News
Dec 20, 2017
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has released its full 2017 report on the World Map of Exhibition Venues.
The report analyzes indicators on key regional trends and includes the largest venues for all 28 markets with a total capacity exceeding 200,000 square meters (more than 2 million sq. ft.) of gross indoor exhibition space.
It has been six years since UFI last produced this global exhibition venue census. This year’s release shows a capacity increase in the majority of markets around the world.
According to report data, global venue space has grown by 1.2… more
Dec 20, 2017
After years of seeing technology revolutionizing the meetings industry and accelerating the rate of change in how people live and work, there will be a return to a focus on humanity in 2018, according to IMEX Group.
The global event producer believes that while new technological innovations will continue to transform the world around us, individuals throughout the events industry and in society are asking questions about whether people – along with their lives, feelings, aspirations, health and minds – are receiving enough priority as society deals with tremendous challenges and adapts to… more
Dec 19, 2017
Streampoint Solutions, a provider of event management tools for the conference, tradeshow and special events community, recently launched new functionality in the form of Apple Wallet integration.
The new offering, launched Dec. 13 at the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)’s annual Expo! Expo! conference and trade show, integrates Apple Wallet with Streampoint’s event registration and housing solutions.
"One of the crucial elements that event planners seek is seamlessness,” said Dharmesh Dayabhai, vice president of sales and marketing at Streampoint Solutions.
He… more
Dec 19, 2017
Caesars Entertainment Corporation will develop CAESARS FORUM, a new 550,000 square foot conference center on the east side of the Las Vegas Strip.
Featuring 300,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, the $375 million facility will include two of the largest pillarless ballrooms in North America, according to Caesars officials.
“Consistent with our post restructuring plans, Caesars Forum is the first installment of our growth strategy for the benefit of Las Vegas and our employees, which will also help meet the increasing demand for group business meetings of all sizes,” said Mark Frissora,… more
Dec 16, 2017
Ray Kopcinski, CMP, Carrie Freeman Parsons and Dr. Godwin Charles Ogbeide, PhD, MBA will be honored at the 2018 Visionary Awards on May 2 at the Marriott Marquis, Washington DC.
More than 1,000 business events industry professionals will gather this spring at the Visionary Awards to honor these luminaries’ extraordinary contributions.
Attendees will experience an Oscars-like evening with red carpet arrival, awards show, and after party, hosted by the PCMA Education Foundation and presented in partnership with Visit Austin and Austin Convention Center.
“We are thrilled to celebrate these… more
Dec 14, 2017
The recent concurrent staging of MEDICA 2017, the world's leading medical trade fair, and COMPAMED 2017, High tech solutions for medical technology, in Düsseldorf, Germany, again confirmed its high international impact for the medical technology industry.
On four days, 123,500 specialists from all health sectors came to experience the latest technologies presented by 5,100 exhibitors from 66 countries.
More than 60 percent of the visitors were from countries outside Germany - from 130 different nations. These included visitor groups from China, India, Columbia and Nepal as well as groups… more
Dec 14, 2017
CPhI North America, the only event to bring the complete North American pharma supply chain together, today announced the opening of 2018 event registration. CPhI North America will take place April 24-26, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
It will feature an expanded show footprint ideal for networking, sourcing, education and innovation in drug development and manufacturing.
Two new zones including a Bioprocessing Zone and the P-MEC Zone, a machinery zone to promote the latest technology in manufacturing equipment, will join legacy zones, InformEx, iCSE, FDF,… more
Dec 14, 2017
The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association unveiled its new, streamlined Membership Structure. HCEA volunteers and staff reviewed membership needs with all categories and types of HCEA members, and introduced a simple membership structure that allows for more choice.
HCEA’s membership categories remain the same: Association, Corporation, and Industry Partner. Now, members will choose how many individuals from the organization will participate in HCEA and have access to benefits.
“HCEA appreciates the stellar work of the HCEA Membership Ad Hoc Committee in responding to the… more
Dec 14, 2017
Houston will soon host one of the largest meetings of dental professionals in the nation in 2022.
The American Dental Association (ADA), Texas Dental Association (TDA) and Greater Houston Dental Society will combine respective conventions, collectively bringing more than 30,000 attendees to Houston's downtown campus, Avenida Houston.
“We are enthused the ADA and its counterparts chose Houston as its destination for 2022,” said John Solis, senior vice president of sales for Visit Houston.
He added, “As home to the largest medical center, Houston is a natural fit for medical meetings of… more
Dec 14, 2017
In just a few days, 2017 will be history. The year brought event professionals a host of challenges around technological advancements, security, politics and travel, to name just a few. While next year will continue to prove difficult in many of those same areas, experts are pointing out that 2018 will be filled with opportunities for show organizers to rethink how events can capitalize on the human factor.
To wrap-up the year, here are a few predictions from five event industry veterans about what they foresee coming down the pike for events in 2018.
According to Marco Pardi, managing… 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