News
Nov 03, 2017
The NACS Show celebrated a record-breaking jump in attendance and size at its most recent event, held Oct. 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
As the largest annual trade show and conference for the U.S. convenience and fuel retailing industry, the 25th annual NACS Show boasted a 7 percent increase in overall attendance, drawing in 24,940 attendees from 63 countries, and a 3.3 percent growth in buyers (classified as retailers and convenience distributors, including Petroleum Equipment Institute registrants), according to The Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing, which owns and… more
Nov 02, 2017
Full-service event production company, Shepard, has launched tecCONNECT, a suite of technology solutions designed to help event organizers navigate and select the right tech offerings for their specific needs.
Comprising three primary service offerings: Select, Consult and Insights, tecCONNECT solutions range from tech vendor matchmaking to integration and implementation to artificial intelligence-powered data services.
“Our goal is to help our customers use technology to design and deliver events with enhanced experiences that benefit their participants, as well as their organizations,”… more
Nov 01, 2017
Leading a show from a top for-profit business-to-business exhibition company or an association with a sizable trade show is no easy task.
That’s why TSNN and Access Intelligence Research & Consulting recently partnered with the Society of Independent Show Organizers to take a deeper look into what current challenges leaders in the exhibition industry are facing.
The TSNN Research Report – “The Exhibition Management Leadership Study: How SISO Members and Top Associations are Positioning for Growth and Innovation” - is the latest in a series of reports from TSNN and AI.
“SISO is… more
Nov 01, 2017
Trade show and meeting planners choose their destinations carefully, bringing many factors into the decision-making process. One factor is the city’s appeal as a travel destination. According to International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ (IAEE’s) Decision to Attend Study, 78 percent of attendees cite the destination as a top driver for attending a convention. It’s little surprise then, that Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) are helping planners promote the destination to their audiences.
“We’ve seen a pretty dramatic shift over the last few years in convention and event… more
Oct 31, 2017
NPE2018: The Plastics Show has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Commerce to participate in its 2018 International Buyer Program (IBP).
The IBP is a joint government-industry effort under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) that brings thousands of international buyers to the U.S. for B2B matchmaking with U.S. firms exhibiting at major industry trade shows.
Every year, the IBP results in approximately a billion dollars in new business for U.S. companies and increased international attendance for participating U.S. trade show organizers… more
Oct 31, 2017
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has launched a new tool to enable show organizers to calculate the exhibitor retention rate for a given event and then measure it against key benchmarks, including the overall exhibition industry and the specific industry sector.
Leveraging business intelligence services powered by a2z, the CEIR Exhibitor Retention Benchmarking Tool uses standardized data derived from 900+ tradeshow, analyzed over a period of three years. Each event in the dataset is categorized based on its CEIR industry sector assignment.
"The CEIR Exhibitor Retention… more
Oct 30, 2017
Kicking off with an opening night reception Nov. 1 at the Johannesburg, South Africa-based Sandton Convention Centre, the 84th UFI Global Congress is set to gather hundreds of exhibition organizers and suppliers from all over the world to take a deep dive into “Raising the Odds: Pressures and Profits in the Exhibition Industry.”
“UFI‘s Global Congress brings together the global leaders of the exhibition industry. We will welcome more than 420 participants from more than 55 countries this week in Johannesburg,” said UFI Managing Director/CEO Kai Hattendorf.
He added, “Besides the… more
Oct 27, 2017
Event industry service providers TRC and Swoogo have come together to launch ShowSimple – a do-it-yourself badge printing solution in a box.
Perfect for small events, the ShowSimple rental kit comes complete with everything an event organizer would need to print DIY badges, including two bar code scanning stations; a full-color printer; choice of badges and lanyards, and a self-contained router with internet access.
Organizers simply set up their badge printing stations, import attendees from any registration source, choose a full-color badge design and start printing.
To help planners… more
Oct 26, 2017
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has released a travel advisory warning African-Americans about their safety and wellbeing when traveling on American Airlines flights.
In a statement released Oct. 24, the nation’s oldest and largest social justice advocacy organization stated that it has been monitoring “a pattern of disturbing incidents” involving troublesome conduct by American Airlines that suggest a corporate culture of racial insensitivity and possible racial bias on the part of the airline.
The statement went on to alert travelers, especially… more
Oct 26, 2017
In an effort to expand its UAV technology portfolio and create the largest commercial drone event in North America, Diversified Communications has acquired Drone World Expo from JDEvents.
The announcement was made yesterday at Commercial UAV Expo Americas, taking place Oct. 24-26 at the Westgate Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
As the third acquisition Diversified has made in 2017 so far, including two events in Australia – Naturally Good and Luxperience, the acquisition of Drone World Expo builds upon the company’s recent launches in the expanding UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) market,… 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