News
May 22, 2019
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events has selected business and event technology provider SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals as the official audiovisual services contractor for Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2019, the association’s annual trade show and conference for exhibition and event industry professionals.
At Expo! Expo!, which is set for Dec. 3-5 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, SmartSource will provide audiovisual equipment and production, digital signage and computer equipment. It will contract directly with… more
May 22, 2019
PCMA EduCon 2019 will take place June 25-28 at JW Marriott Los Angeles LA Live. Known among PCMA’s portfolio of events for taking a more focused, practical approach to learning through small-scale, collaborative education sessions, the conference will bring in around 800 attendees (compared to PCMA’s annual Convening Leaders events, which draws 4,500).
“At EduCon, each person will be able to tailor programs specifically for her own needs, in the format that best suits his learning style,” said Tonya Almond, PCMA’s vice president of knowledge and experience design.
The conference will… more
May 21, 2019
In the past several years, C-level marketers across all industry segments have been putting more emphasis on — and budget toward — digital and experiential marketing, says Chris Cavanaugh, chief marketing officer at Freeman.
Freeman, once known as Freeman Decorating Services, has long been known for exhibition logistics management and has grown into an experiential marketing powerhouse. According to the recent Ad Age Annual Agency report, which gives Freeman strong rankings, the experiential marketing category grew 2.1 percent in the U.S. over the past year, outpacing the “all marketing… more
May 21, 2019
It’s been a busy spring for the trade show industry so far, with event companies and organizations forging new business relationships and securing existing partnerships.
SEMA Sticks with onPeak
SEMA is continuing its partnership with onPeak to provide SEMA Show participants with housing options at nearly 40 hotels throughout Las Vegas for the 2019 show, set for Nov. 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Rooms booked through onPeak include guaranteed low rates, no hidden fees and the option to cancel without penalty, according to SEMA officials.
“Through onPeak, attendees have dozens of… more
May 20, 2019
Is face-to-face marketing still relevant, and are there plans to use it moving forward? What is the image of the business-to-business exhibition channel today? A new report from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research aims to answer those questions — and more — from the perspective of marketing leaders.
The first in the new “Head of Marketing Insights” series, “Overview of Marketing and Sales Approaches, Most Urgent Objectives, and Brand Image of the B2B Exhibition Channel to Support Needs” examines the perception of B2B exhibitions as a marketing channel.
The report draws from survey… more
May 17, 2019
From Los Angeles to Germany, trade shows around the world saw higher attendance and larger exhibit floors than previous years last month. Take a look:
DSE 2019
Digital Signage Expo—the world’s largest trade show and conference for digital displays and interactive technology—saw the second-largest attendance in its 16-year show history at its Las Vegas show this year, logging a 3 percent increase in end-user attendees over the previous year and a 6 percent increase in total verified attendance (4,260), which includes end-users along with system integrators and advertising executives. This… more
May 16, 2019
Event industry executives and technologists will have a chance to test new event-ready tech solutions at the second-annual TechDemo, to take place during the 18th annual Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum on May 29 at JW Marriott in Washington D.C.
Produced by Lippman Connects, ECEF is an information-sharing and networking event for exhibition and convention industry executives, independent organizers and associations. ECEF’s expanded tech and networking experience will offer hands-on demonstrations of 11 ready-to-use event tech platforms, including:
a2z Personify Next-Gen… more
May 16, 2019
Reed Exhibitions (RX) is launching eight new trade shows this year across six cities: Chicago; Las Vegas; Orlando; New York; Portland, Oregon; and San Diego. A combination of B2B and B2C, the new events include collaborations with leading media brands and associations, geo-clones of RX global brands and value chain extensions of existing RX events.
“[Launching new events] is an integral strategic pillar for business growth at RX,” says Hervé Sedky, president of Reed Exhibitions, Americas. “We launched eight events in 2018 that will continue in 2019. To date, RX [Americas] has approved eight… more
May 16, 2019
The UFI Board of Directors has elected Anbu Varathan president of UFI for 2020-2021, making him the first person from India to hold this role in the history of the association. The decision was made yesterday at a board meeting kicking off the annual UFI European Conference in Birmingham, U.K.
"I am delighted to be part of UFI’s top leadership in the coming years and to continue with the development and support that UFI has provided the industry for so long,” said Varathan. “As the first president in UFI’s history based in India, I’m even more pleased to have been elected to this position,… more
May 14, 2019
Technology company Chili Piper has launched a new event scheduling tool designed to improve how B2B event managers and field marketing managers book, manage and track individual and group meetings on-site at events.
Besides delivering a broader feature set that can be deployed in just hours, the platform is also designed to help event managers improve and measure their event ROI.
“The expertise we developed from creating our scheduling platform led us to launching a first-of-kind solution specifically for event managers that meets all their goals,” said Nicolas Vandenberghe, CEO and co-… 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