Dec 11, 2019
At the first light of dawn on the third day of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ Expo! Expo! last week in Las Vegas, 158 people took part in the inaugural Terence Donnelly (T-Dawg) Memorial 5K Run/1 Mile Walk. Donnelly, who passed away earlier this year, was a long-time member of IAEE and worked for Experient for many years. More than $5,000 from the run/walk was raised to support the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Foundation. “The support shown by Expo! Expo! attendees speaks not only to the remarkable person Terence was and to his legacy, both… more
Dec 04, 2019
A new leader will soon take the helm at VisitDallas, the city’s convention and visitors bureau responsible for attracting tourism, meetings and conventions to the Texas destination. On Jan. 6, 2020, Craig Davis, the current president and CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH, will become the Dallas CVB’s new president and CEO.  Davis will replace VisitDallas Interim President and CEO Sam Coats, who assumed leadership of the agency in May after former President and CEO Phillip Jones stepped down. Jones left his position following a controversy stirred up by a January audit that questioned the ROI of the CVB… more
Dec 04, 2019
U.K.-based Tarsus Group, a global B2B media company, has acquired Smarter Shows, a U.K.-based exhibition and conference organizer. The acquisition enables Tarsus to strengthen its position in the aerospace, automotive and manufacturing industry sectors while increasing its coverage of the related industry supply chains and opening up access to new verticals. “Over the years, I have observed and admired what James [Reader] and the Smarter Shows team have achieved,” said Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group CEO. He added, “I’m pleased to be working with them to develop and expand the business… more
Dec 04, 2019
You may have never heard of Soundings Connect, but it’s a group you’ll want to get familiar with — and maybe even join. Founded in San Diego in 2018, it’s a network of 200 (and growing!) freelance meeting and event professionals, all of whom have professional experience in the fields of trade show management, meeting planning, event marketing and more. The goal of the organization is to strategically match companies in need of these services with professionals whose skill sets and talents line up with their objectives. “We focus on both hard and soft skills to ensure the right fit,” says… more
Dec 02, 2019
Experiential marketing and live event production agencies Gravel Experiential and GES Events are teaming up. The two companies will work together to broaden their existing client base with a focus on corporations searching for top-notch event production in new and emerging markets. While both GES Events and Gravel XP offer similar services, the two are also complementary in many ways. Gravel XP has a long history supporting U.S.-based events in specialized industries including consumer packaged goods, alcohol and spirits, pharmaceutical, technology and consultancies. Its services are… more
Dec 02, 2019
Tarsus Connect has today announced the purchase of BizBash, the iconic trade media company for event and meeting planners, further expanding Connect’s market-leading position. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition of BizBash adds four premier events — including the BizBash Live in New York and L.A. shows for event pros — to the current Connect portfolio of more than 30 national, regional and vertically focused events around the United States. Connect will now also publish two of BizBash’s popular magazines and oversee all of its digital properties. In cities where… more
Dec 02, 2019
Could your show land on the prestigious 2018 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows list because it boasts more than 50,000 net square feet? (U.S. shows only) Then make sure to submit HERE to be on the 2018 TSNN Top 250 List! U.S. shows only. For the past 10 years, the TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows List has ranked the biggest shows in the U.S. by net square footage, as well as how many shows are snagged by host cities.   This year’s list will be out in March, so make sure to submit your show before Feb. 20! For more info on the TSNN Top 250 list, please go HERE. The 2018 TSNN Top 250 list is exclusively… more
Dec 01, 2019
In a trade show industry first, Trade Show News Network, in partnership with data analytics company Bear Analytics, have teamed up to unveil a 5-year dynamic dashboard of the TSNN Top 250 Trade Show list metrics. Analyzing more than 1,200 trade shows that represent 18,000,000 million attendees, 982,857 exhibiting companies and more than 336 million net square feet, the dashboard is complimentary to all users and allows them to search data on all of the shows. HERE is the link to the TSNN Top 250 Dashboard. “We are thrilled to partner with TSNN on this project – bringing together a… more
Nov 26, 2019
Event organizers wanting to learn and leverage exhibition sponsorship practices can advantage of the B2B Exhibition Sponsorship Playbook series produced by Center for Exhibition Industry Research. Providing a comprehensive overview of B2B expo sponsorship practices in North America, the new five-part series compiles and compares organizer and exhibitor practices. It also includes industry benchmarks and insights on how stakeholders can refine their programs to enhance success. Unveiled on Oct. 28, Part One: What Organizers Offer Compared to What Exhibitors Buy takes a deep dive into the… more
Nov 18, 2019
Each year, Trade Show News Network compiles a list of the Top 250 Trade Shows ranked by net square footage in the United States. Submissions to be included on the 2019 list now are open, and the shows must have occurred in 2019 in the United States. The form to fill out is HERE, and the deadline is Feb. 21. TSNN is proud to present valuable data to the industry, which is based on in-depth information provided by show organizers about their events. The list on TSNN.com includes show name, link to show’s Web site, show dates and description, number of attendees, exhibitors, net square… 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