News

May 11, 2014
There has been a lot of talk in the events industry lately about NFC (Near Field Communication) and Bluetooth® beacons. There are those who are in the NFC camp and others who are in the beacon camp. The fact is, both have a role in trade shows, depending on what you are trying to achieve. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these technologies does. NFC is a set of standards for “devices” to establish radio communication with each other by either touching them together or bringing them into close proximity. That is the “near” part of near field… more
May 11, 2014
There has been a lot of talk in the events industry lately about NFC (Near Field Communication) and Bluetooth® beacons. There are those who are in the NFC camp and others who are in the beacon camp. The fact is, both have a role in trade shows, depending on what you are trying to achieve. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these technologies does. NFC is a set of standards for “devices” to establish radio communication with each other by either touching them together or bringing them into close proximity. That is the “near” part of near field… more
May 11, 2014
Besides giving its Web site a major facelift recently, Twitter also has announced a number of photo-related enhancements, which clearly are aimed at strengthening its user base and ensuring that it can better compete with Facebook and Instagram, the two most popular visual social media services out there. Here is a quick summary of the new features: Post multiple photos On iPhone or Android, use the updated native app to post multiple pics in a single tweet. Tag people You can now tag up to 10 of your followers in a photo to bring them into the conversation. This would also be a… more
May 08, 2014
More than 1,300 attendees, who are members of the artisan wine, craft beer, craft spiritsand craft cider industries, gathered May 6-8 in San Jose, Calif., for the inaugural Craft Beverage Expo. “The turnout was simply incredible - the educational sessions were thought-provoking, and the networking events had great energy” said Kellie Shevlin, executive director of Craft Beverage Expo. She added, “These folks work very hard at their craft and as small business owners it's challenging for them to get away for educational and networking purposes. We’re so proud and… more
May 07, 2014
After more than 42 years in the hospitality industry and 14-plus years at the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, its president and CEO Greg Ortale submitted his resignation May 1. Ortale said it seemed like the right time, especially since Houston First Corp., which oversees the city's convention center and other venues and is the majority funder of the GHCVB, is in discussions to possibly absorb it. “This was totally my decision,” he added. “The No. 1 reason I decided to step down was it seemed like the right time. The changes that are going to go on here… more
May 07, 2014
For every, single show, organizers have to evaluate not only how they are going to spend their dollars to draw people there, but also what methods they will use. In the latest in its series of reports, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research examined spending and the marketing-mix allocation for attendee promotions and marketing tactics found to be most effective in driving attendance at exhibitions - Cost to Attract Attendees. Exhibition organizers use a broad range of traditional and digital tactics to attract qualified attendees to their events. E-mail still reigns supreme, with 96… more
May 05, 2014
Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd. will launch a new business-to-business trade show - 1st CONSUMER IT PRODUCTS EXPO (C-PEX) - in Tokyo next spring. This new show will be part of of Japan’s largest and Asia’s leading comprehensive IT solution trade show - Japan IT Week, providing a new platform for consumer IT related business in Japan and Asia. C-PEX will specialize in consumer IT products (Smartphones/Tablets/Wearable Devices, PCs, and related accessories) and will be a platform to launch such products into Japan & Asia as well as finding the latest products from the region. As… more
May 05, 2014
It’s been a roller coaster ride over at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia and, with the local Carpenters’ union striking twice in the past year - most recently in the middle of a show last week - venue officials drew a line in the sand and issued an ultimatum to all six unions working in the center. A deadline of a minute before midnight May 5 was set for the unions to sign a new “Customer Service Agreement” that would allow exhibitors to do more of their own work at the Pennsylvania CC, and two of those unions, Carpenters Local 8 and Teamsters Local… more
May 05, 2014
The Association of Korean Exhibition Industry (AKEI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). The signing ceremony was held at the Landmark Hotel Bangkok attended by Yang-whan Jeong (vice-chairman of AKEI), Sang-kon Kim (deputy director of MOTIE), Nopparat Maythaveekulchai (president of TCEB), Patrapee Chinachoti (president of TEA) and executives and members of TEA in Bangkok. AKEI is the representative organization in the Korean exhibition industry with its 53 members who conduct various roles from supporting and promoting… more
May 05, 2014
The HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, billed as the largest fair of its kind in the world, and the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair closed their four-day shows at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo, respectively, with more than 65,000 total buyers. The buyers came from 151 countries and regions, with overseas buyers up by six percent, compared with last year. Buyers from Asia, including the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, India and Indonesia, recorded double-digit percentage growth. Traditional markets such as Japan, the United… 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