Jul 18, 2018
UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, has released the latest edition of its flagship Global Barometer research, taking the pulse of the industry. One of the key findings: for the first time in the past 10 years, all four global regions have reported a positive turnover development simultaneously. In terms of operating profit, most companies maintained a good level of performance in 2017, and more than 40 percent of companies from all regions declared an increase of more than 10 percent, compared with 2016. However, the prospects for 2018 are currently lower globally… more
Jul 17, 2018
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released the fourth and final report in its new “How to Grow Attendance” series for event attendee marketers. By uncovering attendee marketer commitments to improve existing approaches and evolve with fast-changing marketing norms, Report Four: Plans on Where to Improve Approach in Near-term Future offers a look at the most popular marketing approaches and the characteristics that are tied to success in attendee growth. “This is the last report in the series,” explained Nancy Drapeau, CEIR senior research director. “It provides… more
Jul 12, 2018
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) is working to reinforce the value of face-to-face meetings by reframing its Worth Meeting About campaign during the 2018 midterm election cycle.  Continuing the success of the campaign, the coalition will highlight numerous ways that candidates rely on face-to-face meetings to connect with constituents as well as inform, persuade and recruit supporters, including talking to voters one-on-one, participating in town hall discussions, canvassing neighborhoods, hosting fundraising events or participating in onstage debates with their political… more
Jul 12, 2018
Mexico City will soon have its very own fan event for comics, pop culture, cosplay, anime, K-Pop, gaming and entertainment. Set to debut March 21-24 at the Pepsi Center, WTC, the inaugural Mexico City Comic Con will offer Latin American fans a plethora of features to get excited about, including 200 exhibits, original content with creators, publishers and authors in several tracks of programming, and entertainment including Q&A sessions, live bands and pavilions with interactive activities such as RPG play, card gaming tournaments, video gaming and anime content. Produced in… more
Jul 11, 2018
Several trade show management companies and event solutions providers have been spending their summer renewing long-term partnerships and acquiring new business.  Event producer, Reed Exhibitions, has renewed its contract with CompuSystems through 2019. CompuSystems, provider of registration, data management and lead retrieval services, has been providing full-service registration for Reed for the past 33 years.  “We are excited to continue our long-running partnership with Reed Exhibitions,” said Chris Williams, president of CompuSystems. “Our team remains focused on providing innovative… more
Jul 10, 2018
After being granted a Saudi investment license by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) earlier this year, dmg events has established a new office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia designed to serve as a base for the company’s events throughout the Kingdom. This expansion will open the door for dmg events operating in both Riyadh and Jeddah. Initial priorities for the international events company will include a focus on its core construction, hospitality and design brands, including The Big 5, The Hotel Show and INDEX. Editions of Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia; FM Expo; Saudi… more
Jul 06, 2018
UBM, now part of Informa, the world’s leading B2B events organizer, today announces that it has acquired The Battery Show Europe and co-located Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe from UK-based Smarter Shows. Through this acquisition UBM increases its coverage of advanced battery technology and strengthens its position in the energy storage market in Europe. “The Battery Show Europe acquisition aligns with our strategy to focus on investment in high growth opportunities,” said Lucy Dimes, CEO, UBM EMEA. She added, “We can now provide our customers with expanded access to… more
Jul 05, 2018
U.S. B2B trade show and conference producer, Emerald Expositions, is gearing up to launch a new event for the artisan bakery community, the International Artisan Bakery Expo (IABE).  Designed for the artisan baker offering fresh, unpackaged products sold through specialty retail bakeries, in-store bakeries, bakery cafés, other foodservice operations and intermediate wholesale bakers, the inaugural IABE will debut March 5-7 alongside the International Pizza Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center. “For the first time in more than a decade, the artisan and retail bakers will have annual trade… more
Jul 04, 2018
Paris-based Comexposium recently acquired International Master Course on Aging Science (IMCAS) events. Annually, IMCAS serves the dermatology, plastic surgery and aesthetic science communities through three international trade shows and educational events, IMCAS World Congress in Paris, IMCAS Americas and IMCAS Asia, both peripatetic within their regions, and IMCAS Academy an on-demand e-learning platform with 2,400 videos and 15,200 professional paid subscribers.  “Over 20 years ago, IMCAS began as a congress dedicated to plastic surgeons and dermatologists. We knew there was an important… more
Jul 03, 2018
With its bounty of ongoing hotel development and renovations, a growing bourbon district, new attractions and a soon-to-be-unveiled, expanded downtown convention center, the city of Louisville has been working overtime to meet the demands of its more than 16.4 million annual visitors. To coincide with this plethora of development while celebrating its 50-year milestone of marketing the city’s tourism and travel business, the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau has changed its name to Louisville Tourism. According to Louisville Tourism President and CEO Karen Williams, the new… 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