News
Jan 15, 2020
The Expo Group, an Irving, Texas-based exhibitions and events partner that invests in growth, today acquired Orlando-based Allied Convention Service, commonly known as Brede/Allied. The move gives The Expo Group an expanded footprint in the Southeast and deeper operations to better serve its clients, according to company officials.
“This acquisition expands The Expo Group’s service capabilities in an important region and brings together the top personnel in this business,” said Randy Pekowski, president and chief operating officer for the company. “This is an extenuation of our long-term… more
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 14, 2020
Every successful corporate event is powered by suppliers. Once you’ve found the right agency and/or suppliers to work with you, it’s impossible to underestimate the importance of the partnerships — because that’s truly what these relationships are. Together, you can make your events greater.
Siemens Digital Industries Software (DI SW) has worked with InVision Communications since 2014 to ensure consistent, high-impact performance for their portfolio of 20 global events each year. We spoke with Lynn Randall, senior solutions strategist at InVision, about the relationship between the two… 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 13, 2020
The new year already appears to be a busy one for the trade show industry, with many new hires and promotion announcements this month. Check out the latest.
Venue News
Orange County Convention Center in Orlando will be led by Mark Tester, selected by Mayor Jerry L. Demings as the center’s new executive director. Tester was most recently director of Austin (Texas) Convention Center. Also at OCCC, Eric Blanc, Sr. is now assistant director of sales. He brings more than 25 years of experience in event management and convention center sales to his new role.
Spectra, the providers of venue… more
Jan 13, 2020
ASAE’s President and CEO, John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE, has passed away after an extended battle with cancer.
“While no words can adequately express our deep sorrow at losing our leader, the ASAE team is profoundly grateful for the opportunity to know and work with John. Graham was a transformative leader for ASAE and a mentor to many in the association community. During his tenure, which began August 1, 2003, ASAE more than doubled its membership and developed a wealth of innovative products and services to benefit association professionals and their partners. Graham leaves behind an… more
Jan 09, 2020
By now you’ve likely read the news reports and seen the photos. Australia is being ravaged by the worst wildfires the country has seen in decades, with many areas devastated since the fires began in September of last year. Record-breaking temperatures, months of severe drought and strong winds have fueled a series of massive bushfires across the country that have torn through bushland, mountain forests and national parks. At least 24 people have died nationwide.
According to local news reports, more than 24 million acres have been burned, and even with firefighting assistance from countries… 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
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 07, 2020
As more companies begin implementing virtual customer service agents to assist attendees at events, tech companies specializing in conversational artificial intelligence software are getting busier. Case in point: Boost.ai, which recently supplied an AI bot to Slush — a leading international startup and technology event held each year in Helsinki, Finland — to positive results.
Nicknamed Botzilla, the virtual assistant tapped Boost.ai’s proprietary conversational AI technology to offer personalized information and assistance for the more than 25,000 conference attendees who converged Nov.… 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