News
Jul 11, 2017
Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+), a Thai travel trade show, has concluded in Chiang Mai following a two-year run. The event will relocate to Pattaya in 2018.
This year’s theme was “Delivering Unique Experiences” which is in line with the country’s current tourism marketing campaign. More than 420 buyers from 56 countries attended the event, and close to 50% of them were first-time buyers. The majority of the 362 sellers at TTM+ were representatives from small- and medium-sized hotels and boutique resorts from Thailand and across the Mekong region.
The first day of the event featured a “… more
Jul 11, 2017
Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt recently announced that approximately A$176 million (US$134 million) of funding had been earmarked to upgrade and expand the facilities of the Cairns Convention Centre (CCC).
The CCC, which opened in 1996, will use the funding to refurbish the existing 31,000 m2 venue and to build an additional 3,000 m2 of exhibition space and meeting rooms. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2020. The Queensland government estimates that the expansion will serve to attract 20,000 additional visitors and generate an incremental A$30 million (US$23 million) of… more
Jul 11, 2017
The 14th edition of Thaifex-World of Food Asia was jointly organised by Koelnmesse Pte Ltd, the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), and the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC).
Over the span of five days, the event was attended by 43,129 Thai visitors and 11,982 international visitors, all comprising key decision makers and buyers in the food and beverage (F&B) trade.
They were not only treated to a wide array of food products and technologies, but also access to insights that could help extend their businesses throughout ASEAN and beyond.
Committed to providing a truly global… more
Jul 11, 2017
Preliminary estimates indicate the successful Asian Attractions Expo (AAE) 2017 in Singapore attracted more than 7,500 participants, including 5,100 qualified buyers and 375 exhibiting companies.
The continued growth of the attractions industry within the Asia-Pacific region was evident at the Expo. More than 50 percent of buyers attended AAE for the first time.
Participation in education sessions nearly doubled from 2016 and the event featured the second largest trade show floor in event history at 10,170 net square meters. Asian Attractions Expo, which is produced by the International… more
Jul 11, 2017
The Virtual Reality Developers Conference (VRDC), an event for creators of immersive VR, AR, and MR experiences, has unveiled dates and location for an expanded edition, VRDC Asia.
To meet the growing demand in China for high-quality education and networking opportunities, VRDC Asia will deliver relevant regional content hosted by a new Advisory Board.
The two-day event will bring together designers, programmers, business professionals, producers, artists, and audio practitioners to share best practices, demo new technology, create new business partnerships, and exchange ideas with… more
Jul 11, 2017
In most cases, summer is a slower time of year, but hiring in the trade show industry continued at a brisk space through June and the first part of July.
The Expo Group recently brought on Chad Chappell as national sales director.
“Professionals like Chad who are true solution providers and see events holistically are vital to The Expo Group’s work as strategic partners, helping clients drive attendee, exhibitor and sponsorship revenue,” said The Expo Group President and COO Randy Pekowski.
He added, “His experience in the hospitality industry is particularly aligned with our emphasis on… more
Jul 10, 2017
Instead of nine different credentials for workers to use in order to move around in the San Diego Convention Center, the venue now will have just one credential - the ESCA Exhibition Industry Worker Identification System WIS Badge.
“We are pleased to announce that the San Diego Convention Center is now the 17th U.S. venue to implement the ESCA Worker Identification System (WIS),” said Mitt Arnaudet, WIS National Administrator and ESCA Member Services Director.
He added, “We are in discussions with many other facilities and will be announcing the 18th venue later this month.”
ESCA is the… more
Jul 06, 2017
Blackstone, through funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire International Market Centers (“IMC”), an owner and operator of showroom space for the furnishings, home decor and gift industries, from Bain Capital Private Equity, LP and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.
Fireside Investments also is expected to partner with Blackstone in the acquisition. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
At the IMC venues, there are several trade shows, including the High Point… more
Jul 06, 2017
By Elizabeth Johnson
If your event has a blog, you’re engaged in content marketing. A social media channel? Yes, content marketing again. An e-newsletter? You guessed it – content marketing. Whether show planners call it “content marketing” or not, many are using content marketing tactics to promote their events.
Content marketing can build brand awareness, maintain connections and engagements with audiences between events and provide support to help attendees “make the case” to their supervisors for participating in an event.
Over time, well-executed content marketing can push… more
Jul 05, 2017
The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched an improved and mobile-friendly website, visitdetroit.com.
With an attractive, redesigned interface that combines meetdetroit.com, visitdetroit.com and the Visit Detroit blog, the new website provides users with a more comprehensive and streamlined online experience.
“The new and improved visitdetroit.com offers the best possible online experience for leisure travelers and convention attendees,” explained Larry Alexander, DMCVB president and CEO.
He added, “Enhanced functionality, planning tools and… 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