May 12, 2014
With confetti in the morning and burgers in the afternoon, The National Hardware Show that took place May 6-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center had an impressive performance and is gearing up for even more growth.
Spanning 559,000 square feet, the show featured 2,675 exhibitors and attracted about 19,000 attendees.
“We’re seeing growth across all segments,” said Tracy Scarfi, marketing director for Reed Exhibitions’ National Hardware Show. “Lawn and Garden continues to stay strong and now takes up the entire North Hall. Hardware is as strong as ever. Black and… more
May 12, 2014
The same day that the Center for Exhibition Industry Research launched a new support campaign to ensure the annual CEIR Index continues to be the essential source and predictive tool for the exhibitions and events industry data, Shepard Exposition Services donated $75,000 to the organization.
“While Shepard has relied upon CEIR’s strategic reports on trends and industry predictions for the past 18 years, this crucial data has become even more valuable to organizers in recent years,” said Shepard Vice President of Sales Richard Maples.
He added, “We encourage everyone… more
May 11, 2014
Several other trade show organizers already had staked a claim in the fast-growing trade show market in Mexico, and now UBM also has made a major move into the country with the buy of the construction event Expo CIHAC.
UBM bought Expo CIHAC Centro from Impulsor de la Construcción y Habitación A.C. (CIHAC), the Mexican construction industry trade association, which has agreed to continue to support the event.
"We are delighted to have Expo CIHAC as UBM's first tradeshow acquisition in
Mexico,” said Jamie Salazar, managing director, UBM Mexico. “Expo… more
May 11, 2014
Winter is finally in the rearview mirror for most of the United States, and promoting and hiring has continued into April and May for companies in the trade show industry.
David Causton, general manager of Chicago’s McCormick Place, bas been upped by venue management company SMG to regional vice president of the company’s Convention Center Division. Causton, who has been with the center since 2004, will maintain his role as general manager of the facility.
“The successes we have had at McCormick Place are attributable to David’s leadership. He has… more
May 08, 2014
More than 1,300 attendees, who are members of the artisan wine, craft beer, craft spiritsand craft cider industries, gathered May 6-8 in San Jose, Calif., for the inaugural Craft Beverage Expo.
“The turnout was simply incredible - the educational sessions were thought-provoking, and the networking events had great energy” said Kellie Shevlin, executive director of Craft Beverage Expo.
She added, “These folks work very hard at their craft and as small business owners it's challenging for them to get away for educational and networking purposes. We’re so proud and… more
May 07, 2014
After more than 42 years in the hospitality industry and 14-plus years at the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, its president and CEO Greg Ortale submitted his resignation May 1.
Ortale said it seemed like the right time, especially since Houston First Corp., which oversees the city's convention center and other venues and is the majority funder of the GHCVB, is in discussions to possibly absorb it.
“This was totally my decision,” he added. “The No. 1 reason I decided to step down was it seemed like the right time. The changes that are going to go on here… more
May 07, 2014
For every, single show, organizers have to evaluate not only how they are going to spend their dollars to draw people there, but also what methods they will use.
In the latest in its series of reports, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research examined spending and the marketing-mix allocation for attendee promotions and marketing tactics found to be most effective in driving attendance at exhibitions - Cost to Attract Attendees.
Exhibition organizers use a broad range of traditional and digital tactics to attract qualified attendees to their events.
E-mail still reigns supreme, with 96… more
May 05, 2014
The HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, billed as the largest fair of its kind in the world, and the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair closed their four-day shows at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo, respectively, with more than 65,000 total buyers.
The buyers came from 151 countries and regions, with overseas buyers up by six percent, compared with last year.
Buyers from Asia, including the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, India and Indonesia, recorded double-digit percentage growth.
Traditional markets such as Japan, the United… more
May 05, 2014
The Association of Korean Exhibition Industry (AKEI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
The signing ceremony was held at the Landmark Hotel Bangkok attended by Yang-whan Jeong (vice-chairman of AKEI), Sang-kon Kim (deputy director of MOTIE), Nopparat Maythaveekulchai (president of TCEB), Patrapee Chinachoti (president of TEA) and executives and members of TEA in Bangkok.
AKEI is the representative organization in the Korean exhibition industry with its 53 members who conduct various roles from supporting and promoting… more
May 05, 2014
It’s been a roller coaster ride over at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia and, with the local Carpenters’ union striking twice in the past year - most recently in the middle of a show last week - venue officials drew a line in the sand and issued an ultimatum to all six unions working in the center.
A deadline of a minute before midnight May 5 was set for the unions to sign a new “Customer Service Agreement” that would allow exhibitors to do more of their own work at the Pennsylvania CC, and two of those unions, Carpenters Local 8 and Teamsters Local… 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