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Aug 11, 2021
What used to be a regular sight gathers some attention during an interview with Encore President and CEO Ben Erwin. Namely, an employee is seen in the background walking down the hall. Slowly but surely, Erwin is calling in the troops for some limited office work. It may never be five days in the office again, but the blending of physical meetings with Zoom calls has begun. Hey — that sounds a lot like the events industry.
There is no company touching as many meetings, events and trade shows as Encore.
Having announced major partnerships with both Cvent and Intrado Digital Media, Encore… more
Aug 06, 2021
With many events forced to go virtual within the past 18 months due to the global health crisis, there’s a good chance that this tumultuous time in the industry’s history will not only be remembered as a challenging one, but also a valuable learning experience.
Case in point: the 2021 PRSA Travel & Tourism Conference, which took place digitally June 15-16. Produced by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and designed for public relations professionals from CVBs, resorts and hotels, airlines and other transportation services, cruises, attractions, travel-related media companies… more
Aug 04, 2021
Virtual and hybrid events continue to transform the industry at warp speed, with companies reshaping the way attendees interact and share information and the way event organizers plan truly engaging events. Check out some of the latest developments that are moving event tech forward.
JUNO
Creating lasting community ecosystems is at the core of digital experience platform JUNO. The company has just come full circle with the release of “From Here to 365,” a new guide to assist organizations with digitally transforming their events and driving year-round audience engagement.
"From Here to… more
Jul 30, 2021
San Francisco-based Hubilo has been at the forefront of the virtual and hybrid event boom that continues to reshape the attendee experience, and the company’s latest developments further enhance its ability to deliver industry-leading event tech experiences.
Hubilo recently unveiled its newly improved, all-in-one virtual and hybrid events platform and formed a strategic partnership with Rockville, Md-based Precon Events.
The latest release of Hubilo’s platform comes with new features designed to improve attendee engagement, nurture greater human connection and elevate the ROI of events in… more
Jul 27, 2021
When Josh Hotsenpiller developed the idea of a platform launching events into the virtual world, he sought a name that matched what he believed to be an out-of-this-world idea. Juno, the name of a satellite orbiting Jupiter, immediately jumped out.
JUNO, Hotsenpiller’s company, has been firing on all cylinders since launching in mid-2020. Already a successful entrepreneur through CrowdHub and three previous start-ups, Hotsenpiller saw there was space in the ever-evolving events industry to reach a new level of connection. He has not so quietly been building an all-star team to meet the… more
Jul 21, 2021
Cathy Song Novelli joined the popular event technology platform Hubilo as senior vice president of marketing and communications in April. But she is quick to point out that this is “not my first rodeo.”
Based in Silicon Valley, Novelli is rich with experience producing events, enhancing branding and delivering high-level marketing for household-name companies like MySpace and Pandora. So her BS alarm is sparked when she hears companies say platforms create events attendees love. “As a marketer, I take great offense at that,” she said. “Event organizers use all of their creativity to create… more
Jul 14, 2021
A former eighth grade math teacher, Erica Bishaf is used to trying to quiet a loud room while trying to make equations add up to grand totals. Little did she know that experience, practically a lifetime ago, was a preliminary course to founding her own company.
Campfire Social, launched in March by the Chicago-based Bishaf, is designed to maximize the value of associations. Described as a social networking site meets SaaS e-commerce platform, it is based upon the idea that many associations are not using their vast potential to monetize connections and build bigger and better networks.… more
Jul 07, 2021
As trade shows begin to trickle back in person as the industry prepares for a deluge this fall, virtual events are going stronger than ever. Take a look at some successful digital gatherings that happened recently:
ASAE
With overarching themes of “Do Big Things,” “Lead Big Tasks,” “Take Big Steps” and “Have Big Ideas,” ASAE’s virtual Marketing, Membership, & Communications Conference 2021 focused on the opportunities associations have to move forward with fresh and robust campaigns following a year of rapid changes and challenges.
“MMCC was filled with the sharing of inspiring ideas… more
Jul 02, 2021
Staff of Ungerboeck and EventBooking recently broke bread together in St. Louis. Think of it as a “getting to know you” event with the specific purpose of smoothly combining the forces of two of the event industry’s leading software companies.
The merger, announced in May, pools the resources of leading technologies for event and venue management. It is part of a growing trend of consolidation as companies in all sectors seek a path forward in a post-pandemic world and recovering economy.
In this case, said Ungerboeck President and CEO Manish Chandak, the real winners will be the organizers… more
Jun 23, 2021
Just because in-person events are returning doesn’t mean technology is going to take a back seat. The past few weeks have been filled with news of mergers, partnerships, innovation and the funding to make it all possible. See how the event tech world is positioning itself for the future of gatherings.
MeetingPlay
Hybrid technology company MeetingPlay has secured $75 million in funding from Sunstone Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm focused on software and tech-enabled services companies.
The move allows for vast expansion of MeetingPlay’s already impressive capabilities.… 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