HISTORY OF THE
ORANGE COUNTY
CONVENTION CENTER
THE ORLANDO AREA BEGINS MARKETING ITSELF AS A CONVENTION DESTINATION. THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES A STATUTE TO ALLOW FLORIDA COUNTIES TO IMPOSE A “TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX.” RECEIPTS OF THE TAX ARE LIMITED TO CERTAIN USES AND VOTERS HAVE TO APPROVE BY REFERENDUM.
THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (BCC) CREATES THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (TDC) TO CRAFT THE “TOURIST DEVELOPMENT PLAN”, DEFINING PROPOSED USES FOR THE TAX.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ENACTS AN ORDINANCE DEFINING “THE PLAN” AS RECOMMENDED BY THE TDC, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE LANGUAGE FOR THE REFERENDUM FOR A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX.
ORANGE COUNTY VOTERS APPROVE A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX TO BUILD A CONVENTION AND CIVIC CENTER FOR PROMOTING TOURISM AND TO BEGIN PLANNING FOR AN ARENA. VOTERS, IN A NON-BINDING “STRAW BALLOT,” PREFER THE “ORLANDO CENTRAL PARK” SITE FOR THE FUTURE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER.
ORANGE COUNTY BEGINS COLLECTING THE INITIAL 2% TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX. RECEIPTS FOR THE FIRST YEAR ARE $3 MILLION.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SELECTS ORLANDO CENTRAL PARK AS THE SITE FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION & CIVIC CENTER (CURRENT SITE ON INTERNATIONAL DRIVE).
THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE 325,000 SQUARE FOOT ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION & CIVIC CENTER (OCCCC) IS SUBMITTED TO THE BCC.
THE BCC APPROVES THE LAND DONATION AGREEMENT WITH ORLANDO CENTRAL PARK. THE AGREEMENT DONATES LAND FOR THE OCCCC AND PROVIDES AN OPTION TO THE COUNTY FOR ADDITIONAL LAND. THE AGREEMENT ALSO REQUIRES ORLANDO CENTRAL PARK TO DEVELOP ADJACENT SITES AS HOTELS AND COMMITMENT OF A 1% SURCHARGE OF HOTEL ROOM REVENUES FOR 30 YEARS.
PHASE I GROUNDBREAKING; HELMAN HARLEY CHARVAT PEACOCK (HHCP) OF MAITLAND FLORIDA WAS PREVIOUSLY SELECTED AS THE ARCHITECTS FOR THIS PROJECT.
PHASE I IS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $54 MILLION. THE BOSTON POPS PERFORMS AT THE OCCCC’S GRAND OPENING CONCERT.
14,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THE OCCCC OPEN HOUSE.
THE COUNTY EXERCISES ITS OPTION AND PURCHASES 45 MORE ACRES FOR FUTURE EXPANSION FOR $2 MILLION.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCES ITS PLAN FOR A $60 MILLION EXPANSION. JUNE 1969 1977 1977 MARCH 1978 APRIL 1978 MAY 1978 AUGUST 1978 SEPTEMBER 1978 JUNE 1979 OCTOBER 1980 FEBRUARY 1983 JUNE 1984 JUNE 1985
THE TEAM OF SVERDUP, HELLMUTH OBATA & KASSABAUM, INC. (HOK) AND VICKEY/ OVRESAT ASSUMB ASSOCIATES, INC. (VOA) ARE SELECTED FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES (PHASE II).
THE ORLANDO AREA IS NAMED THE 13TH MOST POPULAR CONVENTION DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES ACCORDING TO BUSINESS TRAVEL NEWS.
THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE PASSES A BILL THAT ALLOWS ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO INCREASE THE RESORT TAX BY 1% MAKING IT A TOTAL 3%.
PHASE II GROUNDBREAKING BEGINS, THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL ADD APPROXIMATELY 150,000 GROSS SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBITION SPACE, A 50,000 SQUARE-FOOT
MULTIPURPOSE ROOM AND 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF MEETING ROOM SPACE. PHASE II IS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $83.5 MILLION, MAKING THE TOTAL OCCCC EXHIBITION SPACE 344,790 GSF. THE BCC APPROVES AN INCREASE OF 1% TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX TO FUND PHASES IIA, III, & IV OF THE CENTER’S EXPANSION, AND FUNDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FLORIDA CITRUS BOWL. THE TAX TOTALS 4% AT THAT TIME.
PHASE IIA IS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $13 MILLION. THE ADDITIONAL 100,000 GROSS SQUARE FEET INCREASES BOTH LOBBY AND REGISTRATION AREAS AND ADDS 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE.
THE DESIGN TEAM OF HUNTON BRADY PRYOR MASO ARCHITECTS (HBPM), AND THOMPSON, VENTULETT, STAINBACK & ASSOCIATES (TVS), OWNERS REPRESENTATIVE ZHA INCORPORATED, AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER: CRSS/KELSY/HARDIN ARE SELECTED BY THE BCC FOR THE PHASE III PROJECT.
THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE BCC APPROVE THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE WORD “CIVIC” IS REMOVED FROM THE
CENTER’S OFFICIAL NAME. NEW NAME IS: ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER (OCCC).
HELMAN HARLEY CHARVAT PEACOCK ARCHITECTS (HHCP), AND THOMPSON, VENTULETT, STAINBACK (TVS) ARE AWARDED THE PHASE IV DESIGN CONTRACT.
BORRELLI AND ASSOCIATES ARE AWARDED THE DESIGN CONTRACT FOR THE RETROFIT PROJECT.
AS AUTHORIZED BY FLORIDA STATUTES, THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
RECOMMENDS A 1% INCREASE (THE “FIFTH CENT”) OF THE RESORT TAX BE INSTITUTED IN ORANGE COUNTY. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVES THE INCREASE ON DECEMBER 6, 1994 AND IT IS IMPLEMENTED ON FEBRUARY 1, 1995.
PHASE III IS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $219.5 MILLION. THE EXPANSION ADDS 383,400 GROSS SQUARE FEET TO BRING THE TOTAL EXHIBITION SPACE TO 728,190 GROSS SQUARE FEET. JUNE 1985 1986 MAY 1986 FEBRUARY 1987 JANUARY 1989 DECEMBER 1990 JANUARY 1991 DECEMBER 1992 MAY 1992 OCTOBER 1994 NOVEMBER 1994 JANUARY 1996
PHASE III CONSTRUCTION BRINGS THE TOTAL OCCC’S MEETING SPACE TO 213,457 GROSS SQUARE FEET. PHASE III ALSO INCLUDES A 2,643-SEAT AUDITORIUM AND A 160-SEAT LECTURE THEATER.
PHASE IV IS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $198.7 MILLION, ADDING 367,200 GROSS SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBITION SPACE AND 99,683 GROSS SQUARE FEET OF MEETING SPACE. THIS MAKES THE TOTAL CONTIGUOUS EXHIBITION SPACE AT THE CENTER 1,095,390 SQUARE FEET.
THE RETROFIT OF HALLS D1 AND D2 ARE REQUIRED TO BRING PHASE I INTO COMPLIANCE AND CONFORMANCE WITH CURRENTLY APPLICABLE LIFE SAFETY
CODES. SOME MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE FOR OPERATIONAL AND/OR FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND WERE NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF CODE COMPLIANCE.
THE OCCC MARKETING DEPARTMENT UPDATES THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL REGARDING ITS “LOST BUSINESS REPORT”. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BUSINESS HAD BEEN REGRETTED DUE TO A LACK OF AVAILABLE DATES OR SPACE.
THE PHASE I RETROFIT IS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $32.6 MILLION.
WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE RETROFIT, THE OCCC TOTALS 1,103,538 SQUARE FEET OF CONTIGUOUS EXHIBITION SPACE, WITH APPROXIMATELY 4 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF TOTAL BUILDING SPACE.
THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BEGINS IMMEDIATE ENDORSEMENT OF A 3 MILLION SQUARE FOOT EXPANSION OF THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVES RETAINING THE 5TH CENT OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX FOR PAYOFF OF SPORTS FACILITY DEBT (ORLANDO ARENA AND CITRUS BOWL), AND TO FUND A PHASE V LAND PURCHASE AND OCCC EXPANSION.
THE WORLD EXPO CENTER’S FINANCING PARTNER, NOMURA SECURITIES CO., PULLS OUT OF THE PROJECT.
A LOCAL DEVELOPER, JEAN PIERRE CUENANT SUBMITED A PROPOSAL TO COUNTY CHAIRMAN MEL MARTINEZ FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OF PHASE V. AS A RESULT, THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN SUSPENDS ALL ACTIVITY RELATED TO OCCC EXPANSION AND CREATES THE MARTINEZ CONVENTION CENTER COMMISSION (MCCC) TO REVIEW THE PROPOSAL AND TO MAKE RECOMMANDATION TO THE BCC.
THE BCC AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY TO PAY $69 MILLION TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FOR THE 239 ACRES NEEDED FOR PHASE V EXPANSION.
JANUARY 1996 AUGUST 1996 JUNE 1997 DECEMBER 1997 JANUARY 1998 JUNE 1998 NOVEMBER 1998 DECEMBER 1998
JEAN PIERRE CUENANT PROPOSES TO THE MCCC THAT THE COUNTY JOINS PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE INVESTORS (EXPO DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS) AND SUGGESTS THAT HE CAN BUILD A BIGGER CENTER FASTER.
THE MCCC SUBMITS ITS REPORT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE COUNTY CONTINUE THE PHASE V EXPANSION AS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED. THE MCCC ALSO RECOMMENDS THE CREATION OF A CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS UNANIMOUSLY VOTES TO REJECT EXPO DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS’S BID.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTES TO SELECT A PHASE V
ARCHITECTURAL TEAM. THE BCC CONTRACTS HELMAN HURLEY CHARVAT PEACOCK ARCHITECTS, INC., THOMPSON, VENTULETT, STAINBACK & ASSOCIATES, INC. AND HUNTON, BRADY, PRYOR, MASO ARCHITECTS P.A.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SELECTS O’BRIEN KREITZBERG AS OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PHASE V EXPANSION PROJECT.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SELECTS THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, HUBER, HUNT & NICKOLS.
THE FIRST CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (COC) REPORTS TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT APPROVES A PERMIT FOR THE OCCC WETLANDS PROJECT.
THE DISTRICT RECOMMENDS THE PURCHASE AND DEDICATION OF 734 ACRES OF REMOTE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE WETLANDS.
GOPHER TORTOISES ARE SUCCESSFULLY RELOCATED TO AN ENVIRONMENTALLY-SAFE LOCATION.
THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER’S OFFICIAL PHASE V GROUNDBREAKING TAKES PLACE.
REED EXPOSITION COS. ANNOUNCES A COMMITMENT TO BRING 43 OF ITS FUTURE EVENTS TO THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER.
HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION CONFIRMS PLANS TO BUILD A 1,400-ROOM
CONVENTION HOTEL, WHICH WILL BE ADJACENT TO THE OCCC’S PHASE V EXPANSION. ORANGE COUNTY PURCHASES KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND TACO BELL SITES, WHICH COMPLETES PHASE V LAND PURCHASES.
THE COC MAKES ITS REPORT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
MARCH 1999 MAY 1999 JUNE 1999 JANUARY 2000 MARCH 2000 MAY 2000 AUGUST 2000 SEPTEMBER 2000 JANUARY 2001
COUNTY CHAIRMAN RICHARD CROTTY HIRES EDGERTON K. VAN DEN BERG, FORMER ORLANDO ATTORNEY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREATER ORLANDO AVIATION AUTHORITY, TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF PHASE V, CONFIRMING THE PHASE V PROJECT IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
THE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTOR/OVERSIGHT BRIDGE IS PLACED OVER INTERNATIONAL DRIVE.
PHASE V OPENS A MONTH BEFORE THE ORIGINAL EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE OF OCTOBER. SURF EXPO IS THE FIRST TRADESHOW HELD IN THE NORTH/SOUTH BUILDING (SEPTEMBER 12TH), THE ORLANDO HOME SHOW IS THE FIRST SHOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (SEPTEMBER 26TH TO 28TH).
“CENTERFEST”, THE OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING OF THE NORTH/SOUTH BUILDING, TAKES PLACE ON NOVEMBER 21ST.
CENTERFEST CONTINUES ON NOVEMBER 22ND, LOCAL CITIZENS ENJOY STREET VENDORS, LIVE CONCERTS AND A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY. FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE OCCC WINS THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY’S INNER CIRCLE AWARD. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES THE OCCC’S EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO THE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS MARKETPLACE.
OVER A SIX-WEEK PERIOD, HURRICANES CHARLEY, FRANCES, IVAN AND JEANNE POUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THE OCCC HOUSES ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE UNITS, URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE UNITS, RESCUE HELICOPTERS AND THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MARINE, K-9 AND EQUINE UNITS. PROGRESS ENERGY SAFEGUARDS APPROXIMATELY 1,000 TRUCKS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. THE OCCC ALSO SERVES AS A STAGING AREA FOR HEAVY DEBRIS REMOVAL TRUCKS AND AS A RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTION POINT FOR SUPPLIES SUCH AS ICE, WATER AND MOSQUITO REPELLANT. MEDIA UNITS (TRUCKS, HELICOPTERS, ETC) COVERING THE HURRICANES ARE ALSO INVITED TO PARK AT THE CENTER.
THE OCCC OPENS ITS DOORS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND AS A SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTER FOR FEMA (FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY).
THE OCCC HOSTS 270,900 ATTENDEES IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY WITH MAJOR SHOWS SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS’ SHOW, THE SUPER SHOW AND THE PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW. AS A RESULT, FIRST QUARTER 2005 SHOW ATTENDANCE ALONE EXCEEDS THE TOTAL YEARLY ATTENDANCE OF THE OCCC’S FIRST SIX YEARS OF OPERATION.
ORANGE COUNTY AGREES TO SPEND $1.5 MILLION IN TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS TO EASE CONGESTION AROUND INTERNATIONAL DRIVE, ONE OF THE MAJOR ROADWAYS SERVING THE CONVENTION CENTER.
JUNE 2001
JUNE 2002
SEPTEMBER 2003
NOVEMBER 2003
2004
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2004
JANUARY 2005
THE OCCC WEBSITE: WWW.OCCC.NET IS REDESIGNED. IT NOW PROVIDES ADDED CONVENIENCE FOR EVENT PLANNERS AND VISITORS, WITH EASY ACCESS TO
INFORMATION INCLUDING: EVENT CALENDAR, EVENT BOOKING & PLANNING TOOLS, MAPS, DIRECTIONS AND MORE REAL-TIME INFORMATION.
OCCC STAFF MEMBERS ARE AMONG THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO COMPLETE A RIGOROUS CERTIFICATION EXAM OF THE ENTERTAINMENT TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM COUNCIL. THIS SIGNIFIES THE OCCC’S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND EMPLOYING HIGHLY EXPERIENCED RIGGING STAFF.
HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION, APOLLO REAL ESTATE ADVISORS AND RIDA
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ANNOUNCE PLANS TO BUILD THE 1,400 ROOM HILTON ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL, FILLING A VOID IN HIGH-END HOTEL ROOMS NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
DOWNTOWN ORANGE COUNTY ORANGE TV LAUNCHES, PROVIDING LOCAL TV VIEWERS A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT MANY PRIVATE CONVENTIONS HELD AT THE OCCC. GARY SAIN APPOINTED NEW PRESIDENT OF ORLANDO/ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU.
HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION, APOLLO REAL ESTATE ADVISORS AND RIDA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BREAK GROUND ON THE 1,400 ROOM HILTON
ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL. THE 18-STORY HOTEL WILL SIT ON 26.4 ACRES AND COST APPROXIMATELY $380 MILLION.
THE OCCC IS AWARDED A $1.8 MILLION GRANT TO INSTALL A ONE-MEGAWATT ROOFTOP SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM, WHICH WILL BE THE LARGEST PV SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. THE $7.3 MILLION PROJECT WILL INCLUDE A CLIMATE-CHANGE EDUCATION CENTER TO PROMOTE THE MANY ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF SOLAR AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES.
OCCC CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY.
CANADIAN COURT “SUPER STOP” OPENS, SERVING AS A TRANSFER POINT FOR TRANSIT, PRIVATE CARRIERS AND OCCC SHUTTLES FOR VISITORS TO AND EMPLOYEES.
HILTON ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL OPENS.
THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER ANNOUNCES THAT IT HAS REGISTERED WITH THE US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL FOR LEED (LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN) FOR EXISTING BUILDING CERTIFICATION.
ORLANDO’S ROSEN HOTELS & RESORTS AND ORANGE COUNTY ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CONNECTING THE ROSEN CENTRE HOTEL TO THE OCCC. THE $2 MILLION PROJECT WILL ALLOW PEDESTRIANS TO MOVE FREELY BETWEEN THE ROSEN CENTRE HOTEL AND THE CONVENTION CENTER COMPLEX WITHOUT VENTURING ONTO INTERNATIONAL DRIVE OR CONVENTION WAY.
AUGUST 2005 FEBRUARY 2006 MARCH 2006 JANUARY 2007 MAY 2007 DECEMBER 2007 APRIL 2008 JUNE 2008 SEPTEMBER 2009 APRIL 2010 JULY 2010
THE OCCC IS AWARDED THE 2010 INNER CIRCLE AWARD IN THE CATEGORY OF TOP CONVENTION CENTERS BY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS MAGAZINE.
THE OCCC IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE, FLEXIBLE MEETING SPACE AND QUALITY OF FOOD & BEVERAGE.
PEABODY ORLANDO HOTEL COMPLETES $450 MILLION EXPANSION AND RENOVATION ADDING 750 HOTEL ROOMS AND A 54,652 SQUARE FOOT BALLROOM.
ORLANDO/ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU OFFICIALLY
CHANGES NAME TO VISIT ORLANDO TO STRENGTHEN GLOBAL SALES AND MARKETING INITIATIVES.
THE SKYWALK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CONNECTING THE ROSEN CENTRE HOTEL AND THE OCCC WEST BUILDING OPENS.
OCCC INTRODUCES SHORT TERM PARKING AT WEST BUILDING. THIS PROVIDES CONVENIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE OPTIONS FOR GUESTS WHO DO NOT REQUIRE DAILY PARKING.
IN 2011, THE OCCC DONATED MORE THAN $1.6 MILLION IN GOODS & SERVICES TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS BY VISITING CONVENTIONS AND TRADESHOWS AND THEIR EXHIBITORS AND ATTENDEES.
NATIONAL PLASTICS EXPO IS THE FIRST MAJOR INDUSTRIAL SHOW TO UTILIZE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER FACILITIES, OCCUPYING BOTH BUILDINGS. THIS CONVENTION SIGNIFIED THAT OCCC IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING LARGE, INDUSTRIAL EVENTS.
THE OCCC IS NAMED THE TOP CONVENTION CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES BY BUSINESS REVIEW USA.
THE OCCC IS NAMED ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST CONVENTION CENTERS BY AIPC, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONGRESS CENTRES.
A FIVE YEAR, $187 MILLION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS ANNOUNCED. THIS WILL PROVIDE NEEDED UPGRADES AND RENOVATIONS, INCLUDING: ROOFING, AIR CONDITIONING, RESTROOMS, SEATING AND WAYFINDING AMONG OTHER INITIATIVES. THE OCCC WEB APP IS VOTED THE MOST INNOVATIVE TECH INITIATIVE SERVICING ATTENDEES, AND IS AWARDED THE 2012 TRADE SHOW EXECUTIVE INNOVATION AWARD.
SMARTCITY’S WIRELESS $1.4 MILLION WIRELESS UPGRADE IS COMPLETED, ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY BY SUPPORTING MORE WIRELESS DEVICES AND ALLOWING FOR FASTER DOWNLOAD SPEEDS. AUGUST 2010 DECEMBER 2010 MAY 2011 SEPTEMBER 2011 DECEMBER 2011 APRIL 2012 JULY 2012 SEPTEMBER 2012 OCTOBER 2012
IN 2012, THE OCCC DONATED MORE THAN $1.9 MILLION IN GOODS & SERVICES TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS BY VISITING CONVENTIONS AND TRADESHOWS AND THEIR EXHIBITORS AND ATTENDEES. THIS IS NEARLY A 20% INCREASE OVER GOODS & SERVICES DONATED IN 2011.
VISIT ORLANDO NAMES GEORGE ARMANDO AGUEL PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
THE OCCC IS ANNOUNCED AS ONE OF BUSINESS REVIEW USA’S TOP FOUR
CONVENTION CENTERS. THE OCCC IS DESCRIBED AS “STUNNING” AND OFFERING AMENITIES THAT ARE “SECOND TO NONE”.
ROSEN HOTELS & RESORTS ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BUILD A $3 MILLION PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CONNECTING THE ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL WITH THE OCCC WEST BUILDING. OCCC CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY
THE OCCC INCREASES SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS BY PARTNERING WITH ORGANIC MATTERS, THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL FOOD WASTE RECYCLER IN THE STATE. THIS ALLOWS THE OCCC TO DIVERT FOOD WASTE FROM LANDFILLS BY CONVERTING IT TO HIGH QUALITY LIVESTOCK FEED.
THE OCCC IS AWARDED THE 2013 VENUE EXCELLENCE AWARD AT VENUECONNECT, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF VENUE MANAGERS 88TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE OCCC HAS RECEIVED THIS HONOR.
THE GARY SAIN MEMORIAL BRIDGE IS COMPLETED, CONNECTING THE ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL TO THE OCCC AT THE WEST CONCOURSE. OCCC GUESTS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO MORE THAN 5,200 HOTEL ROOMS VIA PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES.
THE PEABODY ORLANDO HOTEL IS SOLD TO HYATT HOTELS FOR $717 MILLION AND CONVERTED TO THE HYATT REGENCY ORLANDO.
THE OCCC’S NORTH/SOUTH BUILDING BECOMES THE LARGEST CONVENTION CENTER IN THE WORLD TO ACHIEVE THE GOLD LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED®) FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS: OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE GOLD (EBOM) CERTIFICATION FROM THE GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE.
OCCC WINS 2013 SUSTAINABLE FLORIDA BEST PRACTICE AWARD IN THE GOVERNMENT DIVISION. DECEMBER 2012 JANUARY 2013 MARCH 2013 APRIL 2013 JUNE 2013 JULY 2013 SEPTEMBER 2013 OCTOBER 2013
