Apr 07, 2012
Charles Ahlers has spent 40 years in the convention and visitors bureau business, most recently serving as president at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, but he’s now decided to move on at the end of this year.
“I have been fortunate to be able to realize many accomplishments during my four decade career in this industry,” Ahlers said.
He added, “I have worked for five distinct destination marketing organizations, and it seems fitting at this time to finish my visitor industry career on a high note. This Anaheim Resort community and all of… more
Apr 04, 2012
While it can’t be easy being a consumer show representing a distressed industry, the Progressive International Motorcycle Show Tour proved that a creative reinvention strategy can go a long way in maintaining and building attendance.
Owned by Advanstar Communications, the 17-week event for motorcycle enthusiasts, which converges annually in 12 cities November to March, recently concluded its 2011/2012 tour, boasting an overall attendance of nearly 500,000 people, according to show officials.
Last year, the show drew approximately 470,000 attendees, and for the past two years, has… more
Apr 03, 2012
Patricia Farias-Barlow has been selected as the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ 2012 "Legend of the Industry" for this year's IAEE Krakoff Leadership Institute to be held May30-June 1 at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C., as part of IAEE's Mid-Year Meeting.
The Krakoff Leadership Institute provides professional development for a group of industry professionals who were selected by the Krakoff Leadership Institute Committee as the industry's future leaders based on their application and extensive review.
"Being selected as this year… more
Apr 03, 2012
Aviation Week’s MRO Americas 2012 Conference has resumed one day after more than a dozen tornadoes struck the Dallas/Fort Worth region and disrupted the event's showfloor that was set to open for 5,000 attendees at the Dallas Convention Center
"I was impressed with the professionalism and the communication from the staff at the DCC," said Lydia F. Janow from the MRO Americas 2012 Conference.
She added, "The evacuation went smoothly, and staff was with me through the duration of the storms keeping me abreast of updates."
Center security ushered all of the… more
Apr 02, 2012
The Professional Convention Management Association has unveiled the speaker lineup for its June Education Conference, and it features a cast of new thinkers, specifically selected to challenge participants with new approaches towardsstrategic leadership and innovation, according to PCMA officials.
The PCMA Education Conference is a smaller, more intimate gathering of senior industry professionals - designed for idea generation, solution sharing and networking with peers and key industry decision makers.
The conference, on tap June 10-13 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, in San… more
Apr 02, 2012
One big meetings and events supplier bought another, with St. Louis-based Maritz Travel acquiring Twinsburg, Ohio-based Experient. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Maritz Travel is a global leader in providing full-service meeting, event and incentive travel programs to corporate clients, and Experient is a provider of meeting and event services to associations, tradeshows, corporations and the U.S. government.
“As a result of this deal, Maritz Travel will lead the industry in four key areas – corporate, association, tradeshow and strategic meetings management. Coming… more
Apr 02, 2012
The Daejeon International Marketing Enterprise of Daejeon, South Korea, is the first destination marketing organization in Asia to successfully achieve the honor of accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP).
DMAP is an industry-wide accreditation program developed by Destination Marketing Association International to recognize DMOs that meet or exceed industry standards, has accredited 138 DMOs on three continents.
"Congratulations to DIME for successfully achieving DMAP accreditation and joining 137 additional DMOs in demonstrating a commitment to… more
Apr 01, 2012
Just last year, the International Carwash Association was on tap to bring its show to Chicago’s McCormick Place from its home in Las Vegas in 2013.
But, when a federal court ruling invalidated labor changes at the venue enacted by the state legislature, the association decided to opt out of bringing the show to Chicago.
One year later though, after the labor reforms were approved, The Car Wash Show now is booked in the Windy City for March 31-April 2, 2014.
“I am pleased that The Car Wash Show is coming to Chicago, and that it’s more than 6,000 attendees will have a… more
Mar 31, 2012
Trade Show News Network will host the newest online event for its 2012 FREE Webinar Series with “Record–Breaking Attendance: How Did They Do It? – Marketing Secrets” at 1pm EST April 10th.
Click HERE to register for the free webinar. The webinar is courtesy of MarketArt and Onstream Media Corporation - Creators of Marketplace365.
What do the National Retail Federations Retail’s BIG Show, the National Shooting Sports Foundations SHOT Show and AHR Expo all have in common? All three shows not only had attendance increases at their recent events, compared with last year, but each one… more
Mar 29, 2012
In an economy that hasn’t exactly been kind to the retail sector, ASD Las Vegas proved that being the country’s largest consumer goods trade show can have its upside and downside.
The upside was the show had increases in attendance; the downside was some exhibitors complained about the late March show dates.
Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center March 25-28, the biannual retail behemoth not only boasted a staggering variety of products, but also varying levels of traffic, buying activity and exhibitor optimism, depending on the category and industry segment.
Although… 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