Outdoor Retailer Teams with Outdoor Industry Association to Expand Education
June 18, 2012
The Outdoor Industry Association and Outdoor Retailer will expand their partnership to offer more Outdoor University educational sessions at Outdoor Retailer trade shows.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, which takes place in early August in Salt Lake City, will feature a broadened curriculum designed to help the outdoor industry stay ahead of the curve on critical business topics.
As part of the partnership, OIA's Outdoor University will work hand in hand with Outdoor Retailer to program the education curriculum at each OR trade show, with Outdoor Retailer contributing to the education, and coordinating sponsorships and brand opportunities that tie in with the education platform.
This will create a cohesive business education program at the trade show and increase the educational offerings to enhance attendee value, according to Outdoor Retailer show organizers.
"It's the goal of both Outdoor Retailer and OIA to provide the best educational opportunities to our stakeholders," said Liz Crawford, senior marketing director for Outdoor Retailer.
She added, "We're excited to be teaming up in a much more comprehensive way to deliver high quality content for retailers and attendees at the show."
LaRae Marsik, vice president of business intelligence for OIA, added, "Outdoor University provides sought-after expertise and education year-round. Working with OR to unify the education curriculum allows us to serve broader needs of outdoor businesses at the show. We are also offering substantially more sessions than in shows past."
There already are 25 Outdoor University sessions planned for OR Summer Market, with more in development.
The total is expected to be 50 percent more than at past shows.
Also new this year, Outdoor University sessions begin the day before the trade show, concurrent with Summer Market Open Air Demo Aug. 1. The sessions continue through Aug. 4.
Sessions will cover a variety of topics, including e-commerce, mobile technologies, experiential retail success, consumer trends, fair labor practices, hub manufacturing strategies, indexing product sustainability, business succession planning, free trade agreements, growth markets, advocacy, social media and more.
The curriculum includes subject matter relevant to both retailers and manufacturers. All OR Summer Market Outdoor University sessions are free and open to OR attendees.
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
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