New SmartFood Expo to Collocate with Fresh Food, Produce and Floral Show Partners in 2018

A fifth new trade show will collocate with United FreshMKT Expo, United FreshTEC Expo, International Floriculture Expo and Global Cold Chain Expo in June 2018 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Dedicated to the exploding category of healthy foods, SmartFood Expo is designed to provide retail and foodservice buyers with a one-stop shop for learning about the newest products, trends and opportunities to increase their share of the “better-for-you-foods” business.

2017 UFI Sustainable Development Award goes to Fira Barcelona

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has unveiled Fira Barcelona as the winner of its annual Sustainable Development Award.

The theme of this year’s  competition, “Best destination approach to implementing sustainability”, was chosen in order to recognize initiatives that combine the efforts of a destination, in partnership with a professional exhibition operator, to implement sustainability around an individual exhibition or a series of events.

Keynote Speakers Unveiled for 2017 Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Annual Convention

More keynote speakers have been unveiled for the 2017 Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Annual Convention in Montréal, Canada July 11‐14.

“We are thrilled to have assembled such a diverse and respected group of speakers for the Annual Convention,” said DMAI President and CEO Don Welsh.

He added, “We look forward to inspiring and equipping our members with education sessions as well as giving them the unique opportunity to connect with industry peers in Montréal.”

Here are a few of the new keynotes:

Independent Show Organizers Join Forces with New Agreement

The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and The Society of Independent Show Organisers (SISO) have entered into a reciprocity agreement following a meeting among several of their independent trade and consumer organiser members in Miami last month.

The agreement sees both organisations supporting each other with information exchange, research insight and mutual discounts for members to attend each associations’ events.

In addition, it sees the formation of a new special interest group the ‘Independent Organiser Network’ (ION).

AEM’s Megan Tanel Receives 2017 IAEE Woman of Achievement Award

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events recently celebrated another successful Women’s Leadership Forum May 2 at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.

More than 220 attendees sold out this year’s event which featured education sessions for women at all stages of their career, as well as the 2017 IAEE Woman of Achievement Award was presented to Megan Tanel, CEM during the event.

Tanel is senior vice president, Exhibitions and Events for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). 

PCMA’s Digital Experience Institute Unveils The Power of Digital Events White Paper

PCMA’s Digital Experience Institute [DEI] recently released the publication of their The Power of Digital Events white paper.

“The emergence of live streaming and digital events has significantly shifted how participants engage with our organization,” said Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO.

She added, “Our goal in transparently sharing PCMA’s six years of results is to assist those organizations, who desire to expand and enhance their engagement strategies, build a business case for digital events.”

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