ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) welcomed its first trade show under modified operations on July 24.
The Together Again Expo, hosted in collaboration with Alliance Nationwide Exposition, offered a hybrid solution to connect more than 1,400 live industry professionals and 8,225 virtual attendees. In all, the expo featured a robust lineup of industry experts and more than 250 industry exhibitors.
Setting an example on how live events may be hosted in the future, the OCCC and Alliance successfully revised the traditional trade show experience to offer a safe and controlled environment for attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and participants.
“We were honored to have played a role in the successful execution of the Together Again
Expo,” said OCCC executive director Mark Tester. “Gaining widespread industry attention, this event provided hope, optimism, and practical solutions at a time when our industry needs it most.”
Guided by its Recovery and Resiliency Plan, the OCCC implemented a series of precautionary measures, including controlling the check-in process to direct attendee flow, monitoring temperatures prior to entry, rearranging floor plans to respect physical distancing, implementing limited capacity on the exhibit floor, and providing complimentary personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to all attendees and exhibitors.
As a Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accredited venue, strict sanitation measures were also taken throughout the duration of the event, including the move-in and move-out process.
The OCCC also successfully hosted the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships under modified operations from July 14 to 22. With an estimated 9,600 players, chaperones, and coaches in attendance, the OCCC proactively implemented a series of precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of guests, employees, and the surrounding community throughout the duration of the event.
The AAU generated an estimated $12.3 million in economic impact for the community as it returned to the OCCC for the 19th year.
