It’s no surprise that Orlando tops many trade show exhibitors’ and attendees’ lists of “favorite places to exhibit/attend a trade show”. With average high temperatures, in the Winter, hovering around 71 degrees and no shortage of things to do, when not on the show floor – Orlando is simply a fantastic place for trade shows and conferences.
Back up the local attractions, restaurants and theme parks with the Orange County Convention Center’s 2.1-million square feet of exhibition space, surrounded by 113,000 hotel rooms and you have one of the Nation’s top trade show and meeting destinations.
So, what are the 5 things we like most about Orlando for trade shows?
Availability of High-Quality Trade Show & Meeting Space
Certainly the Orange County Convention Center is one of the largest attractors for meeting planners and show organizers. After all, the venue includes a hefty list of features:
- Two 92,000-square foot general assembly areas
- 74 meeting rooms
- A 2,643-seat theater
- Three full-service restaurants/8 food courts
- Three business centers
- Three covered loading docks/173 truck bays
(source: Orange County Convention Center website: www.occc.net)
But let’s not forget about the other quality, secondary locations & venues like The Marriott World Center, the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin and the Rosen Shingle Creek.
All of these (and other) venues are world-class locations of their own and add to the overall attraction Orlando as a top trade show destination.
Golf! And Lots of It!
Did we mention that a great trade show destination isn’t just about meeting space?
Entertaining clients (and getting a bit of R&R) off the show floor is important to the overall mix – and what better way to connect than hitting the ball around with the ‘ol crooked sticks?
The Orlando area boasts over 170 golf courses, some of the world’s most prestigious tournaments and is home to more pro golfers than any other city in the world. That’s saying something!
No Shortage of Restaurants, Nightlife & Entertainment
When the show closes for the day and the sun goes down, there is no shortage of culinary choices nor nightlife in Orlando. With Downtown Disney and Universal Studios City Walk only minutes from just about any Orlando hotel – there is plenty to experience.
Some of our favorite restaurants at these venues include:
- Wolfgang Puck’s
- Bongos Cuban Cafe
- Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando
- Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
- Orlando Hard Rock Cafe
And it’s not just about the food. After a long day on the show floor, you might just be a bit thirsty! Both Downtown Disney and Universal’s City Walk have a number of watering holes and night clubs to keep you dancing all night long!
The World’s Best Theme Parks and Attractions
After all, Orlando is home to the Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld and Universal Studios Orlando! So, if you decide to extend your stay or arrive early – you and your family can take advantage of the truly world-class theme parks and attractions that Orlando has to offer.
And don’t forget about Orlando’s close proximity to both the east and west coasts of Florida! With each only about an hour’s drive – taking a client charter fishing for an afternoon can be an experience neither of you will soon forget AND a great bonding experience to boot!
Last But Not least, It’s Our Back Yard!
It’s not by accident that DesignShop (now ColorCraft) is located in Orlando! With a growing talent pool of creatives and artisans AND some of the best trade show venues in the world – we’re proud to call Orlando home to our corporate headquarters!!
Exhibiting here in Orlando? Give us a shout – we’d love to tell you more about our home and how we can help make your trade show event here an overwhelming success!
