News

Oct 02, 2018
Demand for meetings and events is on the rise. According to the recently released CWT Meetings & Events 2019 Meetings & Events Future Trends report, the meetings market will see an increase of five to 10 percent in 2019.  “The global meetings and events industry can look forward to a buoyant 2019,” said Kurt Ekert, president and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). “On top of growing demand worldwide, we also expect global hotel rates to rise 3.7 percent, and flight prices 2.6 percent.” In most regions, meeting attendance numbers are also projected to grow, with a 14 percent… more
Sep 29, 2018
The summer didn’t slow down show organizing companies from contracting new services and renewing existing ones with a bevy of trade show industry suppliers. CompuSystems reached contract renewal agreements with a trio of clients to provide registration, data analytics and lead retrieval services -- the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA), and WATT Global Media. AANS, a CSI partner for the last eight years, signed a three-year agreement through 2021 for its Annual Scientific Meeting show. DEMA, a CSI partner for more… more
Sep 27, 2018
The MedTech Conference wrapped up its 12thannual edition boasting double-digit growth in attendance and partnering meetings.  Held Sept. 24-26 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, the three-day gathering of global MedTech executives attracted more than 1,000 companies, 132 exhibitors to a 20,800 square foot expo, and 3,000 medical technology professionals hailing from 35 countries, including newcomers South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic. “Holding this conference in the Philadelphia/New Jersey corridor provided us (with) an amazing opportunity to bring… more
Sep 27, 2018
Cloud-based event management and marketing solutions technology provider, a2z has officially launched its new Business Intelligence & Reporting Engine for the B2B events industry. Now available to a2z’s existing clients at no additional cost, this robust, state-of-the-art engine is designed to help event management teams mine and visualize their data with extra ease.  “When there are too many numbers in a report, our eyes start to glaze over,” said Rajiv Jain, president and CEO of a2z. “One big part of this release is that you can see the data, you can group it and you can slice and… more
Sep 26, 2018
The Los Angeles Convention Center has claimed bragging rights for being the first convention center in the U.S. to permanently install a 5G wireless network. Improving on 4G LTE that currently accounts for approximately three-quarters of total mobile connections in the U.S. (excluding licensed cellular IoT), 5G is the fifth generation of wireless internet and voice services designed to move data faster and be more responsive, dramatically increasing wireless speeds and capacity to transform services such as AI, VR and video calling.  “The establishment of 5G at the Los Angeles Convention… more
Sep 26, 2018
In two weeks, IMEX America attendees will push themselves beyond their limits thanks to a new feature, the C2 International Cloud Lab. C2 International, an annual business conference that takes place in Montreal and Australia, is well known for its innovative approach to business events that tie in both physical and mental challenges to stimulate creative thinking.  C2 International partnered with the IMEX Group in a joint effort to drive innovation and creativity throughout the meetings and events sector. The three-year agreement, which begins this year, is the first time that C2 has… more
Sep 25, 2018
The inaugural UFI Latin American Conference presented a golden opportunity for participants to discuss common strategies for the different realities of doing business in Latin America. Held Sept. 18-19 at the World Trade Center in Mexico City, the new event attracted 120 delegates from 16 countries and was collocated with the 21stedition of the AMPROFEC International Congress. “This conference exceeded our expectations as UFI’s first-ever major event focused on Latin America,” said Pepe Navarro, general director of E.J. Krause Tarsus de Mexico and UFI Latin America Chapter Chair. “It is… more
Sep 24, 2018
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) has reported strong results for the financial year 2017-2018. During the year, the venue generated revenues of A$372 million (US$270 million). That represents an increase of 14% over the previous year. According to GCCEC, the venue recorded its best performance for the sixth consecutive year. During the fiscal year, a total of 154 events were held at the venue, welcoming more than 722,000 visitors. Among the events, about 76% were MICE-related events. In the same period, more than 3,000 conferences were held in the Gold Coast,… more
Sep 24, 2018
Organised by Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai, the Chengdu Motor Show (CDMS) 2018 recently concluded at the Chengdu City New International Convention and Exhibition Center. The exhibition attracted more than 580,000 visitors to the show. That figure includes both trade and public visitors. CDMS ran from 31st August to 9th September. The ten-day show featured 119 auto brands showcasing almost 1,400 vehicles, of which 71 were newly launched models. Occupying an exhibition area of 150,000 m2, the show is positioned as the leading automobile exhibition in western China. According to the organiser… more
Sep 24, 2018
Malaysia’s newest venue, the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) has signed an MOU with UBM Malaysia agreeing to host four events between 2019 and 2023 as well as a biennial event during the years 2019 to 2028. The specific events were not named, but the two companies did state that they expect the events will generate MYR261 million (US$63 million) in economic impact for the local economy. According to MITEC, the venue has hosted 90 events since it opened in August last year. And MITEC reports that it has welcomed over 352,000 visitors in that period. M. Gandhi,… 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