News
Apr 09, 2016
Tom Corcoran is CEO of Corcoran Expositions, Inc., one of the largest independent trade show organizers in America, having produced more than 700 expositions in 100 cities over their 25+ years in business.
Corcoran organizes events that range from beer to brain surgery. In 2015, an impressive 7,000 companies purchased more than 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space, of which 3,000 were new exhibiting companies.
Before this, Corcoran managed the National Restaurant Association annual trade show for 11 years and grew the National Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show from 900 exhibiting companies to… more
Apr 08, 2016
The first quarter of 2016 saw a busy hiring period, with companies ranging from audio-visual to for-profit show management to convention and visitors bureaus.
Surf Expo, the largest and longest-running boardsports and beach/resort lifestyle trade show in the world, has named Rod Tomlinson as sales manager for the Surf Category of the show. He is replacing Ryan Nettleton.
Tomlinson was most recently a sales executive for Interbike, the largest bicycle trade event in North America, also owned and operated by Emerald Expositions.
“Surf Expo is excited to bring Rod Tomlinson to our sales team… more
Apr 07, 2016
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ proudly congratulates Jacqueline Russo, vice president of Kuehne + Nagel, Inc., as this year’s recipient of the IAEE Woman of Achievement Award.
This award recognizes a woman who has led the way in the advancement of women in the exhibitions and events industry, exhibited outstanding leadership, and made significant contributions to the industry and her community.
With more than 20 years of experience in the exhibitions and events industry, Russo has been a dynamic leader within IAEE. Her dedication marked her as the first supplier… more
Apr 05, 2016
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events has added another new chapter in Asia, the IAEE India Chapter.
The IAEE Board of Directors approved the creation of this new chapter during its meeting, held March 31 at the HITEX Exhibition Center in Hyderabad, India.
“This is another important step forward in the internationalization of IAEE,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA.
He added, “We have been met this week with great enthusiasm about our member benefits and CEM Learning Program, and it is very rewarding to see the expansion of our global impact."… more
Apr 04, 2016
Destination Marketing Association International Chairman Bob Lander and President and CEO Don Welsh announced a strategic realignment of the organization in preparation for what they called “a renewed commitment to focus on member and partner needs.”
DMAI has vacated nine positions for further evaluation as it moves forward with the realignment.
Welsh stepped into the leadership post in March, after holding the top spot at Choose Chicago.
Charles Jeffers, COO and interim CEO since September 2015, will remain with the organization through the end of May 2016 to assist with a seamless… more
Apr 02, 2016
InformEx is the home of chemistry innovation. This dynamic event has been held for more than 30 years to build partnerships among buyers and sellers of fine and specialty chemicals.
The three-day event fosters profitable partnerships and innovation in the high-value chemical industry.
To support the valuable partnership development that is such a cornerstone of this event, the show organizers added a2z’s Connect™ to the event’s offerings this year.
Connect is a cloud-based networking solution that facilitates matching exhibitors and attendees with like-minded… more
Apr 02, 2016
InformEx is the home of chemistry innovation. This dynamic event has been held for more than 30 years to build partnerships among buyers and sellers of fine and specialty chemicals.
The three-day event fosters profitable partnerships and innovation in the high-value chemical industry.
To support the valuable partnership development that is such a cornerstone of this event, the show organizers added a2z’s Connect™ to the event’s offerings this year.
Connect is a cloud-based networking solution that facilitates matching exhibitors and attendees with like-minded… more
Apr 01, 2016
In the 1940s, department stores were the primary retailers of most every item for daily life, including stationery and writing instruments. Tessie Goldwater, a buyer for May’s Department Stores, regularly attended gift shows in New York and Chicago, but felt there was a need for a more specialized paper goods show.
She approached Bill Little at George Little Management (now part of Emerald Expositions), urging that stationery, custom invitations, pens and related goods be given their own event. In 1945, the first New York Stationery Show was held in the New Yorker Hotel.
While… more
Apr 01, 2016
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition has launched a new business leader video series to showcase authentic stories of how and why meetings matter across all professions.
The inaugural three video vignettes reflect the widespread reach of meeting face-to-face, profiling a trade association, a not-for-profit, and a corporation.
MMBC will continue to debut new videos throughout the year to highlight how meetings build trust, foster engagement and generate new business
MMBC is bringing in outside voices to propel the campaign and help validate how meetings touch every industry. Those… more
Apr 01, 2016
U.K.-based UBM has named Scott Schulman CEO of UBM Americas, and Simon Foster, who held the CEO position after Sally Shankland stepped down, will resume his position as CEO of UBM EMEA.
UBM Americas is one of the largest business-to-business trade show companies in the U.S. with a growing portfolio as well in Brazil and Mexico.
Schulman will focus on continuing the implementation of UBM’s ‘Events First’ strategy and the unification of the UBM Americas business, including the ongoing successful integration of the Advanstar business.
“I am delighted Scott is… 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