Experts & Opinions
Dec 06, 2015
Have you all but given up on attending live events?
If you have, you’re certainly not alone. Many companies see live events as budget sinkholes that don’t provide any viable ROI. But these companies are actually missing out on a wonderful opportunity that industry leaders like Red Bull and Delta Air Lines are currently cashing in on.
Where have the live event naysayers gone astray? It’s their cost-focused mentality.
There’s no denying that live events can cost lots of money. After all, you’re paying for day-of costs like conference fees and booth space as well as the ongoing costs of shipping… more
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Dec 06, 2015
If you oversee your company’s webinars—from promoting and execution to follow-up—have you ever wondered how you could do your job faster, generate more buzz and do it all more efficiently without spending a fortune? Thousands of business applications are now available to help you with these tasks. In a short, they can transform you into a webinar rock star.
Here are few of my favorites:
· Use this free service to promote your next webinar: Webinars are powerful customer acquisition tools only when people show up for them. Webinara https://… more
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Nov 27, 2015
Cobo Center has been awarded the Keep Michigan Beautiful (KMB) President’s plaque, their highest annual award. KMB was founded in 1965 by then Michigan Governor George Romney as a response to Lady Bird Johnson’s White House Conference on Beautification.
The President’s Plaque is awarded for environmental improvement, beautification, site restoration and sustainability.
Patrick Bero, CEO/CFO of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, the governing body of Cobo Center, was on hand to receive the award October 16, 2015, in Frankenmuth Michigan.
“In 2011, at the beginning of our 5-… more
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Nov 27, 2015
What’s your first reaction after receiving a gift? I doubt it’s “That was nice, but I still don’t like them.” Most likely, it’s “That was so nice! How can I return the favor?”
If so, then you’re hardly alone. Social psychologists like to call it the Law of Reciprocity — we innately want to reciprocate when we’re given gifts. And while psychologists take an academic interest in the principle, marketers love it for brand strategy.
As marketers know, it’s extraordinarily tough to connect with target customers. And while corporate gifts aren’t a new concept, they’re frankly an… more
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Nov 21, 2015
A lot of work goes into organizing a tradeshow and choosing a venue is a huge part of the process. When you opt to plan an eco-friendly event, that puts an extra emphasize on finding just the right fit for your venue. Here are 5 things to you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing an eco-friendly location you’re your next tradeshow.
· The Host City is Pivotal - Determining the host city is the first decision to be made, but there are a lot of things to consider. The ideal location will be centrally located in order to minimize travel… more
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Nov 21, 2015
Trade shows have a lot of competition when it comes to allocating marketing budgets. Internet advertising, social media and inbound marketing to responsive websites have been gaining a lot of marketing attention and money. The recession took a big hit on trade show budgets, too. But despite the bumpy roads of the past few years, trade shows keep going strong. Of course, it isn’t enough to just put up an exhibit. You need to take a strategic approach to ensure that your trade show efforts will pay off in solid leads and sales.
Maximizing face-to-face marketing
The trade show industry is… more
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Nov 15, 2015
If you know how to look, you can find inspiration everywhere — inspiration that can fuel your social life, your hobbies and passions, and even your career. For me, travel is a great way to gain the creativity that will show me how to become a better marketer. Whether I’m exploring my hometown, stretching out on the beach, or exercising my inner road warrior, I try to soak up every experience I can to gain perspective that can inform and inspire my day-to-day work.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way — most people view business travel as a nuisance and a time suck. And with 75 percent… more
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Nov 12, 2015
Exhibitions are ubiquitous, yet are not seen as economic engines driving our GDP. It’s time for that to change.
Exhibitions and events represent an incredibly diverse and prolific industry. After all, the face-to-face interaction, the knowledge sharing and the business opportunities that exhibitions make possible transcend individual business sectors and geographies. Exhibitions serve every business sector and every market, worldwide.
There is little confusion around what one does at a trade show. People recognize that, for example, it’s a place where buyers and sellers… more
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Nov 08, 2015
It’s the age-old question that all show managers ask, “How do I attract more attendees to my event?” The goal is to not only attract attendees to your current event, but to turn them into repeat attendees for years to come. A comprehensive and targeted marketing approach that encourages conversation and interaction will help you reach the greatest number of potential attendees who will in turn share the experience with their colleagues.
#1. Analyze, personalize and segment your data:
Begin your campaign strategy by leveraging your event’s existing data. Slice and dice your data into… more
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Nov 01, 2015
Whether you are looking to attend your first trade show, or simply looking to add more shows to your event list, finding the right match for your company can be overwhelming.
There are many factors to consider, many of which can be easily overlooked. To simplify the thought process, we’ve categorized the most important aspects into four main considerations: Demographics and Psychographics, niche, logistics, and competition.
Demographics and Psychographics
This is the most important thing to get right. Does the show target the right type of visitors to make it a good match for your company?… 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