News
Oct 06, 2020
Cincinnati-based Fern and its sister company, NexxtShow, have eliminated service cancellation charges as part of an ongoing series of changes to the traditional exhibition services provider model. This change helps to simplify the relationship between Fern/NexxtShow and the exhibitor while easing the exhibitor's decision to commit to show participation, according to Fern CEO Aaron Bludworth.
As of Oct. 1, any exhibitor order placed with Fern or NexxtShow through their OneView exhibitor portal will be refunded 100 percent, should the exhibitor cancel services prior to seven days before show… more
Oct 05, 2020
It goes without saying that the events industry could use more positive news right now. Here’s what several DMOs, venues and organizations are doing to help those who need it most during this challenging time.
Louisville Tourism Sells Face Masks to Benefit COVID Relief Charities
For the past few months, Louisville Tourism has sold Louisville-branded face masks and donated a portion of the proceeds to local COVID relief programs: One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund and the Fund for the Arts’ Black Artists Fund.
Available for $10 each, the masks come in three styles: two with the city’s… more
Oct 02, 2020
As the pandemic stretched into its seventh month here in the U.S. and even longer globally, the industry here continued to take small steps forward to slowly getting trade shows and events back on track.
Globally, shows opened successfully in several countries – including China, Malaysia and Germany, to name a few, while Germany also deemed trade shows ‘essential travel’.
Here in the U.S., a few more cities opened for events, albeit at limited capacity. At the same time, there were substantial efforts to implore the U.S. Congress to not leave town for elections until they passed the next… more
Oct 01, 2020
Seattle-based event marketing platform Banzai recently acquired High Attendance, a cloud-based virtual and hybrid event management software for enterprises.
Banzai plans to integrate its flagship marketing automation platform, Banzai Reach, with High Attendance’s platform to give Banzai customers — including Adobe, Chef Software, Dell, Pure Storage and other large enterprises — a seamless experience for growing and engaging their audiences.
“Currently the event marketing landscape is a mess,” said Brian Goldfarb, CMO at Chef Software. “It’s littered with half-baked solutions that were not… more
Sep 30, 2020
Louisville Tourism, the marketing agency charged with promoting the Kentucky city as a travel destination, has unveiled hospitality industry initiatives designed to address racial imbalances inside and outside the organization while promoting its reputation as an inclusive and welcoming destination. Launched on Sept. 23, the same day that charges against one police officer involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor were announced, the new initiatives come as Louisville finds itself in the spotlight while the nation reckons with its history of racial disparities.
“As we process the grief and… more
Sep 30, 2020
Seeing a need to help artisans and craftspeople operating sole proprietorships and family businesses connect with buyers once again in a live retail environment, Fairfax, Va.-based event management firm Spargo is taking action. After a popular local craft festival, Sugarloaf, filed for bankruptcy in June, Spargo sprung into action, launching a series of Capital Craft Fairs.
“Witnessing the loss of Sugarloaf events, a local tradition for more than four decades, hit a nerve and at the same time presented an opportunity that we were poised to pursue”, said Susan Bracken, president and CEO of… more
Sep 29, 2020
Dallas Market Center has signed a multi-year development and management agreement with Dubai Global Connect, the new 10-million-square-foot wholesale marketplace in Dubai opening in 2023. The deal was signed with the Dubai Global Connect ownership team, comprising the Investment Corporation of Dubai in partnership with Dubai South, an emerging master-planned district.
Currently under construction, Dubai Global Connect will be the first permanent B2B marketplace for consumer goods in the Middle East, open year round to qualified retail buyers and designers, manufacturers and industry… more
Sep 28, 2020
Event Leadership Institute (ELI) and McVeigh Global Meetings and Events have partnered to launch the Business Owner Mentorship Program, providing coaching and consulting to event professionals who’ve been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
“Event business owners, agencies and third-party suppliers went from a banner year in 2019 to a full ground stop of work in March,” said Howard Givner, founder of ELI and a former event agency owner. “Now they’re scrambling for survival and resources to help them chart a path to come out of this crisis.”
The new program came out of an ELI-led initiative… more
Sep 24, 2020
Meetings in Seattle are about to be back in business. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has modified the state’s Phase 2 and Phase 3 restrictions around business meetings, professional development training and testing, and similar activities, effective Sept. 21. According to the new guidance, the Governor’s Safe Start reopening plan will permit meetings and business events to be held at an indoor capacity of 30 percent or 200 guests, whichever is less (excluding venue staff).
Adherence to strict COVID-19 protocols must be followed, including implementation of social distancing… more
Sep 24, 2020
The NAB Show, the leading trade show and conference for media, entertainment and technology professionals held each spring in Las Vegas, is gearing up to launch NAB Amplify. This year-round digital platform is designed to serve, engage and grow the show’s global community. Launching in beta in November, the interactive online platform will work to support and extend the live show’s impact by providing ongoing, real-time opportunities for networking, discovery and education.
In addition to connecting users with relevant products, services and information to advance their businesses and… 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