Experts & Opinions
Jul 31, 2019
Imagine you’re managing a team of sales reps attending one of the largest conferences in the world. Now imagine that you can stay back at the office and see the meetings that each sales rep has scheduled, where the meetings are located, and you won’t have to chase down your team members to update everything post-event.
Sounds like a fantasy, doesn’t it? We all know that the reality of managing meetings while attending or sponsoring conferences and trade shows means spreadsheets on spreadsheets on spreadsheets. You need your spreadsheets so you have some semblance of organization heading into… more
Comments (0)
Jul 29, 2019
Like any great band, a client and their experiential agency need to work in unison to create impactful immersive experiences for their event guests. The players need to know the setlist, the right grooves, what to be careful of and how to crowd surf in the mosh pit. Okay, maybe there’s no mosh pit, but certainly, the team needs to know how to work the room.
“I’ve said this over and over again, but I love being in a band.” – Ringo Starr
Step one: work as a team. There should be no delineation between the client and the agency team. Have you ever seen a guitar string break while a band is… more
Comments (1)
Jul 23, 2019
The frequency and intensity of disasters are increasing, from mighty hurricanes hurling through warm ocean waters, to shifting tectonic plates that build earthquakes, to atmospheric weather patterns that create wide-scale floods. Through it all, critical operations need to be up and running for our communities, companies, survivors and families.
Field Innovation Team’s Disaster Simulation Labs use a process called “design thinking” to help emergency preparedness teams better understand the problems they need to solve, identify whom they are solving them for and why, and prototype how they… more
Comments (0)
Jul 22, 2019
You can essentially tell Facebook, “Hey, here are all the people who have registered for my event already — go out and find more of them, please!”
Event planners invest blood, sweat and a lot of tears into producing successful events, yet most are missing one key element to achieving amazing results. This element is being used to sell millions of products and services across the world in other industries, but is often ignored within the event planning community.
The one thing missing? A correctly set up Facebook Pixel on event landing pages and websites.
Facebook Pixel is a small piece… more
Comments (0)
Jul 17, 2019
Trade shows, expos, fairs, fundraisers, you name it – events are changing and integrating new technologies to make the experience more engaging and interactive for participants. Event planners are working hard to improve the guest experience and make visits memorable and engaging. But time and attention are limited, and finding the right mix of tech can be a challenge.
Technology serves an important role in the success of events but must be user-friendly and complement the event’s goal. If the time and effort to use certain tools outweighs the value, it can overwhelm visitors.
Below are… more
Comments (0)
Jul 15, 2019
A lot of time and money go into your exhibit. But are you doing everything you can before the show to ensure your show presence earns a return on investment? A majority of attendees already have a list of what booths to visit, so you have to ensure that your target market knows that you will be there and what you have to offer them. Effective pre-show marketing will help draw traffic to your booth, as well as maximize the qualified leads you gather at each event.
Choosing Promotional Outlets
Email and Social
Social media and email marketing form the backbone of most exhibitors’ pre-show… more
Comments (0)
Jul 11, 2019
As we bask in warmer weather, it’s time to plan the perfect outdoor event experience to impress and engage attendees. This summer, it’s important to incorporate fresh trends and make your event unique and unforgettable. This season, think sustainability and go organic with a botanical theme, or infuse industrial chic furnishings for a modern look that embraces casual sophistication and an environmentally friendly atmosphere.
Environmentally Friendly
Consumers are increasingly aware of their impact on the world. Think about how you can plan events that are zero-waste or waste-reduced to… more
Comments (0)
Jul 08, 2019
You’ve chosen your city and now need to schedule a visit to meet important contacts at your venue and start planning your event. From working on events of all sizes in my previous career, and now as senior manager of operations for CES, I’ve learned many critical pieces of knowledge along the way.
Here are some tips that have worked best for me.
Determine a date for your site visit.
Six to eight months out, work with your facility contact to decide on timing and think through the vendors you will want to meet. Who will have a large role in special areas on the show floor? Who will you be… more
Comments (0)
Jul 01, 2019
The Experiential Marketing Summit provides educational opportunities from some of the world’s leading brands including Pepsi, General Mills, IBM and dozens more. This past May, over 1700 marketers descended upon Las Vegas to experience the world’s largest conference on experiential marketing… and I was fortunate to be one of them.
Here are 4 tips that I picked up on and I hope you find useful.
Tip 1: Movement Will Always Grab Your Attention
I’ve seen quite a few exhibits over the past 10 years working at The Expo Group and one thing remains constant no matter the event or the size of the… more
Comments (0)
Jun 27, 2019
If you want to have a successful event, you must include a social media campaign. Start with a focused strategy that targets who you want to come to your event, who is actually going to your event, and who wishes they came and will attend next time. One thing you can be certain of – everyone has a phone.
Make sure they are all talking about your event. Get started by breaking down your social media event strategy into three parts: before, during and after.
Before the event
Build anticipation to get everyone excited about your event. Tease them with sneak peeks. Hold “reveals” for key… more
Comments (0)
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