News

Apr 06, 2015
Earl C. Hargrove, founder of Hargrove, a general service contracting company, passed away at age 86. Hargrove CEO Tim McGill and President Carla Hargrove-McGill issued the following statement: “It is with a very heavy heart that we share the news that Earl C. Hargrove, Jr., an icon of the events industry, passed away peacefully early this morning surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old.” A very proud Marine Corps veteran, he began his career as a window dresser for stores in Washington, DC at the end of World War II.  He was an industry pioneer, able to foresee a future… more
Apr 05, 2015
LRP Conferences, producers of national conferences and professional research services, has acquired several education technology events from 1105 Media. The events include the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), FETC Virtual Conference, Campus Technology Conference and the Campus Technology Forum. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “As LRP grows, we continue to seek out innovative products that can help us transform. We know FETC, FETC Virtual, Campus Technology Conference, and Campus Technology Forum can help us do that. With their addition we saw a great opportunity to… more
Apr 04, 2015
LeftField Media and Tubefilter will launch Stream Con NYC, the first-ever digital content convention in New York City. Founded to engage and connect thousands of fans, creators, brands, platforms and celebrities who are at the forefront of this new era of entertainment, Stream Con NYC will take place from Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2015 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York. "Stream Con NYC is a reflection of rapidly evolving consumer behavior,” said Greg Topalian, president of LeftField Media. “Industries are all grappling with how best to connect with a new audience, and Stream Con NYC… more
Apr 03, 2015
Bridging the gap between online and brick-and-mortal retail was the theme of GlobalShop 2015, the annual store design and retail marketing event that took place March 24-26 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.   As retailers look for ways to tap into the new consumer shopping preferences, the show is seeing strong growth. Pre-registration was up 25 percent, compared with 2014, which had come in at about 12,000 attendees. The show featured 760 exhibitors, including 200 new, and took up more than 215,000 square feet. “This is the biggest spike across all metrics in 15 years,”… more
Apr 02, 2015
Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2014 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States. Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage. The full, searchable list, sponsored this year exclusively by Expocad, can be found HERE. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG snagged the No. 1 spot on the 2014 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List with a 2,356,711 net square foot showfloor at the Las Vegas Convention Center. There were 2,… more
Mar 31, 2015
Unibail-Rodamco SE, Europe’s largest listed commercial property company,  and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Ile-deFrance (CCIR) have entered into an agreement with U.K.-based private equity firm Charterhouse to take over Unibail’s 50 percent stake in Comexposium. This offer values Comexposium at €550 million ($816 million). Early in 2008, Unibail-Rodamco and the CCIR merged their convention and exhibition activities into two entities: Viparis, in charge of managing the venues, and Comexposium, in charge of the events organization business. Comexposium brought together… more
Mar 31, 2015
Not only has the American Society of Association Executives and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events expressed concern about the recent passing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana, but also Visit Indy, which represents the city of Indianapolis, is worried about the act’s possible impact. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's ability to practice his or her religion, but opponents say it opens the door to possible discrimination. “Since February, we have opposed Indiana’s RFRA bill, a bill… more
Mar 30, 2015
The American Society of Association Executives expects nearly 5,500 nonprofit and association professionals to come together Aug. 8-11 for the 2015 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, which will be held at Detroit’s newly renovated Cobo Center. How can associations harness fresh approaches to all aspects of their work? Opening general speaker Josh Linkner, a business leader, venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur and author, will discuss a systematic process he discovered that increases creativity and produces results. At the opening keynote, attendees will walk away with practical… more
Mar 30, 2015
USITT 2015 broke all previous attendance records, attracting nearly 5,500 people to Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Center last week for the backstage industry’s annual event. More than 280 exhibitors were at booths with state-of-the-art entertainment products for the largest Stage Expo ever – and 170-plus already have signed on for USITT 2016 in Salt Lake City. “So many people told us this was their best conference experience ever,” said USITT Executive Director David Grindle. He added, “We are very proud to be known for a show that shines in quality, excitement, and customer service.” USITT 2015… more
Mar 29, 2015
SourceDirect at ASD (SourceDirect) has unveiled its brand new, fully-functional website, sourcedirectshow.com. The website serves the SourceDirect community as a virtual resource for importers, distributors, wholesalers, sourcing and product development professionals who have, or are interested in, doing business directly with manufacturers around the world. The new site provides extensive content and 24/7 access to both buyers and suppliers about the SourceDirect show. Launched in 2013, SourceDirect is a part of ASD MARKETWeek, the largest general merchandise, wholesale trade show… 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