News

Jan 31, 2019
In an effort to shed a light on “conscious fashion,” WWDMAGIC will partner with animal rights organization PeTA and animal-friendly outerwear brand Coalition LA at the fashion trade show’s upcoming winter marketplace, set for Feb. 5-7 at Las Vegas Convention Center. The PeTA x Coalition LA-branded partnership will be featured in events throughout the event to bring awareness about the cruelty-free options available to the fashion community, according to Kelly Helfman, president of WWDMAGIC. “WWDMAGIC is a very commercial, high-profile fashion event in the B2B industry, and we have brands of… more
Jan 29, 2019
To say that last year was a monumental one for Informa Exhibitions, which is led by CEO Charlie McCurdy, would be quite an understatement. 2018 marked the largest mergers and acquisitions deal in history, with Informa buying fellow U.K.-based exhibition company, UBM, for a whopping $5.2 billion. Now that the deal has been closed for several months, TSNN sat down with McCurdy to talk through what’s next and some overall exhibition market trends. The Informa/UBM deal was completed in June, and McCurdy said there was an accelerated plan put in place immediately to integrate the two… more
Jan 29, 2019
Event management software company, CadmiumCD, has launched Conference Harvester Logistics, a logistics management software designed to automate resource allocation while cutting down on what can be tedious processes for event planners. This new addition to CadmiumCD’s software platform was announced during PCMA’s 2019 Convening Leaders Conference, held last month in Pittsburgh, Penn. With this new module, event organizers can build a list of available resources; assign those resources to specific rooms in a convention center; and check for conflicts against date, time, room and resource… more
Jan 28, 2019
NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jared Goff will go head to head at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this Sunday, Feb. 3, for Super Bowl LII. Yet the Atlanta CVB is drawing on more stars to help promote the big game, launching a celebrity-packed video welcoming visitors to the city to mark the first the first time it’s hosted the Super Bowl since 2000. “Atlanta is a city that celebrates diversity, and we’re thrilled to work with many of the people who make this city special as we welcome visitors for this landmark event,” said William Pate, president and CEO, Atlanta CVB. “We are excited to… more
Jan 24, 2019
For those who have used augmented reality in the events space, it’s no mystery that AR can add an immersive and compelling visual experience to events and trade show booths of any size. But wouldn’t it be great if AR could be integrated into a mobile event application? Enter COREality, a new technology feature designed to do exactly that. Launched by Core-apps in partnership with BundleAR, it allows exhibitors and event sponsors to use AR to display product features and benefits through the seamless integration with Core-apps’ event mobile application platform. As the industry’s first… more
Jan 24, 2019
The year started off with a flurry of new hires, making for a busy and exciting January. Here are all the industry professionals who have been making some big career moves recently. Ed Nichols is now vice president of events for Hannover Fairs USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Hannover, Germany’s Deutsche Messe – one of the world’s largest and most active organizers of capital goods trade fairs. He will manage the commercial vehicle show portfolio, which currently includes the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. Previously, Nichols was vice president of events for Endeavour Business Media.… more
Jan 23, 2019
In an effort to help Southern Nevada’s vulnerable populations, Caesars Entertainment has launched The Shared Future Fund, a first-of-its-kind investment model that will be used to create long-term positive change for adult and child victims of human trafficking.  The new fund will be controlled and managed by ImpactNV, a Southern Nevada nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing cross-sector leadership to address pressing social needs and building a better community. Created as a self-sustaining model designed to catalyze solutions to core regional issues via grants, loans and investments, The… more
Jan 23, 2019
With the U.S. government shutdown still in effect — and stretched longer than any other in history — many association meeting planners and trade show organizers are concerned about how this might impact their events. Destination DC has been actively campaigning to let the world know that the city is open for business and ready to welcome both events and leisure travelers. The “DC is Open” campaign was first launched during a previous shutdown in October 2013, and has been redeployed to help visitors navigate the city. While the Smithsonian museums, National Zoo, National Gallery of Art and… more
Jan 22, 2019
Trade wars and a turbulent global economic outlook. Global opportunities, changing business models and disruption. The need for show organizers to remain flexible as well as pragmatic in running and planning their businesses going forward. These are just some of the pressing industry issues that will be addressed at the 2019 UFI European Conference, set for May 15-17 at the Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham, U.K.  Produced by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the annual event for exhibition professionals will focus on what organizers in Europe and beyond will be… more
Jan 22, 2019
For smaller exhibiting companies with limited marketing budgets, investing large amounts of money on flashy, high-end booths to maximize foot traffic and generate meaningful leads can be a big, if not impossible challenge. That’s where event technology can help even the playing field on the trade showfloor. Enter the Balou App, a mobile marketing solution for exhibitors seeking to enhance their booth presence and increase foot traffic by promoting their giveaways, samples, raffles or contests to a wider event audience, all in one convenient place. “I have attended over 50 conferences in 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