News
Sep 01, 2015
Once a year, National Retail Federation staff members and key stakeholders gather together and brainstorm on how they can not only solve challenges they have with their trade shows – Retail’s BIG Show and Shop.org Annual Summit, but also talk about how to make them a more personal experience for attendees.
They call the sessions “Blue Sky Meetings”, according to Eric Olsen, NRF’s vice president of education strategies, at which they discuss “anything under the blue sky you could think of” in regards to improving the shows.
“We get an agenda beforehand, so that we’re prepared on what the goals… more
Sep 01, 2015
After a big increase in the first quarter of this year, the performance of the business-to-business trade show industry, as measured by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Total Index, remained relatively strong during the second quarter of 2015, posting a year-on-year gain of 3.8 percent.
This growth is the second highest rate since the second quarter of 2007 and also marked the 20th consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.
"The second-quarter results are very promising,” said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates.
He added… more
Sep 01, 2015
U.K.-based Clarion Events, with more than 200 events in 35 countries, has become a majority partner in Kennesaw, Ga.-based Urban Expositions, which has a portfolio of 37 events serving nine industry sectors.
"We are thrilled to partner with such a well-established, international event organizer as Clarion," said Doug Miller, president and CEO, Urban Expositions.
He added, "We look forward to working closely with the Clarion team to start a whole new chapter for our respective companies. Clarion's forward-thinking leadership, proven experience and extensive resources will allow us to build… more
Sep 01, 2015
The Professional Convention Management Association Nominating Committee, chaired by Johnnie White, 2014 past Chair of the Board, met Aug. 20 in Chicago and reviewed, in detail, a number of nominee applications for the 2016 open board officers and directions positions.
After careful due diligence and deliberation, the committee offers the following slate of candidates for leadership positions on the 2016 PCMA Board of Directors.
According to the PCMA Bylaws, this official announcement of the proposed slate is to be sent to the membership by Oct. 1.
The nominating process, according to… more
Aug 31, 2015
Trade show organizers KCI Corporation and Messe Düsseldorf North America have announced a partnership on two new events that will be held next year in Houston.
They already team up on the Valve World Americas Expo & Conference, also held in Houston.
The first new event is a new pump event called Pump Summit Americas, which will take place June 13-14, 2016, at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
The two-day conference and exhibition is powered by Pump Engineer, Pumpen Aktuell and Empowering Pumps.
“We are excited to introduce a new pump event to North America. Pump Summit… more
Aug 31, 2015
Do you know your audience on social media well? Chances are your instinctive reaction to this question is – ‘Of course, we do’. But do you really know your audience demographics inside out? More often than not, social marketers tend to focus on people who proactively engage with their content. But if you are not delving deep into what drives and engages your entire fan base, then you may be missing out on big opportunities to find common ground with your followers and engage them with content that’s truly meaningful to them.
Considering and analyzing your audience base… more
Aug 31, 2015
Do you know your audience on social media well? Chances are your instinctive reaction to this question is – ‘Of course, we do’. But do you really know your audience demographics inside out? More often than not, social marketers tend to focus on people who proactively engage with their content. But if you are not delving deep into what drives and engages your entire fan base, then you may be missing out on big opportunities to find common ground with your followers and engage them with content that’s truly meaningful to them.
Considering and analyzing your audience base… more
Aug 27, 2015
Trade Show News Network is excited to announce the five finalists for our TSNN “Best of Show” awards. We asked the shows to simply tell us why they felt their show was ‘best’, and the ones below exemplified innovation in the trade show industry.
Now, they need all of YOU to vote for which one you think deserves to be named the overall BEST show. The overall winner will be announced at the TSNN Awards in Atlanta Nov. 7.
The TSNN Awards honors the top 50 fastest-growing shows in the U.S. during a three-day weekend celebration.
The deadline to vote is Oct. 1.
Below are the amazing shows… more
Aug 26, 2015
Attendees and exhibitors to this year’s IMEX America, on tap Oct. 13-15 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, will experience a show that’s even greener than last year’s.
A new charity recycling initiative, becoming part of the Green Team and attending relevant education sessions will help attendees to reduce waste and increase their awareness of corporate social responsibility.
This follows the results of the MeetGreen® Sustainability Report for IMEX America 2014, which showed a 31 percent reduction on total waste from the previous year.
The use of locally sourced foods… more
Aug 26, 2015
Urban Expositions has acquired Womenswear in Nevada (WWIN) trade show from Specialty Trade Shows, Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The ownership transition began immediately following the Aug. 17-20 edition of the semi-annual womenswear apparel trade show held at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas.
"We've known Roland Timney and the Specialty Trade Show team for many years and have long admired their customer service focus and management style," said Doug Miller, president and CEO, Urban Expositions.
He added, "The opportunity to continue working with Roland and Chad in this new… 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