Hundreds Pay Tribute
to Gary Sain Longwood, FL -
Nearly 600 family, friends and colleagues paid their last respects to Gary
Sain, the president and CEO of Visit Orlando on Saturday, May 12, creating a
sea of orange in the church where services were held. Sporting ties, scarves,
shawls, sweaters and even stilettos in orange, they wore Gary’s favorite color
which also symbolized the bright Orlando sunshine and reflected the tagline, “Orlando
Makes Me Smile.” In her eulogy, his wife Pam said, “Gary would
have been surprised at the turnout. He would have chided me for not charging
admission and donating the proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club, a charity he
was very active in,” she quipped.
Tom Kallman Receives President’s E Award Washington, DC – U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson presented Tom Kallman, president and CEO of Kallman Worldwide, with the President’s “E” Award at a ceremony today at the White House. Created by Executive Order of President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the “E” Award recognizes the significant contributions of individuals and organizations for supporting U.S. export activity.d organizations for supporting U.S. export activity.
IAEE’s Survey of Consumer Events Finds Optimism for 2012 Dallas, TX - The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has released Public Events Industry 2011, its latest survey of event organizers about the status and near-term prospects for the sector. According to the organizers who took part in the study, the economy remains the No. 1 issue facing the industry, but the mood is generally optimistic. In fact, 66% of the organizers said they considered themselves to be optimistic or even “very optimistic” about 2012, and 32% were planning to launch new events this year.
Show Organizer Input Sought on Revived Las Vegas Convention Center Renovation Las Vegas, NV - Plans for an extensive renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center will be revived and likely overhauled after a series of meetings between trade show organizers and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).The LVCVA directed its staff to sound out their top customers about any potential changes they would like to see made to the original renovation blueprints, developed nearly 10 years ago, including adding more space. “Everything is under discussion,” said Chris Meyer, LVCVA vice president of sales.
Major Lighting Upgrade Completed at GWCC Atlanta, GA – A complete upgrade of the lighting systems at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) has been completed. The retrofit involved replacing 1,288 lighting fixtures in the center’s 12 exhibit halls and upgrading the control system, which should put a welcome dent in the GWCC’s annual $4 million electric bill and make the facility a little greener in the process.
Singapore to Host Luncheon in Chicago and DC for Show Organizers Considering the Far East Chicago, IL – The Singex Group will hold a pair of briefings in the United States for trade show organizers interested in expanding into the Southeast Asian market.The Asia Connect seminars are the first of their kind in the U.S. They will be held June 19 in Chicago and June 21 in Washington, DC for senior-level executives of independent show organizers and associations. Trade Show Executive is the media sponsor of the events.
Paul Mackler Launches Show Management Company; Acquires Krause’s Border Security Event Westport, CT – Long-time trade show executive Paul Mackler has announced the launch of a new show management company and its first acquisition. Eagle Eye Expositions, LLC became the new owner of Border Security Expo, which it acquired from E.J. Krause & Associates.
Pouria Abbassi, GM of Los Angeles Convention Center, to Step Down Los Angeles, CA – Pouria Abbassi will step down as general manager and CEO of the Los Angeles Convention Center June 4 to begin a new career with The Phoenix House, a company that provides substance-abuse treatment nationwide. Abbassi, who joined the convention center six years ago, kept the center in the black and also oversaw its upgrade to LEED Gold certification. He was immersed in recent months in the blockbuster plans to build a football stadium next to the convention center.
Hawaii Issues RFI for Convention Center Management and Worldwide Marketing Honolulu, HI – The state of Hawaii issued a request for information (RFI) pertaining to the operation and marketing of the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu as part of a larger review of the various services performed by the center’s approximately six subcontractors.
UBM Partners With Indonesian Trade Show Producer to Launch Concrete Show Hong Kong - UBM is partnering with Debindo, an Indonesian trade show producer serving the construction industry, to launch Concrete Show South East Asia, October 24-26, 2013 at the Jakarta International Expo in Indonesia. The event will expand UBM's global concrete portfolio, which includes the Concrete Show South America and Concrete Show India.
TSE Adds Graphic Designer to Staff Oceanside, CA - Michelle Restrepo has joined Trade Show Executive (TSE) as graphics designer/production coordinator, reporting to Kathleen Maloney, creative director. The newly created position is in response to a recent 35% growth surge for TSE. Restrepo has been a designer, Web developer and event photographer at The Barry Group and Bluebot Studios.
Gary Sain Remembered as the ‘Can Do’ Leader of Visit Orlando Orlando, FL – Tributes poured into Orlando from throughout the exhibition industry after Gary Sain, the respected head of the city’s convention and visitors bureau, died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack on May 4 at the age of 61. “He was a true visionary in the trade show industry and probably had the best marketing mind of anyone I have known,” said William Carteaux, president and CEO of SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. “His ability to look at every problem and obstacle as an opportunity was tremendously refreshing.” [See sidebar for detailed information about funeral arrangements].
Ryan Strowger Joins IAAPA as VP of Exhibitions, Conferences and Sales Washington, DC – After a 12-year stint at the Consumer Electronic Association (CEA), Ryan Strowger will join the International Association for Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) as vice president, exhibitions, conferences and sales later this month. Most recently, Strowger served as director, business development, for CEA, producer of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which ranked No. 1 on the TSE Gold 100 last year.
Two Major Changes in Los Angeles: Abbassi and Liberman Los Angeles, CA - Pouria Abbassi, CEO and general manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center, will be leaving his post at the end of May. No other details were available as TSE went to press. In recent news, Mark Liberman announced on May 1 that he will retire as CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board at the end of the year.
Revamped Miami Airport Convention Center Debuts Miami, FL – The Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC) completed a comprehensive overhaul this Spring, and the occasion was marked with a gala grand reopening on April 26 that showed off its potential as a trade show venue. The modernization of the MACC included new lighting, flooring and a redesigned lobby along with upgrades to the air-conditioning, restrooms and escalators. The facility also features a 29,000 square foot ballroom.
Salt Lake City, UT -- SMG named Daniel Hayes general manager of the Calvin L. RamptonSalt Palace Convention Center and the South Towne Exposition Center in SaltLake City. Hayes has been with SMG for 12 years. He was most recently facility director/assistant general manager of the Salt Lake City venues and replaced Allyson Jackson, who transferred to the Jekyll Island Convention Center in Georgia.
Kathleen Canning Named GM of Nation's Second Largest Convention Center Orlando, FL – Kathleen Canning will take over as general manager of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando this Summer. Canning, currently deputy general manager, will step into the job held by Jessie Allen, who is due to retire in July after 25 years as an Orange County employee. Canning joined the OCCC in 1985 and was named to her current post in 2002. The OCCC was expanded twice while Canning was in the leadership ranks and currently has 2.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space, according to the Trade Show Executive World’s Top Convention Centers rankings.
TSE Announces the Class of 2012 – the Elite Trade Shows that Will Be Celebrated This October as Gold 100 Honorees Oceanside, CA– CONEXPO-CON/AGG grabbed the top honors as the largest trade show in theTrade Show Executive Gold 100rankings of 2011 shows, announced Darlene Gudea, president of Trade Show Executive Media Group on April 17.Spanning 2.2 million net square feet (nsf)of exhibit space, CONEXPO/CON-AGG’s triennial orbit brought the mega show into position to eclipse the International ConsumerElectronics Show (CES) as the largest event of 2011. Just as noteworthy was CES, which once again weighed in as the largest annual show of the year.
The Ritz-Carlton DC Will Host 2012 Gold 100 Awards as Event Begins East/West Rotational Pattern Washington, DC – The Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC will be the venue for this year’s Trade Show Executive (TSE) Gold 100Summit & Awards as the annual salute to the exhibition industry’s leading trade shows comes to the East Coast for the first time. The biggest and best shows in the nation will be saluted at the 5-star Ritz-Carlton October 3-5, just a month before the presidential election. “The entire nation, and Washington in particular, will be buzzing about politics and the economy,” said Darlene Gudea, president of Trade Show Executive Media Group. “Being inside the Beltway at this historic time will be a great experience for all participants.”
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