News
Feb 20, 2019
While event professionals have long touted the power of the events they plan, many have not previously had great support from leadership in this area. The good news is that the data shows that to be changing.
Recent event industry studies all indicate the industry is healthy and growing, and a big part of that is due to marketing. Findings from Bizzabo’s “Event Marketing 2019: Benchmarking and Trends” report show that today, face-to-face events are more effective for achieving business goals than ever before — and executives are taking notice.
Bizzabo surveyed more than 1,000 mid- to senior… more
Feb 19, 2019
As concerns over data security and privacy issues continue to grow, Zuant, a provider of mobile lead capture cloud solutions, has been busy creating new platforms designed to help event organizers comply with mobile customer contact data compliance.
Launched late last month after two years of development, Zuant Vault is a cloud-based administrator management system that guarantees GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance by ensuring companies market only to those who have granted permission.
GDPR legislation, which went into effect May 25 of last year and applies to any… more
Feb 19, 2019
In its 17-year tenure, Connecticut-based trade show incubator JD Events has launched many successful shows —Travel Commerce Expo (sold to U.S. Travel Association in 2005), SATCON and HD World (now owned by National Association of Broadcasters and branded as NAB Show New York), to name a few. After selling Drone World Expo to Diversified Business Communications at the end of 2017, the company was on a mission to launch a trade show in a new marketplace.
Joel Davis, founder and CEO of JD Events, enlisted his son, Ben Davis, to help brainstorm ideas. Together, they began looking at the plant-… more
Feb 19, 2019
ASAE today announced two changes to its Certified Association Executive (CAE) Program. The biggest takeaway is that the experience requirement for candidates employed as an association CEO or another C-suite-level position has been reduced to one year.
Additionally, the CAE Commission has adopted a one-credit ethics requirement to be included as part of the 40 credits required for each CAE renewal cycle. This will begin with certificates set to renew in 2010.
“The CAE Commission recognizes that executives come to the association world through many paths, often gaining valuable experience… more
Feb 18, 2019
Caesars Entertainment is an acknowledged industry leader in corporate social responsibility through its People Planet Play framework. In the past few months, the company has made headlines for being named as a leader by the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) for its efforts in reducing emissions and lowering climate-related risk; making a global commitment to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children; launching The Shared Future Fund in conjunction with ImpactNV, to solve for social and economic inequality that underscore Nevada’s most vulnerable populations, and more.
The… more
Feb 18, 2019
Implementing sustainable practices isn’t just good for the environment, it’s also good for business, as many convention centers have discovered. According to the 2017 Green Venue Report (the 2018 report has not yet been released), event venues are saving millions of dollars each year thanks to sustainability upgrades through energy, waste or water conservation programs.
Energy tracking for events is also improving, with 88 percent of venues surveyed reporting doing so. Yet technology is constantly changing, and what was good (or good enough) a few years ago is likely behind the times now.… more
Feb 18, 2019
Thirty-year event veteran Danny Phillips has joined media M&A firm Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips as managing director for events.
For 16 years, Phillips was executive vice president of Advanstar (now UBM/Informa), where he was responsible for technology, automotive, licensing, entertainment and healthcare divisions in the U.S., France, Brazil, Germany, the UK and Hong Kong.
Previously, he led European technology media business units for both International Thomson and EMAP from London, and also served as CEO of Argyle Executive Forum, a B2B and media and events company, where he oversaw its… more
Feb 15, 2019
The first quarter of 2019 is off to a roaring start, with event companies and suppliers far and wide renewing partnerships and signing new business contracts.
The Dallas City Council approved a five-year contract with Spectra Venue Management to manage the day-to-day client and facility operations of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, effective Feb. 13.
Spectra, an Atairos-owned and Comcast-backed events management and promotion company, will implement its best practices over an initial 45-day transition period, with the goal of reducing costs, increasing revenues and… more
Feb 14, 2019
While innovations in exhibit design and technology continue to drive the trade show industry’s evolution, the development of lead capture and post-show strategy can be overlooked. To remedy that, Gateway, a St. Louis-based exhibitor services company, is now offering a next-generation digital lead capture system designed to help exhibiting companies improve their show metrics.
Launched last month, LeadConnectis an interactive platform integrating lead capture, qualifying surveys and digital collateral on a custom-branded device. The system gathers data instantly and syncs with most CRM or… more
Feb 14, 2019
The UFI Global Exhibition Barometer, issued semi-annually by UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, is an important gauge of global trade show health. The latest report, which came out Feb. 5, revealed a positive look at 2019.
Between mid-2018 and the end of 2019, the data shows a majority of companies from all four global regions indicate gross turnover increases. This positive outlook is especially strong in the Asia/Pacific and Middle East/Africa regions, which each recorded their highest levels in the last five years. A growing number of companies are also trying to… 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