PCMA’s Convening Leaders Kicks Off Jan. 11-14 in Chicago with Dynamic Schedule of Events

Several thousand convention managers and suppliers to the industry will be heading to the Windy City’s McCormick Place Jan. 11-14 to take part in the Professional Convention Management Association’s annual Convening Leaders event.

This year will have a lot to live up to, with last year’s event in Boston drawing the highest attendance in the event’s history, nearly 4,000 attendees.

Chicago is a major base for associations, so there likely will be once again a huge turnout to this year’s event.

Automate 2015 Show on Track to be 50-percent Bigger

New and returning exhibitors of the Automate 2015 show already have secured more than 150 percent of exhibit floor space, compared with the last show in 2013, according to the Association for Advancing Automation.

Automate 2015, which takes place March 23-26 in Chicago, Ill., recently was named one of the “Top 10 Manufacturing Shows” in the United States. 

“Today’s automation industry is rapidly growing with new innovations, markets and technology,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of A3.

Atlanta Closes Out 2014 with Record Number of Meetings, Jump in Hotel Occupancy

Last year was a good one for Atlanta, with the city’s convention and visitors bureau unveiling that the city not only had a record number of citywide conventions, but it also hit milestones in hotel occupancy.

Atlanta hosted 21 major citywides in 2014 that generated more than $750 million in direct economic impact and drew nearly a million convention and event attendees, according to the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

By year-end, occupancy levels for Atlanta neared 70 percent, a high not seen in the city in more than a decade.

4 Ways to Green Your Trade Show Team in 2015

Submitted by rwimberly@tsnn.com on Sun, 01/04/2015 - 13:49

Going green is a constantly evolving practice. As technologies improve and ideas are spread, there are always new ways to make your next event greener than the last. One of the keys to throwing a green event is surrounding yourself with eco-minded individuals who understand and support the cause. Make sure your green dream team is ready to make 2015 a great year for trade shows with these four ways to green your trade show team in 2015.

IMEX Identifies Four Key Trends for 2015

The IMEX Group, organizers of the annual IMEX in Frankfurt and IMEX America trade shows for the global meetings, incentive travel and events industry, have identified four key trends for the year ahead in the meetings and trade show industry.  

Whether it’s being more ‘playful’, the further integration of apps into an event, meetings’ formats evolving to possibly even go outside and creating a healthier attendee at events, all four ideas are sure to continue to appear throughout 2015.

‘Play’ Gives New Meaning to Profit

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