Trade Show News

Caribe Royale Orlando is highlighted as a premier all-suite convention hotel, boasting 260,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, including a 50,000-square-foot ballroom. With 1,337 guest rooms and eight on-site dining options, the resort offers a comprehensive destination for meeting planners, groups, and large-scale conventions. It combines the functionality of a large convention hotel with resort amenities.

Signia by Hilton Orlando, an Official Walt Disney World® Hotel, offers over 231,000 sq. ft. of flexible and contemporary meeting and event space. This includes a newly debuted 84,000 sq. ft. Waterside Expansion, designed to accommodate large conventions and smaller meetings. The hotel emphasizes innovative and customized services to ensure successful event experiences.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts has initiated a $150 million renovation project for its Rosen Plaza and Rosen Shingle Creek properties in Orlando. The renovations will include redesigned guest rooms, suites, and corridors. Rosen Shingle Creek's 524,000 square feet of event space will also be upgraded, with Rosen Plaza's completion expected in fall 2026 and Rosen Shingle Creek in 2027.

The IAADFS Summit of the Americas, a major duty-free and travel retail event, is noted to impact hotel availability in Orlando, particularly around Rosen Shingle Creek and the International Drive area, due to its size and timing during Orlando's busy spring travel season.

Israeli businessman Bebo Kovo received planning approval for a $19 billion real estate project in Florida, the "Tuscany Plan," near International Drive and bordering the Orange County Convention Center. The development includes 4,814 apartments, 1,291 hotel rooms, and 60,700 sq.m. of commercial space, impacting Orlando's hospitality and tourism sector.

Allen Johnson, Chief Venues Officer for the City of Orlando, was named a 2026 VenuesNow All-Star, recognizing his leadership and impact on the live entertainment and venue industry, overseeing iconic venues like Kia Center and Camping World Stadium.

Trade Show Executive magazine's October issue features an interview with Mark Tester, Executive Director of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). Tester discusses the OCCC's ongoing multi-million-dollar expansion, strategies for controlling costs, and how event organizers can best utilize the expertise of venues, DMOs, and CVBs to produce successful trade shows.

FedEx Office is seeking an Events Solutions Consultant in Orlando to manage on-site sales and support for event managers and participants at Hospitality & Conventions (HC) locations, fostering relationships with hotel and convention center staff.

Informa is set to acquire Clarion Events from asset manager Blackstone for $2.97 billion, a deal expected to be completed in Q4 2026. This acquisition represents one of the largest in the exhibitions industry's history.

A Hire Power, a 100% woman-owned business, provides event and convention staffing services, with experience supporting over 200 events annually in various major U.S. cities, including Orlando.

THAT! Collector Show is coming to Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, December 6, 2026, at the OCPS Academic Center for Excellence. This event will feature collecting, trading, and discovering various collectibles, including Pokémon, TCG, and trading cards. It offers an opportunity for collectors to meet fellow enthusiasts and connect with vendors.

HITEC Orlando, recognized as the world's largest hospitality technology trade show, is set to convene over 6,100 industry professionals and more than 400 technology exhibitors at the Orange County Convention Center. The event will feature a comprehensive 50+ session education program covering hospitality technology trends, AI-driven solutions, and market innovations. It serves as a crucial platform for hotel operators, technology vendors, and hospitality decision-makers.

The Florida Restaurant Show, celebrating its 55th anniversary, and the 5th annual Pizza Tomorrow Summit will return to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from October 25–27. These co-located events will feature over 400 exhibitors, more than 40 hours of educational content, culinary competitions, and networking opportunities for foodservice professionals.

Orlando's upcoming trade show calendar features METALCON International (October 7–9, 2026), the Global Produce & Floral Show (October 15, 2026), and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show (October 25, 2026). Other events include the Advanced Textiles Expo and Sun Shading Expo North America (both November 3, 2026), and the Central Florida International Auto Show (November 13, 2026).

"The Gathering," an education and training event, is scheduled at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando from September 14 to September 17, 2026. The ABC Construction Expo is also listed for September 17, 2026, in Orlando.

Orlando announced significant developments at IMEX America 2026, including the ongoing $560 million Grand Concourse Expansion at the Orange County Convention Center, which will add 44,000 sq ft of meeting space and a 100,000 sq ft ballroom by late 2029. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort has also opened 'The Peninsula,' a new convention annex with over 100,000 sq ft of event space, as part of a $300 million renovation. Additionally, Rosen Hotels & Resorts has begun a $150 million renovation of Rosen Plaza and Rosen Shingle Creek, upgrading guest rooms and event spaces.

Orlando is highlighting a $560 million expansion of the Orange County Convention Center, which includes a 100,000-square-foot ballroom and 44,000 square feet of meeting space, slated to open by late 2029. Additionally, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is adding over 100,000 square feet of new event space. These investments aim to provide planners with more flexible convention space and venue options.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings recommended over $800 million in hotel tax dollars for various projects, but stated that funding a $560 million expansion of the Orange County Convention Center "is not fiscally viable at this time." This follows a task force's earlier rejection of a similar expansion bid.

TEDxOrlando is returning to the Orange County Convention Center's newly renovated Linda W. Chapin Theater after an 8-year hiatus, featuring 13 local speakers.

The Orange County Convention Center held an official groundbreaking for its $560 million expansion to the North and South buildings. This expansion is anticipated to open in 2029 and is expected to be a significant development for attracting more B2B global conventions to Orlando.