News
Feb 21, 2024
What’s the latest at UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry? On Feb. 14, we checked in with UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf and UFI North America Regional Director Martha Donato to get the inside scoop on UFI’s Global CEO Summit, held Jan. 31–Feb. 2 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the UFI Global Barometer, a biannual report that was released in January (our take on the data and a link to the full report is here).
Here are 11 takeaways from our conversation. Listen or watch the full interview here.
Recap of the UFI Global CEO Summit
The vibe: “I think it's fair to say that there… more
Feb 20, 2024
For the second time in its history, EXHIBITORLIVE will be held in a city other than Las Vegas. Last year’s event was held in April in Louisville, Ky. while this year’s event is set for Feb. 25-28 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.
It’s the first show under the leadership of David DuBois, CEO, president and publisher of Exhibitor Group, who took over the reigns on Oct. 1, 2023, after serving as president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) for 11 years.
“I am pleased to report that our attendance will surpass the 2023… more
Feb 20, 2024
An event design and management company and a major trade show producer recently announced two executive promotions.
Clarion Events North America
Greg Topalian is being elevated from CEO to chairman of Clarion Events North America.
In his new role, Topalian will focus on acquisitions and business development and provide high-level strategic planning for Clarion globally while actively supporting North America presidents Liz Irving, president of Clarion Events North America, and Kelly Comboni, president of Quartz Network, Consero and LeftField Media, who will run the day-to-day strategy and… more
Feb 15, 2024
Viad Corp., parent of Global Experience Specialists (GES) and Spiro, said it is moving into 2024 with momentum after revenues for the company’s experiential marketing and exhibition management services surged in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, helped by increasing demand for in-person events by corporate clients and exhibiting companies.
On Feb. 8, the company posted revenue of $291.7 million for the last three months of 2023, up 17.6% from the prior-year period. Viad’s full-year 2023 revenues increased 9.9% YOY, from $1.1 billion in 2022 to $1.2 billion in 2023, according to the company’s… more
Feb 14, 2024
Last August, Freeman announced a rigging safety initiative that impacted exhibitors and event organizers with hanging signs, video walls that have overhead support and all other tie-offs. The rigging rule could have potentially affected thousands of exhibiting companies and events across the U.S. with higher costs and longer timelines.
In response, Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA), The Exhibitor Advocate and Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA) collaborated with Freeman to roll back some of the requirements, making it faster, easier and cheaper… more
Feb 13, 2024
What is the current mindset of CEOs in the event industry? In part two of our series, experiential marketing agency leaders shared what their top business concerns are now and moving into 2024, and how they and their organization are addressing them.
How does the event industry compare against other industries? In part one of our series, we shared an analysis of the KPMG 2023 CEO Outlook — the annual survey of 1,300 CEOs of the world’s largest businesses conducted by KPMG International.
Find out what CEOs from RX and Informa Markets shared with us.
Find out what CEOs from Visit Detroit… more
Feb 13, 2024
The New Year started with a bang in January as some of the nation’s largest trade shows expanded in terms of exhibitors, attendees, show floor size or some combination of those metrics.
Following three years of lackluster or canceled events in COVID’s wake, the growth demonstrated the importance of face-to-face trade shows, and how much they’re valued by audiences. As one exhibitor put it, “There is no substitute for meeting face-to-face with associates and customers.”
NRF ’24: Retail’s Big Show
What, When & Where: NRF ’24: Retail’s Big Show, Jan. 14-16, Javits Center, New York … more
Feb 12, 2024
From Sioux City, Iowa to Chicago to Fort Worth, Texas, convention centers across the U.S. are upping the ante on their meeting and trade show offerings by forming new partnerships with management, food and beverage, and technology service providers, as well as rebooking long-term business.
McCormick Place and RSNA
RSNA & Choose Chicago officials at PCMA Convening Leaders
Choose Chicago and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) recently announced the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) has committed to hosting its Annual Meeting in Chicago through 2032.
One… more
Feb 08, 2024
Have you ever considered sponsoring restrooms at an event? At PCMA Convening Leaders 2024 (CL24) in January, Montreal Business Events worked with Les Cabinets for the fourth year in a row to deliver a unique and memorable activation in one of the women’s and men’s bathrooms at the San Diego Convention Center.
We caught up with Les Cabinets Co-Founder Patrice Marier to get an inside look at the women’s bathroom activation to find out more about how his team manages the sponsorship and optimizes the attendee experience for events.
Here’s what you need to know:
How it worked: Montreal… more
Feb 07, 2024
As 2024 kicks off, event-related organizations, particularly destination marketing organizations (DMOs), are busy adding and promoting staff, welcoming new executives and bidding farewell to veteran leadership.
Seattle Convention Center
After serving as Seattle Convention Center (SCC) president and CEO for more than 12 years, 45-year venue management industry veteran Jeff Blosser is retiring in May 2024. During his time at the helm of the SCC, Blosser opened a new building, guided operations through a pandemic, served in leadership on numerous industry boards and was presented with a… 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