Convention Center Briefs: Orlando, Phoenix, and San Antonio Convention Centers Launch Expansion Projects, Sustainability Initiatives, Tech Upgrades

Three major U.S. convention centers announced event space expansions, new environmental practices, and enhanced tech capabilities recently.  

OCCC to Start Expansion Project in 2026 

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., will soon kick off a $560 million expansion project resulting in an additional 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom in its North-South Building. Officially named the Grand Concourse Expansion, construction will begin in 2026 and is expected to finish in 2029. 

“We are excited to begin work on our Grand Concourse Expansion,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “This project will significantly improve the convention center as we continue to meet the growing needs of our clients, and the meetings and events industry.” 

Besides providing the North-South Building with additional meeting room space and a flexible grand ballroom, the expansion will feature enhanced connectivity and multipurpose areas for additional capacity. 

Additionally, the OCCC received approval to design the second phase of the expansion project, Phase 5B, which will bring an additional 200,000 sq. ft. of contiguous multipurpose/exhibit space to the building, while also incorporating connectivity between the North and South Concourses.  

When completed, both phases will provide a grand total of 1.15 million sq. ft. of exhibit space in the North-South Building. 

In other OCCC news, the facility recently conducted a full-scale safety exercise to test its security and emergency response plans for a potential complex coordinated attack.  

Held in partnership with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR), and Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), the exercise featured nearly 400 participants and 150 first responders from OCSO and OCFR and involved multiple simulated incidents to assess core capabilities, including on-scene security and protection, mass care services, situational assessment, public information and warning, and operational coordination.  

Designed to evaluate the preparedness and coordination of the OCCC, OCFR, and OCSO in the event of a real-life emergency, the 90-minute training event not only served as an important opportunity to reinforce the facility’s safety protocols but also marked the first time a U.S. convention center has hosted a joint exercise of this size with the CISA, according to OCCC officials. 

“The lessons we learned during this joint exercise underscore the critical importance of collaboration between federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety of our customers and guests,” Tester said. “This event provided invaluable insights that allowed us to strengthen our preparedness efforts to ensure that we provide clients and guests a safe venue where they can continue to feel confident and secure in hosting events at the OCCC.” 

Phoenix Convention Center Embraces Reusable Serveware 

Environmentally conscious guests attending events at the Phoenix Convention Center (PCC) are going to be pleased when they order a poured beverage at the desert facility. The PCC, in collaboration with Bold Reuse, PepsiCo, and Aventura Catering, an exclusive brand of Aramark Sports + Entertainment, recently launched an innovative facility-wide program that is implementing reusable food and drink packaging in support of the venue’s ambitious environmental goals.  

Designed to reduce waste generated at the PCC while fostering a more sustainable event experience for event attendees, the reusable packaging program provides durable, reusable dishes for meals from the Phoenix Kitchens Downtown Food Hall and reusable cups for poured PepsiCo beverages.  

“The Phoenix Convention Center is proud of this innovative partnership that not only focuses on sustainable event practices, but also enhances the experience of our guests,” explained Jerry Harper, director of the Phoenix Convention Center & Venues. “We’re co-creating a blueprint for the future of sustainable venues, one that reduces waste and inspires others to join the movement.”  

In July 2024, Aventura Catering, the PCC’s exclusive food, beverage and retail provider, began a pilot program to switch to reuseable serveware, after which it engaged Portland, Ore.-based Bold Reuse, a national leader in reusable packaging solutions, to bolster the venue’s commitment to reducing single use waste. The program kicked off its successful launch at COMPOST2025 on January 27, according to PCC officials.  

“Aventura Catering is thrilled to be part of this important initiative at the Phoenix Convention Center,” said John Erickson, general manager for Aventura Catering at the Phoenix Convention Center. “By integrating reusable serveware into our operations, we are reducing waste but also enhancing the overall dining experience for our guests. This program aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the events industry.”  

As part of the partnership, Bold Reuse supplies and manages the sanitization, delivery, and inventory of reusable and recyclable serveware and drinkware, while Aventura Catering is working to integrate the reusable packaging program into its operations.  

“This partnership isn’t just about reducing waste—it’s about proving that sustainability is the future of the events industry,” said Heather Watkins, co-founder of Bold Reuse. “By collaborating with forward-thinking organizations like the Phoenix Convention Center, Aventura Catering, and PepsiCo, we’re showing the world what’s possible when bold ideas meet bold action.”  

The program is taking place in three phases to ensure smooth implementation while maximizing environmental impact: 

• Phase One: Durable dishes and reusable cups in food hall concessions with convenient return stations, started December 2024.  
• Phase Two: Reusable cups for PepsiCo beverages throughout the venue, launched February 2025.  
• Phase Three: Transitioning larger banquets and catering to reusable solutions 

“Driving reuse at scale isn’t just about sustainability—it’s about unlocking new opportunities and creating value across the entire ecosystem,” said Shay Hobby, senior vice president commercial, PepsiCo U.S. Beverages – West Division. “Real transformation happens when brands, retailers, and partners align to make it easier for consumers to buy, use, and return products in a way that works for them. This is a team effort, and by working together, we can aspire to accelerate change and drive both impact and growth.” 

Smart City Networks Completes Wi-Fi Network Upgrade in San Antonio 

Leading event technology services provider Smart City Networks partnered with the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio to complete a technology upgrade to a Wi-Fi 7 network, providing cutting-edge speed, efficiency, and reliability for all events hosted at the venue. 

“Our continued commitment is to the ultimate client experience at the Henry B. González Convention Center,” said Patricia Muzquiz Cantor, director of convention and sports facilities for the City of San Antonio. “This upgrade further positions us to attract and service premier events at our remarkable facility.” 

Wi-Fi 7 enhancements include: 

• Ultra-fast speeds: With multi-gigabit throughput, WiFi 7 delivers ultra-fast downloads, seamless video streaming, and real-time data transfer, empowering event exhibitors and attendees with high-performance connectivity. 
• Reliability and low latency: Wi-Fi 7 provides advanced capabilities that drastically reduce congestion, allowing for lag-free video conferencing, instant cloud collaboration, and real-time engagement across devices. 
• Connectivity for large crowds: Designed to support thousands of simultaneous users, the upgraded network will provide seamless connectivity for high-density events, even during peak usage times. 
• Enhanced security and stability: Advanced encryption and security protocols ensure safe and secure connections to protect users, exhibitors, and event organizers. 

“Smart City Networks is proud to bring the next era of wireless connectivity to the Henry B. González Convention Center,” said Tim Wortman, vice president of operations at Smart City Networks. “With this upgrade to Wi-Fi 7, we are setting a new standard for event technology, ensuring that visitors experience seamless, high-speed, and highly secure wireless connectivity at every event.” 

Lead image: Aerial of the OCCC post-expansion. Photo courtesy of Orange County Convention Center.

Have some convention venue news to share? Reach out to lisa.savas@informa.com and danica.tormohlen@informa.com.

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE, listen to our latest podcast HERE and engage with us on X, Facebook and LinkedIn!