Jun 04, 2016
What began as an experiment in the 1950s to see how American Rental Association (ARA) members and rental store owners would respond has now become the largest equipment rental trade show in the world.
It all started in January 1956, when 29 rental operators gathered in a Kansas City, Mo., restaurant for their first Annual Meeting. January was chosen because it was the slow season for rental business, and members
could more easily be away from their stores.
The following year, the meeting expanded to include a trade show with eight exhibitors and about 100 attendees in an Omaha, Neb.,… more
Jun 01, 2016
UBM continues to expand its portfolio in the U.S. with the acquisition of Content Marketing Institute, which produces the annual Cleveland, Ohio-based event – Content Marketing World.
In addition, CMI holds the annual Intelligent Content Conference, as well as has media channels and marketing services that support and inform the content marketing community.
“The CMI business is complementary to UBM’s existing technology business and we see excellent opportunities to help CMI grow to its full potential, to cross promote to technology marketing professionals and to provide additional insight as… more
May 29, 2016
The first-ever Global Exhibitions Day, which will take place June 8, will bring together the global exhibition industry to raise awareness about the value of exhibitions, celebrate the professionals working in the industry and make a new generation of leaders aware of the opportunities the exhibition industry has to offer.
Launched by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, together with association partners from all around the world, Global Exhibitions Day is a combination of efforts from across the exhibition industry.
UFI is coordinating all global efforts from a GED… more
May 25, 2016
By Elizabeth Johnson
If you’ve lost sleep worrying about filling your hotel room block and avoiding attrition charges, you’re not alone. It’s a major concern for many meeting and event planners. According to the Event Room Demand Study (jointly released by the American Society of Association Executives, Center for Exhibition Industry Research, Destination & Travel Foundation, Meeting Professionals International and Professional Convention Management Association Education Foundation), an average of 34.1 percent of rooms are booked outside of the block. For some events, that number is as… more
May 23, 2016
The Cobo Center’s green efforts are paying off, with the Detroit-based venue snagging the Sustainable Brands conference next year, which previously was held in San Diego.
“Sustainable Brands has been committed to reducing and managing the environmental impact of our flagship conference for years now and we are excited to be bringing our community to Cobo Center in May 2017,” said David Fiss, executive producer of Live Events at Sustainable Brands.
He added, “In 2013, we were the first event organizer in North America to achieve conformity to the ISO 20121 Standard requiring event organizers… more
May 23, 2016
Video gamers likely are rejoicing today, with the Entertainment Software Association, producers of the annual E3 Expo for the video gaming industry, unveiling a new event – E3 Live - that will be open to the public.
On tap June 14-16 at L.A. Live, the same time as E3 Expo next door at the Los Angeles Convention Center, video gamers will have the opportunity to enjoy video games, music, competitions and video game swag from some of the biggest names in the industry.
"The biggest event in video games is bringing gamers to the next level. We are excited to introduce E3 Live, an… more
May 21, 2016
At the 1928 conference of the National Association of Greenkeepers of America (now known as the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America), 350 participants gathered at the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit to see the latest innovations in golf course maintenance equipment and technology from 27 exhibitors.
Fred A. Burkhardt from Cleveland, Ohio, spearheaded efforts to launch the National Greenkeepers Golf Show, with the goal of offering collaboration opportunities for golf course managers to exchange ideas and strengthen
peer-to-peer relationships. And the audience responded – floor… more
May 18, 2016
People hirings and promotions seemed to be happening at warp speed as winter turned into spring, with suppliers and show management companies strengthening their ranks.
Ungerboeck Software International’s Manish Chandak, who was CTO of the company, was named president and CEO.
“Manish possesses the unique ability to translate vision and strategy into world-class execution,” said Ungerboeck founder and chairman of the board, Dieter Ungerboeck. “This will move us forward with the speed required to capitalize on the opportunities in front of us.”
Prior to joining Ungerboeck, Chandak… more
May 18, 2016
With the subject of food safety in the news after various recalls across the United States, it’s no wonder the 18th Annual Food Safety Summit, held recently for the first time in Rosemont, attracted nearly 1,700 registered food safety professionals.
Attendance was a 12-percent increase in registered attendees, compared with last year’s event, and more than 200 exhibiting companies also were on the showfloor, a 20-percent increase from 2015.
During the three-day event, which is run by BNP Media and was held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, food safety professionals… more
May 17, 2016
Forget early morning yoga. Though it’s a popular event at trade shows and conferences, it tends to in most cases to only attract a few die-hard enthusiasts, says Dr. Kim, president and CEO of X bytes, a byte-size wellness company.
A much better solution would be to focus on combatting mid-morning and mid-afternoon sitting fatigue with a fitness break. Going a step further? How about turning your networking meeting into a cycling class?
Incorporating wellness has become a popular move for trade shows and conferences, but making it fun and enticing remains a challenge. Though most people would… 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