control laws, the National Rifle Association’s 142nd NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, held May 3-5 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, shattered previous attendance records.
Under the motto this year of “Stand and Fight”, 86,228 attendees flocked to the event, compared with the NRA’s previous record of 73,740 set in 2012 in St. Louis.
“The NRA told us they had never felt so welcome in a city,” said Luther Villagomez, COO of conventions for Houston First Corporation, which manages the GRB for… 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