Multi-sensory Event Experience
April 6, 2014
Our daily interaction with the world around us involves a number of sensory perceptions including sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. All of these senses combine to provide us with rich, layered experiences that help us engage with the people (and even the objects) around us.
If any activity engages only one or two of our senses for a long period of time, we often come away feeling something in the overall experience was lacking, and that we did not get the most out of the time we invested in it.
In an article titled ‘Please touch the merchandise’, the Harvard Business Review cites a number of research studies to highlight how our decision making is almost imperceptibly influenced by the multi-sensory sensations we experience in our day-to-day lives.
When these studies started to emerge a decade or so ago, retailers were quick to understand the implications and absorb the lessons. From mood lighting to subtle perfumes to free testers, they tried everything in the game to bring in the crowds and boost sales. Nowadays, it is a well-recognized maxim that carefully modulated environments can trigger nostalgia as well as curiosity, helping to draw ever-growing crowds into stores as well as to loosen the purse strings!
Smart event planners are also focusing on providing multi-sensory experiences to keep the event participants engaged and entertained. Gone are the days of long, dull treks down an exhibit hall, or session after session filled with monotonous presentations. Exhibitions and meetings, where attendees are being offered a variety of new and engaging experiences, are breaking the mold and growing faster than their competition. Be it through creative lighting design, gourmet food services, trendy touchscreens, interactive gaming or guided tours, these initiatives are proving a big hit with attendees, especially those who crave new experiences when they return to an event!
Here are some articles that highlight how creative show organizers across the globe are successfully providing multi-dimensional and novel experiences to their attendees:
- http://www.bizbash.com/see-guests-dine-at-an-oversize-artists-palette/los-angeles/story/28239
- http://www.connectyourmeetings.com/feature/building-a-healthier-attendee-experience/
- http://www.wassermanexperience.com/news/the-worlds-first-multi-sensory-fireworks-display/
- http://techcorner.tsnn.com/content/a2zs-chirpe-photo-booth-creates-buzz-and-showfloor
- http://www.successfulmeetings.com/Event-Planning/conference-management/Articles/The-Top-Four-Meeting-Trends-of-2014/
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
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