CES 2020
Jan 15, 2020
Bendable laptop screens, 5G connectivity and a Mercedes straight out of Avatar were only some of the highlights at CES 2020 that took place Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas. The 54th annual show attracted around 180,000 attendees and showcased the latest in tech from 4,400 exhibitors across more than 2.9 million square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Expo and several Las Vegas hotels. Already the largest show in the U.S. (and the top show on TSNN’s Top Trade Show List), CES will have room to grow next year with the addition of the new West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. “The… more
Jan 13, 2020
Will you take TSNN’s new Top 250 Trade Show Dashboard for a spin and provide us with valuable feedback in the process? In a trade show industry first, TSNN, in partnership with data analytics company Bear Analytics, has teamed up to unveil a five-year dynamic dashboard of the TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List metrics. Analyzing more than 1,200 trade shows that represent 18 million attendees, 982,857 exhibiting companies and more than 336 million net square feet, this complementary dashboard allows users to search data on all of the listed shows.  Did we get it right? Try out the TSNN Top 250… more
Jan 08, 2020
The Corporate Event Marketing Association and PCMA are partnering to extend the reach and membership of their respective organizations. The two groups announced on Jan. 6 at PCMA Convening Leaders that they will work together to develop and share educational programming and content. PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat says that the main goal of the alliance is to elevate the education for both organizations. “PCMA has a commitment to bringing its members access to leading edge education and content that helps them deliver economic and social transformation through business events,” said… more
2020 trends
Jan 08, 2020
What lies ahead for 2020 and the new decade? We talked with a few experts to find out. Take a look at their 2020 trend predictions below. Then, connect with us on Twitter to let us know your take! Trade Shows Arjun Chakravarti, senior vice president of analytics and insights at GES, predicts the following: Measuring and selling experiential sponsorships. Although traditional sponsorship activities will remain a core part of the brand portfolio at trade shows, brands need to return to the C-suite with ROI metrics of shows. Sponsorship opportunities that measurably impact brand perceptions… more
Jan 06, 2020
The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions are gearing up to present a reimagined Vision Expo, the bi-annual trade show and conference for ophthalmic professionals, next year. New features such as curated neighborhoods, creative and interactive exhibit spaces, and refreshed branding (its new show tagline is “The Future, Clearly”) are a few of the fresh concepts that will debut at Vision Expo East 2020, set for March 26-29 at Javits Center in New York City.  As the largest optical event in the U.S., Vision Expo expects to welcome approximately 5,000 optometrists, opticians, practice staff and… more
Dec 24, 2019
It's been a busy year on TSNN! Today we're flashing back to our Top 10 most-read stories of the year. It's clear to see that you loved reading about event technology, new hires and even comfortable trade show shoes. We look forward to bringing you more of the latest news and insights in the industry in 2020. In case you missed any of them, check out our top stories from 2019 below. Freeman to Sell Encore Event Technologies to PSAV The Best Shoes for Trade Show Organizers and Exhibitors, According to a Podiatrist Reed Exhibitions Appoints New Leadership for U.S. Business… more
Dec 23, 2019
The all-male speaking panel — or “manel” — has received harsh criticism, with many speakers (both male and female) pledging to not participate in events where gender diversity is an issue. There’s even a Twitter handle (@allmalepanels) that seeks to both shame event organizers and draw more attention to the issue by calling out particularly egregious manels. Yet a new study from event technology provider Bizzabo shows that the event speaking landscape continues to be male-dominated, with male speakers outnumbering female speakers 2-to-1. And in industries like information technology and… more
Dec 18, 2019
Packing for a trade show is usually a laborious task for anyone, but especially so for Candy Adams. In addition to her suitcase for clothing, shoes and all her personal items, every trip she takes, she packs a separate hard case Samsonite. It holds 40 dozen cookies and usually weighs around 43 pounds — and though it sounds like a lot, she’s got it down to a science, after doing this for more than 25 years. It all started back in 1993 when she was working for a company that made wide-format printers, and the CEO was making a tiny printer for the first Macintosh computer called the Sweet Pea.… more
Dec 15, 2019
After a relatively slower mergers and acquisitions market in 2019 overall, the last quarter of the year saw several transactions recently close. Questex recently acquired the Live Experience assets, including Live Design, Club Industry and World Tea Expo. The acquired portfolio aligns with Questex’s focus on the Experience Economy and will join the Company’s other assets focused on the Hospitality industry, according to company officials. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The Experience Economy is here. Companies driven by ‘experiences’ have a competitive advantage with business… more
Dec 12, 2019
The exhibition industry continued to grow, albeit modestly, during the third quarter of 2019, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s quarterly exhibition index report. The CEIR Total Index, which measures exhibition industry performance, posted a year-over-year gain of 0.6 percent even though it underperformed the overall economy as reflected in the inflation-adjusted GDP. While the trade show industry’s moderate third quarter performance proved to be weaker than the first two quarters of the year, it showed a slight improvement over the same quarter in 2018 when 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