Florida is right-to-work. Show kits at the OCCC let full-time employees of the exhibiting company set up their own booth; electrical connections and rigging stay with the OCCC.
Exhibitor guide · Orlando, FL · Updated
Orange County Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
Two buildings on opposite sides of International Drive, 2.05 million sq ft of exhibit space, and a Florida floor where your own staff can usually build the booth. The rule that catches exhibitors here is fire code: put a canopy over 300 sq ft of your booth, or a deck anyone stands on, and Orange County Fire Rescue reviews your drawings and posts a fire watch.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: “Orange County Convention Center” by TimWilson, CC BY 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Orange County Convention Center
Covered areas over 300 sq ft and every multilevel booth need a fire watch on show days, or an approved automatic sprinkler system, plus drawings reviewed by the OCCC and Orange County Fire Rescue.
The West Building and the North/South Building sit on opposite sides of International Drive, with separate docks and attached hotels. IAAPA 2026 and NPE2027 use both.
From the OCCC's building specifications. Your show sets the booth height limit, which is usually far below the ceiling.
Photos: "Star Wars Celebration Orlando 2017" by Michel Curi, CC BY 2.0 Source · "2023 MegaCon Orlando, FL" by TDelCoro, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source · "2023 MegaCon Orlando, FL" by TDelCoro, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Floor plan & exhibit halls
Orange County Convention Center floor plan: West Building and North/South Building
The West Building is the original center, grown in four phases from 1983 to 1996. The North/South Building opened across International Drive in 2003. They are linked by a pedestrian bridge, but they have separate docks, separate freight schedules and separate attached hotels. Tap a building for its size and specs.
Schematic. Widths are proportional to exhibit space, not an architectural plan; the two buildings face each other across International Drive. Official hall plans are on occc.net.
West Building, Halls A–F
- 1,103,538 sq ft of exhibit space
- 30–40 ft hall ceilings
- 97 covered truck bays on one level
About 1.1 million contiguous sq ft in one long run of halls, with in-floor utilities on 30 ft centers and 14 exhibit-floor truck entrances. Home to the PGA Show, Global Pet Expo, InfoComm and many fan and consumer shows. The 62,182 sq ft Valencia Room and the 2,643-seat Chapin Theater are here too.
North/South Building
- 950,282 sq ft in six halls
- 40 ft hall ceilings
- 77 truck bays, underground docks
North A1, A2 and B and South A1, A2 and B can be joined into one floor or split. A full utility grid on 30 ft centers, a catwalk network, nine drive-in truck entrances and an airplane door make it the building for machinery and aircraft shows. The Tangerine Ballroom and 25 meeting rooms sit above the halls.
62,182sq ft Valencia Room, West Building · up to 6,000 people for general sessions and dining
2,643seats in the Linda W. Chapin Theater, West Building · keynotes and awards
74meeting rooms (49 West, 25 North/South) and 479,190 sq ft of meeting space · carpeted, so lighter builds and floor protection
1,500 ftpedestrian bridge with moving walkways over International Drive · attendees walk it, freight does not
$560MGrand Concourse expansion of the North/South Building: a 100,000 sq ft ballroom and 44,000 sq ft of meeting space, due in 2029
Only at the Orange County Convention Center
Orange County Convention Center covered and multilevel booth checker
At the OCCC, anything placed over part of your booth (a roof, ceiling, tent, lattice, fabric or plastic) makes it a covered exhibit, and any deck that a person stands on makes it multilevel. Enter your design and the checker shows how the OCCC and Orange County Fire Rescue will classify it and what they ask for. It follows the OCCC's Multi-Level & Covered Booth Conditions and application form; your show's manual can add earlier deadlines and its own height rules.
Source: OCCC Multi-Level & Covered Booth Conditions and Multi-Level & Covered Booth Application (form revised December 2024), linked from occc.net Exhibitor Guidelines. A planning aid, not an approval: questions go to OCCC Exhibitor Services, (407) 685-9824. Purple's longer walkthrough, with a one-page checklist and an Excel tracker, is at OCCC covered and multilevel booth requirements.
Insider tips
Orange County Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Measure the canopy, not the booth
The OCCC's 300 sq ft fire-watch line counts the covered area, not your footprint. A 20×20 island with a 280 sq ft canopy stays below it; the same island with a 320 sq ft canopy needs reviewed drawings and a fire watch every show day.
Order the fire watch two weeks out
Fire watch for covered and multilevel booths is ordered through OCCC Event Management at least two weeks before move-in and charged at the prevailing rate for every show day. Budget it with the booth, not as a show-site surprise.
Put the building on every label
The West and North/South Buildings have separate docks across International Drive, and freight cannot use the pedestrian bridge. Write the building and hall on every bill of lading, and book two delivery windows if your show uses both.
Pack a smoke detector
Every covered exhibit at the OCCC needs a battery-operated smoke detector inside, at any size, plus a 2-A:10-BC extinguisher. Both are cheap to bring and slow to find in Orlando on move-in morning.
Order power before the deadline
Only OCCC electricians connect to house power, and on-site orders can cost up to 50 percent more than the base rate. Bring your own distribution panel if you order bulk power; the OCCC does not provide one, and battery inverters are banned.
Give fall freight a storm margin
IAAPA in November and I/ITSEC in early December fall inside the June-to-November hurricane season. Ship to the advance warehouse a week ahead of the deadline and know your carrier's plan for freight in transit.
Loading dock & move-in
Orange County Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Orange County Convention Center →
- West Building97 covered truck bays on one level, about half a mile of dock, plus 14 exhibit-floor truck entrances.
- North/South Building77 truck bays at two underground loading docks, fed by a 40-truck staging yard, plus nine drive-in truck entrances and an airplane door.
- Two buildings, two deliveriesThe bridge between the buildings is for people. A show that uses both is two deliveries to two docks on two schedules, so label every shipment by building.
- Hand-carryMost OCCC show kits let you carry in what you can lift but ban dollies and flat carts; a few allow a personally owned two-wheel cart. Anything bigger goes through the dock and the general contractor.
- Parking6,227 spaces on site (1,450 West, 4,777 North/South). The Grand Concourse works around the North/South Building run through 2029, so check the current map in your show kit.
- Day −75Covered or multilevel drawings to the show and the OCCC for fire review; your show manual sets the exact date.
- Day −60Design approved. OCCC electrical and rigging orders open at early-order pricing.
- Day −35Advance warehouse opens. EAC form and certificate of insurance due.
- Day −21Purple ships to Orlando through our carrier network, labeled by building.
- Day −14Last day to order fire watch through the OCCC for a covered or multilevel booth.
- Day 0Targeted move-in at the right building's dock. Your full-time staff or an EAC builds; no union call.
- Show +1Move-out. MHA turned in, empties return.
Labor, exclusives & fire code
Orange County Convention Center labor rules, exclusives and fire code
Florida is a right-to-work state, so the OCCC has none of the union jurisdiction questions of Chicago or Las Vegas. In their place: in-house electrical and rigging, a strict fire marshal, and a campus in two halves. Your show kit is the final word.
✓Your staff or your EAC
- Full-time employees of the exhibiting company may install and dismantle the booth with their own hand tools, within the show's rules
- Contract labor comes from the general contractor or an approved exhibitor-appointed contractor (EAC)
- Exhibitors may install plug-in rentals themselves
- Exhibitors and EACs may branch power inside the booth
- Forklifts, pallet jacks and lift gates stay with the general contractor
●Exclusive to the OCCC
- Electrical connections to house power, by OCCC electricians only
- Aerial rigging and hanging signs
- Compressed air, gas and plumbing
- Food and beverage
- Fire watch personnel, ordered through OCCC Event Management
- On-site utility orders cost up to 50% more than the base rate
!Watch for
- Covered areas over 300 sq ft and every multilevel deck: drawings, review and a fire watch
- A smoke detector in every covered exhibit, at any size
- Inverters and battery-to-120V power supplies are prohibited
- 3-wire grounded cords only; no lamp cord or open clip sockets
- Hurricane season runs June to November, and IAAPA and I/ITSEC sit inside it
- Grand Concourse construction around the North/South Building through 2029
Background photo: "Monday of IAAPA/set up day" by elisfkc, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Free tool
Orange County Convention Center drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 at about $155 per hundredweight, roughly 15 to 20 percent under our Las Vegas planning rates, with the same 200 lb minimum and the same surcharges for uncrated, late and special-handling freight. The general contractor's show kit carries the actual tariff. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$2,325
Cut this with a lighter booth
On the floor at Star Wars Celebration
Photo: "Star Wars Celebration Orlando 2017" by Michel Curi, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Orange County Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
Orlando shows lean toward products people can touch: rides, golf clubs, plastics machinery, aircraft parts and AV gear. Attendance figures are planning ranges; confirm each event with its organizer.
IAAPA Expo
Attractions and amusement industry · North, South and West Buildings · education from Nov 16 · 2026
PGA Show
Golf industry, trade only · West Concourse · Demo Day Jan 26 at Orange County National · 2027
Global Pet Expo
Pet products, trade only · ~20,000 · 2027
MRO Americas
Aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul · Orlando edition · 2027
NPE2027: The Plastics Show
Plastics and manufacturing, every three years · West and South Buildings · ~50,000 · 2027
InfoComm
Pro AV technology · exhibits in the West Building, education from June 12 · 2027
Dates are from each organizer's site (checked October 2026). Surf Expo returns to Orlando January 6–8 and September 9–11, 2027, and I/ITSEC is listed for November 30–December 4, 2026; confirm both venues and exhibit days with the organizers. MegaCon Orlando and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show also use the West Building each year; check their sites for 2027 dates. HIMSS and NBAA-BACE rotate through Orlando in some years. IAAPA has tied its November expo to Orlando for the next decade, and the 2026 edition adds the West Building for its largest footprint yet.
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Orange County Convention Center
More than 11,000 hotel rooms are within walking distance. Which hotel is "attached" depends on which building your show is in.
Bridge to West Building
Hyatt Regency Orlando
The former Peabody Orlando, about 1,640 rooms, linked to the West Concourse. The first block to sell out for West Building shows.
Bridge to West Building
Rosen Centre
About 1,330 rooms with its own pedestrian bridge to the West Concourse. Big blocks, same short walk.
Bridge to North/South
Hilton Orlando
1,400 rooms, opened in 2009 and connected to the South Concourse. Book early for IAAPA, NPE and MRO Americas.
Across International Drive
About 10 min by shuttleRosen Plaza
A short walk to the West Building. Popular with booth crews.
Rosen Shingle Creek
A resort with its own convention space; overflow for big North/South shows.
Venue guide →15–25 min
Orlando International (MCO)
About 12 miles by car or rideshare. No rail link; the I-Ride Trolley runs the length of International Drive. Universal is about 10 minutes away and Disney about 20.
The building
Orange County Convention Center history: from civic arena to the Grand Concourse
The OCCC exists because Orange County voters agreed in 1978 to tax hotel rooms to build it. Every expansion since has been paid the same way, and a 325,000 sq ft civic center with a concert arena has become the second-largest convention campus in the country.
- 1978Orange County voters approve a 2 percent Tourist Development Tax in April to build a convention and civic center on International Drive, in Orlando Central Park.
- 1983Phase I is completed February 25 at a cost of $54 million, and the Boston Pops play the grand opening the next day. The building includes an 11,300-seat arena that hosts concerts through the 1980s.
- 1989Phase II adds 150,000 sq ft of exhibit space. The Orlando Arena opens downtown, and the convention center's arena starts to empty.
- 1992"Civic" is dropped from the name in December. The building becomes the Orange County Convention Center.
- 1996Phases III and IV open in January and August, about $418 million together, adding 750,600 sq ft of exhibit space. The old arena is converted into exhibit space.
- 1998The county pays Universal $69 million for 239 acres across International Drive for a fifth phase.
- 2003The North/South Building opens in September, a month early, after Reed Exhibitions agreed to move 42 shows to Orlando. It adds 950,282 sq ft of exhibit space and the bridge over International Drive.
- 2004Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne hit Central Florida; the OCCC serves as a relief staging area.
- 2009The 1,400-room Hilton Orlando opens, connected to the South Concourse. Rooftop solar on the South Concourse now produces about one megawatt.
- 2025Ground breaks in December on the $560 million Grand Concourse expansion of the North/South Building: a 100,000 sq ft ballroom and 44,000 sq ft of meeting space, due in 2029. A later Phase 5B, approved for design, would add about 200,000 sq ft of exhibit space.
FAQ
Orange County Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Can my own employees set up our booth at the Orange County Convention Center?
Yes, in most shows. Florida is a right-to-work state, and OCCC show kits let full-time employees of the exhibiting company install and dismantle the booth with their own hand tools, within each show's rules. Connections to house power and aerial rigging are the exceptions: those are done by the OCCC.
Does a canopy over my lounge count as a covered booth?
Yes. Anything placed over part of the exhibit, including fabric, lattice, plastic or a decorative canopy, makes that area covered. Over 300 sq ft of covered area you need drawings reviewed by the OCCC and Orange County Fire Rescue and a fire watch on show days, or an approved automatic extinguishing system. Every covered exhibit also needs a smoke detector and an extinguisher.
What does a double-deck booth need at the OCCC?
Any multilevel booth, at any size, needs plans scaled, signed and dated by a registered architect or engineer, review by the OCCC and Orange County Fire Rescue, and a fire watch unless the lower level has an approved sprinkler system. Decks of 300 sq ft or more need two remote stairways and may not be covered, and the OCCC form caps multilevel booths at 900 sq ft.
How much is drayage at the Orange County Convention Center?
Plan about $155 per hundredweight for crated freight, roughly 15 to 20 percent under our Las Vegas planning rates. The minimums and surcharges are the same, so the savings come from the base rate, not looser rules. The general contractor's show kit has the actual tariff.
Which building is my show in?
It is in your show kit. The PGA Show and InfoComm use the West Building, IAAPA 2026 uses the North, South and West Buildings, and NPE2027 uses the West and South Buildings. The two buildings have different docks and different attached hotels, so it changes your freight and your room block.
Can attendees walk between the two buildings?
Yes, over the 1,500 ft pedestrian bridge with moving walkways across International Drive, or by show shuttle. Allow ten minutes or more between halls. Freight cannot use the bridge.
Where is the Orange County Convention Center loading dock?
Each building has its own. The West Building has 97 covered truck bays on one level and 14 exhibit-floor truck entrances; the North/South Building has 77 bays at two underground docks fed by a 40-truck staging yard. Marshaling and target times come from the general contractor.
What is the ceiling height in the exhibit halls?
The OCCC lists 30 to 40 ft hall ceilings in the West Building and 40 ft in the North/South Building. Check the hall plan for your exact space, and your show manual for the booth height limit.
What does the Grand Concourse construction change for exhibitors?
The $560 million expansion of the North/South Building, adding a 100,000 sq ft ballroom and 44,000 sq ft of meeting space, is under construction through 2029. Access and parking around the North/South Building can shift during that time, so use the current map in your show kit.
Is hurricane season a real risk for fall shows?
It is a planning factor, not a reason to skip Orlando. Hurricane season runs June to November, and IAAPA and I/ITSEC run inside it every year. Ship to the advance warehouse with extra margin in the fall.
Can I display a vehicle or a large machine?
Yes. The North/South Building has nine drive-in truck entrances and an airplane door, and NPE and IAAPA bring heavy machinery and rides every edition. Vehicles must follow the fire marshal's fuel and battery rules, and heavy equipment needs floor-load and dock planning with the OCCC.
Where should my crew stay?
Rosen Plaza or Rosen Centre for West Building shows, the Hilton Orlando for North/South shows. Book early for IAAPA and NPE.
How much cheaper is drayage in Orlando than Las Vegas?
On Purple's own planning rates, about 16 percent: roughly $155 per hundredweight at the OCCC against about $185 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. These are Purple planning estimates, not published tariffs. Minimums and surcharges for uncrated, late and special-handling freight work the same way, so the saving comes from the base rate; your general contractor's show kit has the real numbers.
What does Purple do that the show contractor does not?
The show's general contractor handles drayage, carpet, booth electrical orders and the show floor itself. Purple designs and builds custom and rental booths, ships them to Orlando and coordinates the crews and freight for your booth.
Do I need an EAC at the OCCC?
No. Your own full-time staff can usually build the booth. If you hire outside labor, it must come from the general contractor or an exhibitor-appointed contractor approved by show management, with its EAC form and insurance filed by the kit's deadline.
Exhibiting at the OCCC?
Got a booth number? We will take it from there.
Tell us whether you are in the West or North/South Building and whether your design has a canopy or a second deck. Within two business days you get a design brief, a check against the OCCC's 300 sq ft covered-booth line, a drayage estimate at Orlando rates and a freight plan for the right dock.
Background photo: "ICON Park Orlando" by Roller Coaster Philosophy, CC BY 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Orange County Convention Center vs other major U.S. convention centers
How the Orange County Convention Center stacks up against other major U.S. convention centers. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 1,103,538 sq ft West Building | 30–40 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $155/cwt | MCO · 12 mi |
| America's Center Convention ComplexSt. Louis | Convention center | 574,000 sq ft contiguous, with Dome floor | 40 ft | Union · 300 sq ft rule | ≈ $150/cwt | STL · 14 mi |
| Anaheim Convention CenterAnaheim | Convention center | 221,284 sq ft Hall D | 25 ft Hall D · 13 ft 8 in Hall E | Union · check kit | ≈ $172/cwt | SNA · 13 mi |
| Boston Convention & Exhibition CenterBoston | Convention center | 516,000 sq ft contiguous (Halls A–C) | 35 ft low · up to 100 ft | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $324/cwt | BOS · 3 mi |
| Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention CenterSalt Lake City | Convention center | 515,000 sq ft contiguous, 10 halls | 30 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $120/cwt | SLC · ~6 mi |
| Charlotte Convention CenterCharlotte | Convention center | 280,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C | 30 ft listed max | Right-to-work | ≈ $115/cwt | CLT · 7 mi |
| Georgia World Congress CenterAtlanta | Convention center | 1M+ sq ft contiguous (Halls B, BC, C) | 30 ft to grid | Right-to-work | ≈ $150/cwt | ATL · 15–20 min |
| Huntington PlaceDetroit | Convention center | 623,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–D | 30 ft (A–D) · 18 ft 8 in (E) | Union · 400 sq ft rule | ≈ $155/cwt | DTW · 20 mi |
| Javits CenterNew York | Convention center | ~500,000 sq ft contiguous (Level 3) | Varies by hall · check plan | Union · 250 sq ft rule | ≈ $195/cwt | EWR / LGA / JFK · 45–70 min |
| McCormick PlaceChicago | Convention center | 840,000 sq ft Hall A (South) · 1.2M+ on one level | Varies by hall · check plan | Union · staff setup any size | ≈ $210/cwt | MDW · ~20 min |
| Minneapolis Convention CenterMinneapolis | Convention center | 376,200 sq ft contiguous, Halls B–E | 30 ft 6 in to truss · 85 ft domes | Union · open dock | ≈ $150/cwt | MSP · ~20 min |
| Moscone CenterSan Francisco | Convention center | 502,440 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–F | 37 ft Halls A–C · 28 ft Hall F | Union · check kit | ≈ $180/cwt | SFO · 25–40 min |
| San Diego Convention CenterSan Diego | Convention center | 525,701 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–H | 27 ft 4 in A–E · up to 64 ft F–H | Union · check kit | ≈ $176/cwt | SAN · 3 mi |
| Seattle Convention CenterSeattle | Convention center | 205,700 sq ft Arch Halls 4A–4F | 25 ft Arch · 30 ft Summit | Union · check kit | ≈ $165/cwt | SEA · Link ~40 min |
More Florida guides
Other venues near the Orange County Convention Center
Rosen Shingle CreekOrlando · near the OCCC
Orlando World Center MarriottOrlando
Gaylord PalmsKissimmee
Tampa Convention CenterTampa
Ocean CenterDaytona Beach
Miami Beach Convention CenterMiami Beach
All venue guides → · Orlando quote checklist · OCCC covered booth checklist
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with the venue. Sources: OCCC Convention Center Facts, Exhibitor Guidelines, Multi-Level & Covered Booth Conditions and Application (rev. December 2024), Electrical Conditions (rev. January 2025) and building brochure; Orange County government newsroom and OCCC press releases on the Grand Concourse expansion; TSNN; Wikipedia (Orange County Convention Center); organizer sites for IAAPA Expo, the PGA Show, Global Pet Expo, MRO Americas, NPE, InfoComm and Surf Expo; Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.