News
Oct 26, 2023
A leading event management platform and a global MICE conference have unveiled new upgrades and innovative solutions to improve the attendee and exhibitor experience at live business events. Take a look.
IBTM World 2023
IBTM World, a global event for the meeting, incentives, conference and events industry, is launching an innovative suite of new technology designed to elevate the attendee experience and create better business results for all participants. Taking place Nov. 28-30 at Fira de Barcelona in Barcelona, the global trade show has optimized its matchmaking platform to include a new… more
Oct 25, 2023
Two leading trade shows dedicated to the utility construction and manufacturing industries pulled off successful, record-setting editions in Louisville, Ky. and Chicago recently.
The Utility Expo
The Utility Expo recently returned to Louisville with a record-setting gathering of more than 21,000 utility construction professionals from the U.S. and 60 countries – smashing the show’s previous attendance record set in 2019.
Held Sept. 26-28 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, the biennial event also broke size records, spanning 1.5 million square feet of space occupied by more than 900… more
Oct 24, 2023
Exclusively Sponsored by Ribbon
Home goods is one of the strongest B2B markets in the trade show industry, but how can these shows continue to innovate in a post pandemic landscape? How do they center local manufacture, event tech and true sustainability? Similar to “The Future of Market Centers” and “Launching at Trade Shows Differently”, we gathered the experts to ask the big questions.
Ribbon’s Co-Founder and CEO Vinit Patil moderated a group of home goods veterans including:
London Design Fair Founder and Ribbon’s Global Fairs Liaison Director, Jimmy MacDonald
Sales Manager of Milano… more
Oct 24, 2023
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is gearing up to present its 90th UFI Global Congress in Las Vegas, and there are myriad offerings on tap for participants to look forward to. Not only will this largest annual gathering of global exhibition leaders take place in the U.S. for the first time, but it will also mark its first return to North America since 1972, when the event was held in Toronto.
Set for Nov. 1-4 at the ARIA Resort & Casino and hosted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the event will feature a bevy of high-value offerings,… more
Oct 23, 2023
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg kicked off the 10th annual Meta Connect developer conference on Sept. 27 at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. At the company’s first in-person conference since the start of the pandemic, Zuckerberg told the audience of developers, employees and journalists that Meta is “focused on building the future of human connection.”
Registration for the in-person Connect conference was limited, but the event was open to the public virtually. The in-person experience included access to networking events and demos. Virtual attendees didn’t need to register in… more
Oct 19, 2023
Post-COVID, the majority (57%) of trade shows have been able to achieve 7% annual price increases for booth space, significantly greater than pre-pandemic price increases, according to new research by SmartXpo and Profisy. Further, the research reveals that strong exhibition event portfolios were able to match prices with inflation post-pandemic.
In the U.S., the annual inflation rate was 7% in 2021 and 6.5% in 2022, according to the U.S. Labor Department. The good news: It continues to trend down. The annual inflation rate for the U.S. was 3.7% for the 12 months that ended in August,… more
Oct 18, 2023
Exclusively sponsored by Honeycomb Strategies
When Honeycomb Strategies talks to planners and venues about sustainability, the first challenge we hear about is cost. Naturally, to start up any operational change requires investment. But it’s a myth that sustainability is more expensive than operations-as-normal. In fact, we’re increasingly seeing cost savings from sustainable practices both in the short and long term.
Let’s start with some sustainable solutions with short-term benefits for event planners. To reduce energy costs, contract with venues that have undergone improvements and… more
Oct 17, 2023
Reflecting a rapidly growing industry projecting no sign of slowing down any time soon, Plant Based World Expo (PBW) North America returned to the Javits Center in New York City for its annual edition, held Sept. 7-8. This year’s PBW attracted 3,168 attendees, including an uptick in qualified retail and food service buyers compared to years prior and approximately 200 exhibiting companies showcasing hundreds of new plant-based food brands across 25,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Touted as North America’s only 100% plant-based trade show and conference designed exclusively for food service… more
Oct 16, 2023
For the attendees and exhibitors of Toy Fair, North America’s largest trade show and conference for the $40 billion toy industry, there’s no place like its home in the Big Apple for more than a century. After The Toy Association announced on Oct. 1 that it was moving the Toy Fair from New York’s Javits Center to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for three years starting in 2026, the association quickly reversed course when faced with overwhelming community outrage. The Toy Fair will stay in New York City in its traditional Q1 time frame, returning March 1-4, 2025, to the… more
Oct 13, 2023
The Vendry, an online event venue and vendor search platform for corporate event planners, has made searching for venues and vendors even faster, easier and more efficient with the launch of a new search engine that enables planners to discover venues and vendors in one centralized place.
Powered by The Vendry’s database, the new search experience brings more than 1 million data points on global venues and vendors together with live insights from The Vendry’s community of corporate event professionals to display the most relevant and comprehensive set of results, according to The Vendry… 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