Tech News
Sponsored by
Jul 08, 2022
As the venerable Event Technology Awards (ETA) approaches its 10th anniversary this fall, two new categories based on increasingly trending industry topics were just added to the list: “Best Metaverse Experience” and “Best Sustainable Tech Solution.”
The metaverse is a hot topic in the events industry at the moment, especially when coupled with how it can best use it to enhance future events and encourage audience interaction within the virtual world, according to Adam Perry, co-founder of ETA and co-creator of Event Tech Live.
“We want to hear from event organizers who are already… more
Jul 01, 2022
ASM Global, a leading producer of entertainment experiences, teamed with Infor, a top cloud software provider, for a multi-year strategic blueprint that will offer the live-entertainment industry’s first fully integrated booking, sales, food and beverage, and event management platform, and it will also be used for conventions, trade shows and other corporate events.
The newly developed software is earmarked for ASM’s domestic and international venues, and the company plans to officially begin deploying it this month at select ASM Global U.S. arenas, stadiums, theaters and convention… more
Jun 24, 2022
Leading digital engagement platform JUNO has secured $10 million in Series A funding, led by global software investor Insight Partners, that is aimed at advancing the company’s mission to serve networked communities, ultimately allowing users to engage in integrated physical and digital worlds.
Human connection is critical to building communities around events, whether virtually or in-person, according to Josh Hotsenpiller, founder and CEO of JUNO, adding that JUNO is one platform for all digital engagement—networking, community, events and learning.
“Digital is what’s next for communities… more
Jun 16, 2022
Event tech powerhouse MeetingPlay + Aventri (MPAV), which merged earlier this year to provide a comprehensive event planning and management solution for virtual, in-person and hybrid events, purchased eventcore, a leading event registration platform for organizations looking for customized solutions for the most complex events.
The acquisition positions MPAV as a premium platform for delivering innovative and impactful experiences through the entire event lifecycle. Known for pushing the envelope on technology advancements, MPAV provides a suite of premium solutions, including custom mobile… more
Jun 07, 2022
Ungerboeck, a global leader in event management software, has acquired the products of risk management agency Reliance Risk and will be debuting an industry-first application for mitigating risk at events and venues.
As the industry continues to be impacted by major issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorism, accidents and severe weather incidents, risk management is an increasingly essential factor that venues and event professionals must take into consideration. Ungerboeck is committed to helping its customers better manage risks of all kinds.
The acquisition of both Reliance… more
Jun 02, 2022
The Events Industry Council (EIC) and Vsef, founded by Explori as the global standardized data format for the digital events industry, formed an alliance to further the mission of establishing data standardization for digital events to help organizers drive growth and innovation.
The EIC, a global federation of more than 30 member organizations representing more than 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties in the events industry, works to establish professional standards of excellence across the entirety of the international events community through initiatives including the EIC… more
Jun 01, 2022
Shepard, the third-largest event services provider in the U.S., has teamed with Bear Analytics, a leading data analytics firm for event producers, trade associations and professional societies, to help show organizers address the ever-important aspect of event data to drive revenue and quality attendance.
Knowing that show organizers don’t always have the time or resources to invest in big data projects, the partnership is a win-win on all fronts, according to Cory Smith, vice president of strategic services at Shepard, which is committed to providing clients with signature full-service… more
May 27, 2022
Having worked in advertising and marketing agencies in her native Lebanon, then for an event publishing company in Montreal, Rachel Stephan launched her own event marketing agency in 2001—yet she always wanted to create a tech product that would become her legacy.
Her “aha moment” came in 2015 after seeing the successful results of the unique word-of-mouth campaigns her company was running.
“I thought, ‘How can we scale this? How can we better measure it?’” she said. “One summer, we created our first pilot of the project, and my software engineer said nonchalantly, ‘Let’s call it ‘Boule… more
May 20, 2022
Snöball, a word-of-mouth marketing and audience growth platform for events, formed a strategic partnership with CLIPr, a video analysis and management (VAM) platform using AI and machine learning to make recorded videos searchable by transcription, topics and subtopics. With the alliance, Snöball will pair its event marketing and social amplification expertise with CLIPr’s ability to create more searchable video content to help event professionals greatly increase content personalization and drive audience acquisition, retention and engagement.
With the industry having shifted to virtual and… more
May 13, 2022
Association Analytics, a leading provider of business intelligence and data analytics for the association industry, debuted Acumen Major Meetings, a platform designed to improve conference and trade show performance with actionable data on exhibitors, sponsors and attendees all in one place.
The new platform augments the company’s flagship analytics platform, Acumen, which provides a 360-degree view of association members, bringing together all association data in one place for clients to visualize, analyze and take action.
Acumen Major Meetings was created to specifically address the… 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