Convention Center News and Views
August 2021
Greetings,

First, I would like share the news that The Center of Hospitality is the first convention center globally to receive reaccreditation by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning trade association. Our GBAC STAR reaccreditation on outbreak prevention, response and recovery is another step to ensuring the Center’s business continuity as we continue to lead the economic recovery in the conventions and trade show industry. Special thanks to our team members who worked on the reaccreditation process and all who continue to implement these elevated measures of cleanliness and infection prevention.

In August, the OCCC welcomed 11 events with an estimated attendance of 131,162, and a projected economic impact of $169 million for our community. We kicked off the month by welcoming back the General Council of the Assemblies of God for their biannual meeting from Aug. 2-6, 2021. The ministry hosted 19,000 attendees from across the country with an estimated economic impact of $48.9 million for the region. The General Council of the Assemblies of God also donated 39 bookcases to the Center – 14 of which were donated to Orange County’s Great Oaks Village. The donation of these bookcases will allow the agency to provide residents additional reading and educational resources.

From Aug. 12-15, pop culture fans descended upon the OCCC for Megacon Orlando. Welcoming thousands of guests across the four-day event, the event featured cosplayers, celebrities, vendors and more, in addition to stringent health and safety requirements including required facemasks.

To round out the month, we welcomed back one of our legacy events, The Landscape Show, hosted by the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association. From Aug. 25-27, nearly 6,000 tree buyers, landscapers, plant enthusiasts and customers gathered at The Landscape Show, creating an estimated economic impact of $15.4 million.

We continue to prove that the OCCC can host events safely, by prioritizing the importance of increased health and safety precautions, including following the CDC’s recommendations and our Recovery and Resiliency Guidelines. I am so thankful for the ongoing support and flexibility of our clients, partners and guests as we continue to move forward and do Business Better Than Usual.
Mark Tester
Executive Director
Orange County Convention Center
OCCC Press Releases
The OCCC received GBAC STAR reaccreditation after safely hosting 100 in-person events.
Orange County Convention Center First To Receive GBAC STAR Reaccreditation

The OCCC is the first convention center globally to receive GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™, (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, after a successful year of hosting in- person events.

OCCC Warehouse staff deliver 14 bookcases donated by the General Council of the Assemblies of God to Great Oaks Village.
Orange County Convention Center Supports Great Oaks Village Foster Home

The OCCC continues to demonstrate its dedication to the local community during these unprecedented times by giving back and supporting organizations in need. The General Council of the Assemblies of God USA recently hosted its bi-annual meeting in Orlando welcoming 19,000 attendees with an estimated economic impact of $48.9 million for the community. The group graciously donated 39 bookcases to the Center – 14 of which were donated to Orange County’s Great Oaks Village.

The OCCC hosted The Landscape Show 2021 in its North-South Building from Aug. 25-27, 2021.
The Orange County Convention Center Welcomes Back Legacy Client – The Landscape Show 

The OCCC welcomed back legacy-client the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) for 2021 The Landscape Show, held from August 25-27. Offering a diverse mix of companies exhibiting plants, trees, hard goods, equipment and services, The Landscape Show hosted nearly 6,000 industry professionals generating an estimated economic impact of $15.4 million. 
 
OCCC is Doing Business Better Than Usual
As North America’s premier location for safe in-person events, tradeshows and conventions, the OCCC has successfully welcomed more than 100 conventions, trade shows, meetings, consumer and sporting events since July 2020. While convention centers and facilities are just beginning to return to back to business, the OCCC is doing Business Better Than Usual, through their expert knowledge of hosting clean and safe events. This is a new era for tradeshows and conventions and the OCCC continues to lead the way.
OCCC Media Mentions
Foodservice Equipment & Supplies Magazine | A New Convention Center Dining Experience
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