News

Mar 22, 2012
When the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society recently wrapped up its annual meeting Feb. 20-24 at the Sand Expo & Convention Center, show officials had a lot to celebrate, with the show breaking previous attendance records. HIMSS12 reached 37,032 attendees, surpassing the HIMSS11 attendance figure of 31,500 attendees.   The four-day event featured sessions on stage 1 and stage 2, as well as events and happenings such as ICD-10, mobile health and mHIMSS. HIMSS12 also included HIT X.0 and Leading from the Future, two conferences within a conference that were… more
Mar 19, 2012
In step with its plan to derive 50 percent of its revenues from emerging markets by 2013 (Project 50/13), U.K.-based Tarsus Group bought a 70-percent stake in Turkish Exhibition Company Life Media (Lifemedia Fuarcilik).   “Life Media’s exhibitions are the market leaders, not only in the domestic Turkish market, but in the wider region,” said Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group’s managing director.   He added, “Given Turkey's unique geographic position on the crossroads between East and West, we believe there is a significant opportunity to develop the… more
Mar 19, 2012
U.K.-based Clarion Events’ recently opened U.S. division already is making its mark, with The Navy League of the United States awarding a management contract for its annual “Sea-Air-Space” Exposition to Clarion Events North America. The Navy League selected Clarion from several other companies after a six-month selection process. “Navy League made this important decision based on how we can best support our mission to advocate for the Sea Services,” said Dale Lumme, national executive director of the Navy League of the United States. He added, “Everyone… more
Mar 18, 2012
In support of The Power of A Week and American Associations Day, the American Society of Association Executive’s annual legislative fly-in, the organization released its “Associations Matter” study. The study indicated associations have a “profound, measurable economic and social impact on the nation,” according to ASAE officials. The “Associations Matter” study primarily relies on U.S. government statistics and tax-exempt returns (Form 990s) to measure the economic and social benefits derived from association activities. These statistics mainly focus on employment, wages, revenues and assets… more
Mar 18, 2012
In the final months of last year and since the beginning of this year, one show after another has either shattered previous all-time attendance records or had impressive increases, compared with 2011 events in sectors as wide-ranging as meetings, golf, digital signage, natural products and crafting. Reed Exhibitions’ EIBTM, a global event for the meetings, events and incentives industry held in December in Barcelona, had record-breaking attendance, following the official results of theshow's ABC Audit – confirming it as the largest audited exhibition in the meetings sector,… more
Mar 17, 2012
David Allen’s 2001 bestselling book, “Getting Things Done” launched a time management movement around the world. His tips on living in stress-free productivity have engrossed millions of people to embrace his system (or dozens of others) and get focused on efficiency. Most of us are easily distracted by all the stuff in our lives and it is hard to be focused on the tasks we are working on in the moment.     When we attend a conference, trade show, convention or other business gathering our lack of efficiency can become a double-sized problem. In addition to… more
Mar 16, 2012
The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo (HPBExpo) 2012, which was held March 1-3 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, was up in not only total attendance and buyers but also number of exhibiting companies and new special events, compared with last year’s show.   Total registration was 14 percent higher, the number of exhibiting companies increased 10 percent and the number of net square feet of exhibits was up five percent, compared with the 2011 show held in Salt Lake City.    “Atlanta is a great location for the HPBExpo,” said Jack Goldman,… more
Mar 16, 2012
The World of Asphalt and AGG1 2012 shows produced by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers rode the wave of good news several other shows have experienced since the start of the year, breaking attendance records, as well as amount of exhibit space sold, number of exhibitors and number of education session tickets sold.   "Attendees and their companies understand the importance of learning and networking to stay sharp and take advantage of a recovering economy,” said Show Director Melissa Magestro.   She added, “They know that the industry connections at World… more
Mar 14, 2012
The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance’s 127th annual meeting was meant to kick off March 13-17 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, but most of the event now has been canceled after a nearby electrical transformer fire knocked out power to the building on the event’s opening day. The power outage not only impacted the meeting in the city’s Back Bay neighborhood, but also more than 20,000 residences and several surrounding businesses, including the Hilton, Westin and Sheraton hotels. When the power was still out the morning of March… more
Mar 12, 2012
For nearly 20 years, Dorothy Belshaw has worked for George Little Management, most recently as vice president and show director of the New York International Gift Fair, but now she’s taken a new position as president of the International Market Centers’ Gift Division. "I am very pleased to have a true industry leader and professional join our executive team. Dorothy brings the leadership and experience to accelerate the growth of our Gift+Home show in Las Vegas,” said Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. He added, “As a recognized and proven… 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