News
Jan 31, 2013
The trade show industry continues to see more and more people flocking to exhibit halls, with three recent shows from completely divergent industries all scoring strong attendee numbers.
AHR Expo, the top heating, air-conditioning and refrigerating show in the United States that was held Jan. 28-30 at the Dallas Convention Center, established four new all-time records for a show held in the Southwest.
More than 52,000 attendees, 35,000 of them visitors, filled the aisles to see the latest products and technologies on display from 1,951 exhibiting companies covering 397,000 square feet… more
Jan 30, 2013
George Armando Aguel was named president and CEO of Visit Orlando, filling the open position after its prior leader, Gary Sain, passed away suddenly last year.
“George is an incredibly accomplished industry leader, with extensive experience in both leisure and business travel,” said Paul Mears III, chair of the Visit Orlando board of directors.
He added, “His knowledge of the meetings and conventions industry, as well as his relationships throughout the travel and tourism segment, matches perfectly with the criteria that our search committee identified as priorities.”… more
Jan 29, 2013
George Little Management’s US Antiques Shows portfolio just grew a little bigger, with the recent acquisition of the Miami National Antiques Show and Sale from Dolphin Promotions.
"The acquisition of the Miami National Antiques Show and Sale further strengthens US Antique Shows' unique position to deliver well-timed and ideally located shows to support the southeast Florida antiques marketplace,” said Dan Darby, GLM vice president and US Antique Shows group director.
The Miami National Antiques Show features 150 exhibitors annually, presenting a wide range of antique… more
Jan 29, 2013
Messe Frankfurt’s Texworld USA nearly doubled its exhibitor base by 47 percent to 238, compared to last year’s event during the same time frame, when it ran Jan. 14-16 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York.
There also was an 8-percent increase in attendance, compared with the 2012 January event as well.
A total of 3,627 verified attendees visited the three-day event. Visitors came from 48 countries including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Mexico and the United States, to name a few.
First-time exhibitors from Belarus, Turkey and Taiwan and returning exhibitors… more
Jan 27, 2013
Nielsen Expositions, which produces the biannual ASD Show in Las Vegas, will launch a regional event – Miami Wholesale Expo - Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Miami Airport Convention Center.
The new event is in response to market demand for a wholesale merchandise event to expand relationships for vendors specializing in fashion accessories, travel/leisure products, health and beauty items, resort apparel and footwear, novelty and souvenir items and general merchandise, according to show officials.
The Miami Wholesale Expo is a natural extension to Nielsen’s two ASD Show flagship events,… more
Jan 27, 2013
Imagine you are on a site tour of a convention center and you’re standing in the middle of the empty hall. You’re trying to picture, in your head, what the hall would look like if you decided to go with midnight blue carpet in the aisles and gold for the pipe and drape.
Freeman’s ColorSelector app allows you to replace that image in your head with a more useful one right in the palm of your hand.
Love the carpet but don’t like the look of the gold pipe and drape? Simply tap on the drape and use the color slider to select a different color. You can see, right on your… more
Jan 27, 2013
During a recent team building training at my workplace, I heard a great story about internal conflict resolution styles and how these affect the end result.
Two employees, Chris from sales and Ana from professional services, both want the last remaining orange in the break room. A seemingly reasonable solution would be to compromise and split the orange in half. That makes perfect sense, right?
Let’s assume that’s what they do. Problem solved. Well, not quite. Later, we learn Chris actually wanted the juice from the orange to make a special drink for the sales team, while… more
Jan 27, 2013
During a recent team building training at my workplace, I heard a great story about internal conflict resolution styles and how these affect the end result.
Two employees, Chris from sales and Ana from professional services, both want the last remaining orange in the break room. A seemingly reasonable solution would be to compromise and split the orange in half. That makes perfect sense, right?
Let’s assume that’s what they do. Problem solved. Well, not quite. Later, we learn Chris actually wanted the juice from the orange to make a special drink for the sales team, while… more
Jan 27, 2013
Imagine you are on a site tour of a convention center and you’re standing in the middle of the empty hall. You’re trying to picture, in your head, what the hall would look like if you decided to go with midnight blue carpet in the aisles and gold for the pipe and drape.
Freeman’s ColorSelector app allows you to replace that image in your head with a more useful one right in the palm of your hand.
Love the carpet but don’t like the look of the gold pipe and drape? Simply tap on the drape and use the color slider to select a different color. You can see, right on your… more
Jan 26, 2013
First, they show you where to get ear plugs. Then, Eddie Van Halen walks by. It’s the 2013 NAMM Show, the 109-year-old event for the music industry that brings together instrument and equipment manufacturers and buyers as well as vibrant music community.
Owned and produced by the National Association of Music Merchants, it took place Jan. 24–27 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Music hits you long before you step onto the showfloor.
“How do we control the decibel level of exhibitors? We have sound control guys, all with pro firefighter and paramedic background,” said… 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