Experts & Opinions
Dec 22, 2020
Experiential marketing events are slowly making their way back into our lives. This is a good thing, provided that the events are well-planned and adhere to local health and safety guidelines. The best experiential marketing activations are the safest ones. Although it might seem difficult, there are ways to ensure your COVID-19 brand activations and experiential marketing provide a healthy balance of safe and fun.
When Good Activations Go Bad
Of course, not all events can balance safety with celebration. Over the summer, when people were tired of staying at home and missing out, the… more
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Dec 17, 2020
It has been a challenging year for everyone but your team needs their morale boosted now, more than ever. If you’ve bravely taken on the responsibility of planning the office holiday party this year but are struggling to come up with last-minute ideas, look no further!
Read on to find out some out-of-the-box ideas to host the best-ever party for your team.
Move your celebration to the virtual space
Vet for a virtual event platform that has a user-friendly interface and scope for in-depth customizations. Also consult with your event-tech partner whether they have features such as a… more
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Dec 15, 2020
You’ve undoubtedly been hearing a lot lately – and not just in this space – about the COVID-19 pandemic giving rise to something often described as the Zoom Era. Virtual events, you see, have been a necessary function of maintaining public health, social distancing and general decorum. Whether it’s a work meeting, symposium, classroom or concert, we’ve all been dutifully doing our part to suck it up, hunker down and log on. For now.
But there’s an implication weaved into that outlook – an assumption that we’ll soon go back to the way things were. We’re here to tell you: Don’t hold your… more
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Dec 09, 2020
Being part of an event, whether virtual or in-person, takes energy, time, money and resources, and some businesses struggle with deciding if a show is a good fit or even the right decision at all.
Use these tips to figure out what kind of industry event is right for you, how and where to look for them and why they are crucial.
Do You Share The Same Target Audience?
When you hear about an upcoming function, you can browse through their marketing materials and website to find out further details. Of course, you’ll want to consider facts like when it is taking place, but your main concern… more
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Dec 08, 2020
We are in unchartered territory with a global pandemic disrupting lives and livelihoods. But, with successful trials paving the way for mass vaccinations, with better knowledge around COVID-19 and faster and more efficient testing schemes available, we are finding ways to live with and ultimately manage this virus. The tide is turning.
As we head towards 2021, the UFI team has – as we have every year – put together five trends that we believe will drive our industry’s development over the next 12–18 months. As always, these are based on conversations with and insights from our global UFI… more
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Dec 03, 2020
As 2020 draws to close, COVID-19-weary event planners are looking towards a fresh start, a reboot for 2021. Whether planning for a conference, meeting or trade show, there are plenty of things to do beforehand to let your guests know they are walking into a clean and healthy environment. While there is no silver bullet, keeping proper cleaning protocols in place will help keep your event safe and secure. Clean is not only the new cool, it is critical for success.
Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfecting is an important part of reopening that will require careful… more
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Dec 01, 2020
Unless you’ve spent the last eight or nine months under a rock, you probably know that the trade show industry has had its worst year on record. I’m hard-pressed to think of anything in recent history, including 9/11 and the 2008 economic meltdown, that has had such a devastating effect on corporate events. Just about every conference that was scheduled for April 2020 or later has either been canceled, postponed or moved to online-only. In the midst of such misfortune and devastation, how is it possible to be even remotely optimistic?
The answer is simple: we have no other choice. Billions… more
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Nov 25, 2020
Imagine an events ecoysystem where speakers can present remotely via engaging holograms. Where online events can have unlimited attendees and virtual reality can transport those attendees to unexpected and immersive environments. Where brands can geolocate customers at an event, make relevant recommendations based on their past buying behaviors, and distribute hyper-personalized content every step of the way. 5G technology will soon make it all possible.
With ultra-low latency, massive network capacity, and superior reliability, 5G — the fifth generation mobile network — is poised to… more
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Nov 18, 2020
When COVID-19 hit and dashed all travel plans, the scholarly community saw a wave of conference cancellations and a rapid scramble to virtual formats. Nine months down the line (and with another wave of the virus bearing down in many countries) it has become increasingly clear that conferences will not be returning to their pre-COVID formats any time soon. This is the new normal, one that offers a rare opportunity to reframe the traditional conference format and create better, more inclusive ways to bring the scholarly community together.Looking ahead, we strongly believe that a hybrid… more
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Nov 16, 2020
Now that the novelty of online and virtual events has worn off a bit, organizations are looking for new ways to keep their audiences engaged. Many are turning to a perhaps unexpected source for inspiration: Hollywood.
It makes sense when you think about it — Hollywood knows how to tell a good story, and their stars are engaging. Plus, they know how to keep their audiences coming back for more, and that is pretty much what every company wants, no matter the specifics of their business objectives
Engaging with virtual audiences is easier than it might seem — and the approach works for both… more
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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