News
Sep 11, 2020
In one of the most uncertain summers the event industry has ever experienced, events are still taking place, albeit a little more under the radar than usual. TSNN talked with two event organizers — one from a prestigious student basketball tournament and one from the East Coast’s largest consumer pet show — to learn why and how they carried on, and how they made each event not only possible, but also successful.
Game Time for Tournament of Champions
The Tournament of Champions and associated events are considered to be among the most competitive and prestigious interscholastic and club… more
Sep 10, 2020
On Aug. 27, Informa Markets Fashion launched the Informa Markets Fashion for Change (IMFC) Incubator Program, a new initiative in partnership with wholesale e-commerce platform NuORDER, created to elevate and support emerging design talent within the Black fashion community. This new and ongoing initiative marks the company’s first step toward reducing barriers to entry and furthering equal opportunity within the fashion industry.
“With the Black Lives Matter movement in early June and the resulting dialogue and introspection, we too, like many other businesses, realized we needed to do more… more
Sep 09, 2020
U.K.-based Tarsus Group successfully has delivered seven exhibitions over the course of just six weeks in China – a key territory for the business where it is one of the largest trade show organizers in operation.
The safe running of numerous face-to-face events across key verticals in the wake of Covid19 has been heralded as a positive indicator for a wider recovery in the global events industry, while also clearly demonstrating the capacity for live business events to be run in a safe and compliant way.
“The health and safety of our customers, attendees and staff guided every decision… more
Sep 09, 2020
Event producers wanting to know the most important issues they’ll be facing over the next six months will want to check out the fall season schedule for Digital Summit, a live virtual information exchange series kicking off Sept. 11.
Produced, hosted and facilitated by Sam Lippman, president and founder of Lippman Connects, the upcoming series will feature seven 90-minute live video chat sessions via Zoom. Held on Fridays between 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET, the forward-thinking discussions feature up to 20 event executives, managers and seasoned professionals sharing user experiences, discussing… more
Sep 08, 2020
While live events continue to be overwhelmingly preferred, digital event elements have a role to play going forward, according to data from the ongoing Global Recovery Project conducted by event research company Explori in partnership with UFI.
Supported by SISO and comprising responses from more than 9,000 respondents in 30 countries, the findings indicated that both visitors and exhibitors rated live events more highly in almost all aspects. This was especially true when it comes to networking, with 77 percent of exhibitors and 83 percent of visitors stating that face-to-face events were… more
Sep 03, 2020
Although it was decidedly smaller and quieter, the 2020 Summer Las Vegas Market delivered positive results with a modified format and extensive safety measures. Held Aug. 30–Sept. 3 at the World Market Center Las Vegas, the biannual gift, home décor and lifestyle event also provided a much-needed opportunity for industry interaction while taking an important step for future events in Las Vegas.
According to officials from International Market Centers, the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for furniture, gift, home décor, rug and apparel industries, the event’s showroom-only… more
Sep 03, 2020
Cincinnati-based Fern, a national marketing support and trade show services provider, is partnering with ShareMy.Health, a healthcare technology developer, on Fern Health Check. Available to all trade show and event organizers, this digital platform will allow for consumer-controlled sharing of health data.
While the return to live events will require a combination of many factors, individual safety and comfort levels will be at the foundation. Until there is a vaccine with widespread availability and coverage – and likely for an extended time thereafter – self-assessment, testing and… more
Sep 02, 2020
If events are held responsibly through strict implementation of health and safety guidelines, will people feel safe to attend in-person trade shows and events during a pandemic? That’s the question event organizers continue to struggle with, yet new data from event marketing and planning company GES sheds some light on the answer.
In a survey of more than 1,300 attendees in June and July, GES research uncovered five distinct groups of show attendees based on their COVID-19 perception of risk assessment and mitigation requirements, including temperature checks, mandatory face masks,… more
Sep 01, 2020
Two leading event producers have been busy expanding their show portfolios with the acquisitions of trade shows in successful and new markets. Here are the details:
Emerald Expositions
Emerald has acquired the largest bakery trade show and conference in the Eastern U.S., Atlantic Bakery Expo, from the New York State Association of Manufacturing Retail Bakers and the New Jersey Bakers Board of Trade. As part of the agreement, both associations will continue to sponsor and support the event. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The show’s acquisition enables Emerald to… more
Sep 01, 2020
PCMA and Korea MICE Association have signed a two-year strategic agreement to provide support to members of both organizations and equip them for the post-COVID return of events through specialized training programs.
The partnership will focus on the delivery of PCMA’s Digital Event Strategist (DES) course in Korea, in a move to ensure event planners are skilled for designing and delivering hybrid and digital events.
Karen Bolinger, PCMA’s managing director for APAC, said this partnership is an opportunity to engage with the Korean business events industry by providing practical, skills-… 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