Sep 05, 2018
The trade show industry mergers and acquisitions market does not look to be slowing down any time soon, with another deal being announced today: GS Media and Events bought eight recreational vehicle, Boat & Outdoor Sports Consumer Shows from RJ Promotions for an undisclosed sum and ITE Group proposes to sell off part of its Russia division to Shtab-Expo.
“This acquisition for GS Events expands their reach into several new markets and makes them the dominant producer of RV related consumer shows,” said Nick Curci, president of Corporate Solutions. “GS Events was the natural buyer of… more
Sep 04, 2018
Just before the long holiday weekend in the U.S., two companies made portfolio sales that covered several conferences, a trade show and digital products.
AC Business Media sold its business-to-business portfolio that was comprised mainly of publications and one trade show to Florida-based private equity firm Boyne Capital.
The assets included in the sale are the following 12 publications, the DHI ConNextions trade show for the non-residential door and hardware industry, one digital marketing services brand, several related websites and digital products.
“This acquisition for Boyne… more
Aug 30, 2018
As the exhibitions industry continues to surge full speed ahead, more and more destinations are recognizing the need to upgrade, revamp and expand their convention centers in order to compete for major trade shows and events.
These days, myriad facilities are celebrating ground breakings, undergoing new construction projects or anticipating grand openings, while others have put their plans on hold. Here are some of the major U.S. convention centers proposing, building and completing bigger, better, state-of-the-art spaces.
Caesars Forum
On July 16, Caesars Entertainment broke ground on … more
Aug 29, 2018
The most recent edition of the 2018 Connect meetings series, which collocated Connect Association, Connect Corporate, Connect Sports, Connect Expo and Connect Specialty and was held Aug. 23-25 in Salt Lake City, Utah, added several new dimensions to the traditional hosted-buyer model of 1:to:1 meetings between industry suppliers and meeting planners.
“If you’ve got different buyer groups, you’ve got some scale and some opportunity for a lot of cross-fertilization and learning and a different experience that some people like,” said Doug Emslie, managing director at Tarsus Group, which owns a… more
Aug 23, 2018
Production equipment and engineering support provider, VER, has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a reorganized company via a merger with and under the leadership of global entertainment technology and services company, Production Resource Group (PRG).
Led by PRG Chairman and CEO Jere Harris and controlled by The Jordan Company, GSO Capital Partners and PRG Management, the jointly owned companies create the largest entertainment equipment and services provider globally.
As a global company that provides equipment to the film and TV industry as well as audio gear and engineering for the… more
Aug 22, 2018
Buyers and sellers traveled from as far away as Australia, South and Central America and Europe to convene at the 48thedition of OFFPRICE, the biannual trade show that serves the off-price retail industry.
Held Aug. 11-14 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, the OFFPRICE Show takes place every August and February during Las Vegas Fashion Week and is known as the largest off-price show in the country, boasting more than 500 vendors and nearly 1,300 booths that attracts more than 12,000 buyers.
According to OFFPRICE officials, the main topic of conversation buzzing around… more
Aug 21, 2018
Emerald Expositions continued to grow its portfolio even more with the acquisition of EH Media, which focuses on technology events and a group of complementary technology intelligence brands, for approximately $28 million.
“We are thrilled to welcome the EH Media team and their highly valuable brands and assets to Emerald. Ken Moyes has built an impressive group of interconnected, technology-oriented brands that are focused on the integration of audio, video, communications, IT, security and energy management products into buildings of all types,” said David Loechner, Emerald’s president… more
Aug 20, 2018
We are currently lining up topics for the Fall season of #Expochat, resuming Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. ET and as a vital part of our trade show community, we want to know what topics YOU want to see covered!
Sponsored by TSNN, #Expochat is a live, hour-long Twitter-based conversation that covers some of the hottest and most pressing topics impacting the trade show industry today. Held most Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Eastern Time, this lively online chat tackles a single topic each week: a recurring pain point, innovative ideas, evolution of the industry, best practices and what works or doesn’t work. … more
Aug 16, 2018
Even with a slight dip in revenues for GES in the second quarter this year mainly due to negative show rotation, from $320.1 million to $315.3 million, that’s not what may have caught someone’s attention after their latest earnings call.
As is the trend with what used to be traditional general service contracting companies, GES continues to go outside of this core offering and grow its business in a myriad of ways.
“During our earnings call, I … shared that we’re strengthening our partnerships with clients through our offerings that enhance the attendee experience,” said GES/Viad President… more
Aug 16, 2018
Thanks to the flexibility and modern allure of the newly expanded Anaheim Convention Center, trade shows including the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and Natural Products Expo West have booked the facility for multiple years.
Completed in September of last year, the ACC expansion provides an additional 200,000 square feet of meeting space allowing for an even greater variety of event uses at what is known as the West Coast’s largest convention center.
Having met in Anaheim for almost 40 years, NAMM will make ACC its home through 2023. The association’s 2018 show in the… 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