News
Jan 06, 2020
PCMA Convening Leaders, the annual PCMA conference for event planners, is coming to San Francisco on Jan. 5-8, 2020. Not only does this mark a 20-year anniversary for the city — the last time Convening Leaders was held in San Francisco was 2001 — it is also perfectly timed to showcase the revamped and expanded Moscone Center.
Convening Leaders draws approximately 5,000 attendees with a nearly even split between event planners and industry suppliers. The majority will be seeing the new version of Moscone for the first time. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Travel Association intends to show… more
Jan 06, 2020
The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions are gearing up to present a reimagined Vision Expo, the bi-annual trade show and conference for ophthalmic professionals, next year. New features such as curated neighborhoods, creative and interactive exhibit spaces, and refreshed branding (its new show tagline is “The Future, Clearly”) are a few of the fresh concepts that will debut at Vision Expo East 2020, set for March 26-29 at Javits Center in New York City.
As the largest optical event in the U.S., Vision Expo expects to welcome approximately 5,000 optometrists, opticians, practice staff and… more
Dec 24, 2019
It's been a busy year on TSNN! Today we're flashing back to our Top 10 most-read stories of the year. It's clear to see that you loved reading about event technology, new hires and even comfortable trade show shoes. We look forward to bringing you more of the latest news and insights in the industry in 2020. In case you missed any of them, check out our top stories from 2019 below.
Freeman to Sell Encore Event Technologies to PSAV
The Best Shoes for Trade Show Organizers and Exhibitors, According to a Podiatrist
Reed Exhibitions Appoints New Leadership for U.S. Business… more
Dec 23, 2019
The all-male speaking panel — or “manel” — has received harsh criticism, with many speakers (both male and female) pledging to not participate in events where gender diversity is an issue. There’s even a Twitter handle (@allmalepanels) that seeks to both shame event organizers and draw more attention to the issue by calling out particularly egregious manels.
Yet a new study from event technology provider Bizzabo shows that the event speaking landscape continues to be male-dominated, with male speakers outnumbering female speakers 2-to-1. And in industries like information technology and… more
Dec 18, 2019
Packing for a trade show is usually a laborious task for anyone, but especially so for Candy Adams. In addition to her suitcase for clothing, shoes and all her personal items, every trip she takes, she packs a separate hard case Samsonite. It holds 40 dozen cookies and usually weighs around 43 pounds — and though it sounds like a lot, she’s got it down to a science, after doing this for more than 25 years.
It all started back in 1993 when she was working for a company that made wide-format printers, and the CEO was making a tiny printer for the first Macintosh computer called the Sweet Pea.… more
Dec 17, 2019
‘Tis the season for giving, and several event organizations have been doing their part to bring a little holiday cheer to women and children in need this season.
The Toy Foundation Brings Joy to Underprivileged Kids
What child doesn’t want a new toy at Christmas? Earlier this month, The Toy Foundation, the charitable arm of The Toy Association, teamed up with volunteers from Michigan-based toy companies and nonprofits Delivering Good and Variety – The Children’s Charity of Detroit to provide 350 children with toys and fun at a special event held at the Southfield Parks and Recreation Center… more
Dec 17, 2019
There’s a whole new component coming to face-to-face events, with “face” being the key factor. Facial recognition for on-site check-in is slowly gaining traction, with more registration suppliers adding the technology to their portfolios.
Launched at IAEE’s Expo! Expo! in Las Vegas in Dec. 2019, registration and housing provider Streampoint Solutions’ FaceReg promises to reduce wait times for on-site check-in.
Dharmesh Dayabhai, Streampoint Solutions’ co-founder, says that the time from face detection to badge print is around 3-5 seconds. “The time savings is due to not trying to locate… more
Dec 17, 2019
What year-end slow down? There's no rest for the trade show industry as new hires, promotions and appointments are still in full swing this holiday season. Take a look at the latest people moves.
Sally Shankland announced she is stepping down from her position as president and CEO of Emerald Expositions Events for personal reasons last week, and will transition to executive director and senior advisor in 2020. Her replacement for the time being will be Brian Field, currently Emerald’s current chief operating officer, who will serve as the company’s interim president and CEO effective Jan. 1… more
Dec 16, 2019
Ask anyone involved in the green events movement if they’re finding it challenging to move the needle forward on sustainability and you’ll probably see a row of hands, including those of Ryan Harvey, sustainability manager at Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. A former educator, Harvey understands the perfect balance of relaying key facts while making them interesting and easily digestible, a skill he brought with him when he stepped into his role at the OCC almost three years ago.
TSNN sat down with Harvey to get his thoughts on the sustainability movement and what it’s like to… more
Dec 15, 2019
After a relatively slower mergers and acquisitions market in 2019 overall, the last quarter of the year saw several transactions recently close. Questex recently acquired the Live Experience assets, including Live Design, Club Industry and World Tea Expo.
The acquired portfolio aligns with Questex’s focus on the Experience Economy and will join the Company’s other assets focused on the Hospitality industry, according to company officials. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“The Experience Economy is here. Companies driven by ‘experiences’ have a competitive advantage with business… 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