Orlando has always been a popular vacation destination, and the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) has made the central Florida metropolis an ideal location for all sorts of conventions and trade shows. With over 2 million square feet of exhibit space and designed for convenience, the OCCC has been drawing events of all sizes since its expansion in 2003.
Venue Breakdown
The OCCC offers a range of exhibit and meeting spaces to accommodate a variety of event sizes and configurations. Their areas include:
- West Building, with 4 million total square feet, including 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space
- North-South Building, with 3 million total square feet, including 950,000 square feet of exhibit space
- 70 meeting rooms
- 226 breakout rooms
- Valencia Ballroom with over 62,000 square feet
- Linda W. Chapin Theatre with over 2,600 seats
- Lecture Hall with 160 seats
Please view the OCCC’s floorplans for additional specifications and information.
Onsite & Nearby Amenities
Orlando’s largest convention center is a gorgeous and innovative venue. Visitors will enjoy aeroponic gardens throughout the buildings and be treated to the gardens’ herbs and vegetables when dining at one of the eight food courts. Additionally, the OCCC is easily accessible from adjacent hotels, with pedestrian bridges connecting the venue to The Hilton, the Hyatt Regency, the Rosen Plaza, and the Rosen Centre.
For exhibitors and attendees who want to explore Orlando, the OCCC is conveniently located on International Drive, which is chock full of dining and shopping opportunities. The convention center is just a 20-minute drive to Disney World and 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport, making it a great opportunity for conventiongoers to bring their families and enjoy a vacation before or after their event.
History
The OCCC celebrated its grand opening in 1983 with a concert by the Boston Pops. Within three short years, Orlando became one of the most popular convention cities in the United States, and by 1989, the venue had completed its first major expansion project.
Additional expansions and renovations in the 1990s added more exhibit and meeting spaces—but the biggest undertaking came a bit later. In November of 2003, the massive North-South Building opened with “Centerfest”, a celebration that treated the public to concerts, vendors, and Christmas-themed festivities.
Over the decades, the OCCC has housed emergency personnel during hurricane crises, enhanced its sustainability and technological offerings, and has drawn the attention of domestic and international trade shows and conventions. It’s now an extremely popular expo venue and hosts small, medium, and large events year round.
If you are planning to exhibit at an event being hosted at the Orange County Convention Center, contact us today for more information on how we can help.
Learn more about other venues in the Southeastern United States: Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center, Broward County Convention Center, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Georgia World Congress Center, Greenville Convention Center, Miami Beach Convention Center, Raleigh Convention Center, and Tampa Convention Center.