GLM will co-locate an e-commerce conference with its Surf Expo this Fall. Internet Retailer@Surf Expo will serve the many small retailers and startups involved in surfing that are also heavily dependent on e-commerce to drive sales. Internet Retailer is owned by Vertical Web Media and has a portfolio of conferences in the e-commerce sector. Reach Surf Expo Show Director Roy Turner at (678) 781-7979 or rturner@surfexpo.com…….
The National Stationery Show (NSS) and the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) agreed to a co-location beginning in the Spring. The CHA will launch the Creative Conference and the NSS in New York May 19-22, and GLM will stage an event for “distinctive stationery and lifestyle products” at the CHA Conference & Trade Show in Anaheim January 11-15, 2014. The target audience is stationery store owners who might be considering expanding into the burgeoning crafting arena. Reach Patti Stracher, GLM vice president, at (914) 421-3394 or pstracher@glmshows.com……….
The Miami Beach Convention Center renovation project appeared to still be on track after a move by a single city commissioner to reopen the bidding on the design work. The attempt to allow a third design firm into the group of finalists failed although the commission did agree to require affidavits from all five bidders stating they had no improper contact with the city’s former procurement director, who was indicted on charges not related to the convention center. Miami Beach was to begin a series of public meetings on the project in late January. Reach Kay Hollander, director of sales & marketing for the Miami Beach Convention Center, at (305) 673-7315 or khollander@themiamibeachcc.com……
Freeman made it easier for pipe-and-drape exhibitors to put together color schemes for their booths while on the go. The ColorSelector application for Apple and Android smart phones allows users to visually mix and match the available colors for their drape, table coverings and carpeting, and then save and email the different options. ColorSelector is available for download at Google Play and the Apple App Store. Reach Jay Atherton, Freeman executive vice president of operations, at (214) 445-1000 or jay.atherton@freemanco.com……..
Messe Dusseldorf and Starling Expo will launch a new trade show in Africa this Fall for the food packaging industry tied to itsinterpak brand. Food Processing & Packaging Expo will debut November 26-28 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi. The project is the first show in Africa tied to the triennial interpak, which is held in Germany, and will include educational content on establishing business relationships in Africa. Reach Bernd Jablonowski, director of interpack, at +49 211 4560-480 or jablonowskib@messe-duesseldorf.de………
The Pennsylvania Convention Center hosted a delegation of tourism officials from Zambia who were in the U.S. to pick up pointers on best practices in conference planning. The group met with members of the Philadelphia team to discuss convention center functions including sales, event operations, housekeeping and technology. Zambia hosts the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Annual Conference in August……..
