News

Aug 16, 2018
Even with a slight dip in revenues for GES in the second quarter this year mainly due to negative show rotation, from $320.1 million to $315.3 million, that’s not what may have caught someone’s attention after their latest earnings call. As is the trend with what used to be traditional general service contracting companies, GES continues to go outside of this core offering and grow its business in a myriad of ways. “During our earnings call, I … shared that we’re strengthening our partnerships with clients through our offerings that enhance the attendee experience,” said GES/Viad President… more
Aug 16, 2018
Thanks to the flexibility and modern allure of the newly expanded Anaheim Convention Center, trade shows including the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and Natural Products Expo West have booked the facility for multiple years.  Completed in September of last year, the ACC expansion provides an additional 200,000 square feet of meeting space allowing for an even greater variety of event uses at what is known as the West Coast’s largest convention center. Having met in Anaheim for almost 40 years, NAMM will make ACC its home through 2023. The association’s 2018 show in the… more
Aug 15, 2018
Many attendees of NY NOW at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City made their way north to West 46thStreet, where a new home and gift event with a fresh approach was launching at the Metropolitan West.  Shoppe Object is a new semiannual home and gift trade show created by Jesse James, founder of the showroom and agency Aesthetic Movement, and Deirdre Maloney and Minya Quirk, two founders of the apparel trade show, Capsule.  The event is intended to be a well-curated, stand-alone showcase for the gift market.  “It felt like it was time to create a smaller, elevated, hyper-edited… more
Aug 14, 2018
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors selected Steve Hill as the next Chief Executive Officer, effective Sept. 1. Hill will be the ninth leader of the LVCVA, succeeding the retiring CEO, Rossi Ralenkotter. “I am honored the Board of Directors selected me as CEO of the LVCVA,” Hill said. “The Authority is an integral part of the Southern Nevada economy.” He added, “I look forward to working with our tremendous team and our mission partners to innovate, improve access to and around the destination and drive growth to keep Las Vegas the number one choice for… more
Aug 14, 2018
The second edition of Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum, a leading Taiwanese agricultural international exhibition, concluded on 28th July 2018 at the Taipei World Trade Center. Co-located with Aquaculture Taiwan and Livestock Taiwan, the three shows attracted more than 25,000 visits from 34 countries during the three days. Some 210 exhibitors from 19 countries occupied 400 booths, showcasing innovative, eco-friendly and sustainable technologies and agrarian products. According to the organiser, UBM Asia’s Taiwanese subsidiary, the conferences held during the exhibition attracted about 4,000… more
Aug 14, 2018
Hong Kong-listed Sino Splendid (formerly China.com) has recently released its results for the six-month period ended 30th June 2018. Revenues in the first half were US$5.3 million, a year-on-year decrease of 2.2%. The company attributed the slight decline to weaker performance from its Travel Media Business and Financial Magazine Business. The company reduced its loss to US$1.9 million compared with a loss of US$22 million in the same period in 2017. More than 72% of the total revenues were generated from its Travel Media business segment, amounting to US$3.9 million. This represents a… more
Aug 14, 2018
The first Asian MICE Cruise Conference will be held as part of IT&CMA 2018 on 18th September. Industry leaders are expected to gather at the conference. It will include a panel discussion led by cruise CEOs as well as an exchange on the case for forecast growth of MICE cruises. The conference will address a wide variety of other topics and it will offer networking opportunities at hosted breakfasts, coffee breaks and luncheons. It is expected to attract 400 attendees from corporate incentive, meetings and events, incentive trips, luxury travel, association and academics, as well as… more
Aug 14, 2018
Deutsche Messe, an international exhibition organiser, will launch a new international fair for the metalworking and sheet metal working industry, Metal + Tech, in Foshan, Guangdong province. The new fair will be held from 27th to 30th November 2018 at the Guangdong (Tanzhou) International Convention and Exhibition Center. Organised by Deutsche Messe and its Chinese subsidiary, Milano Fairs Shanghai, the fair will be held annually and it will feature the latest metalworking and sheet metal working solutions including machine tools, sheet metal equipment and sheet metal production plants and… more
Aug 14, 2018
Following Informa’s acquisition of UBM earlier this year, Informa has announced changes to the senior management team at UBM Asia. Effective 1st August 2018, Jimé Essink, the current President and CEO of UBM Asia, will become President of the combined business. He will continue to oversee the UBM Sinoexpo and UBM ASEAN businesses for the next 12 months. Margaret Ma Connolly, the current Managing Director of UBM China, will become CEO of the combined business. She will lead the remainder of the UBM Asia portfolio and she will take over leadership of the full UBM Asia business as 1st July… more
Aug 14, 2018
Shanghai Smart Home Technology will again join forces with China Smart Home Industry Alliance (CSHIA) to establish a platform that connects key players in the smart home industry. An overwhelming response from exhibitors has resulted in the largest ever exhibition space for the show which will span across 23,000 sqm. The show is due to host more than 250 renowned domestic and overseas companies and welcome more than 28,000 visitors. The 2018 edition of Shanghai Smart Home Technology (SSHT) will be held concurrently with Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology (SIBT) to present the… 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