Now here’s an example of a convention center doing good! The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando has announced that they donated more than $1.6 million in goods and services in 2011, including nearly 250,000 pounds of food, $175,000 in educational supplies and grants, and more than $100,000 in building supplies. The OCCC also has an extensive Sustainability Policy, which can be found on their website.
It seems 2012 shows seem to really be on a roll! This week, both the NAMM Show (National Association of Music Merchants) and SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show) reported record-breaking events. The SHOT Show hosted more than 61,000 attendees at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, while the 110th NAMM Show drew 95,709 to the Anaheim Convention Center.
When you book a flight to your next trade show, you’ll likely notice that prices on airline sites appear to have increased. Only they haven’t. It’s all due to a new ruling by the Department of Transportation that mandates airlines must now display the full fare that includes taxes and fees vs. simply the base fare. Check out this article from CNN for more details.
Also in travel news … earlier this month, President Obama announced a series of travel and tourism initiatives while standing in front of Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World (watch footage of the announcement on CBS News). Perhaps Geoff Freeman with the U.S. Travel Association summed it up best in an article for PCMA: “What a long way we have come. It was just over two years ago – in 2009 – when we were under attack from Washington.”
It really is amazing to think back on how this industry was taking hits from all sides and members of Congress were telling people to stay away from cities like Vegas and Orlando. Thank goodness all the “Keep America Meeting” campaigns and letters to Congress appear to have been successful!
Good to hear the trade shows are going strong!