2024
IATSE
IATSE Local 835 presented its distinguished “You’re Awesome” award to OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. This award recognizes the strong partnership between the IATSE and the Orange County Convention Center – representing both organizations’ commitment to positively impacting the community.
Orlando Magazine
Orlando Magazine recognized OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester as one of Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful People in the Tourism and Transportation industry in 2024. This award highlights the recipient’s legacy of work, excellence, vision and service to Orlando’s community and culture.
The Trade Group's Top Convention Centers in Florida 2024
The Trade Group named the Orange County Convention Center the number one Convention Center in Florida in 2024.
Graphic Design USA
Graphic Design USA awarded the OCCC’s Marketing and Communications team with the American In-House Design Award for its “Celebrating 40 Years of Transformational Experiences” campaign.
National Association of Counties
The National Association of Counties recognized the OCCC’s Security, Parking and Transportation Division for their collaborative and innovative planning and successful operations during MEGACON Orlando 2024.
Meetings Today
The OCCC won one of Meetings Today’s 2024 “Best Of” awards as planners came together to vote on the top properties used for meetings. This award recognized the standout convention centers and destinations that have exceeded expectations to host meetings.
2023
ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award
ConventionSouth honored the Orange County Convention Center with a 2023 Readers’ Choice award for the 12th straight year, signifying its status as a premier southern meeting venue.
Orlando Magazine 50 Most Powerful People
Orlando Magazine recognized OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester as one of Orlando's 50 Most Powerful People, in the tourism and transportation category.
Best of Meetings Today Awards
Meetings Today named the OCCC one of the Best Convention Centers in the U.S. for 2023.
Northstar Stella Award for Best Convention Center
Northstar Meetings Group has recognized the OCCC as a 2023 Gold Stella Award winner, acknowledging its status as the best convention center in the Southeastern U.S.
Florida Association of Broadcast Journalist Finalist
The Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists (FABJ) recognized the OCCC Marketing and Communications team and Orange TV as a finalist in the Consumer/Economic Reporting category, for a “Destination Orange County” television piece on the IAAPA Expo. The piece showcased the economic impact the expo has on both OCCC business and the Central Florida region.
Florida Public Relations Association Orlando Chapter Award of Distinction
The Orlando Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) recognized the OCCC Marketing and Communications team with an Award of Distinction for its Event Manager Spotlight Series social media campaign. The campaign highlighted accomplishments and fun facts about each member of the Event Management team, boosting morale and encouraging employee retention.
2022
Northstar Stella Award for Best Convention Center
Northstar Meetings Group has recognized the OCCC as a 2022 Gold Stella Award winner, acknowledging its status as the best convention center in the Southeastern U.S.
Smart Meetings Smart Stars Award for Best Convention Center
Smart Meetings recognizes the Orange County Convention Center as a 2022 Smart Stars Best Convention Center winner.
ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award
ConventionSouth honored the Orange County Convention Center with a 2022 Readers’ Choice award for the 11th straight year, signifying its status as a premier southern meeting venue.
Exhibitor Magazine Center of Excellence
Exhibitor Magazine recognized the OCCC as a Center of Excellence in its 2023 list of the nation’s best convention centers for trade shows and events.
Orlando Magazine 50 Most Powerful People
Orlando Magazine recognized OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester as one of Orlando's 50 Most Powerful People, in the tourism and transportation category.
Orlando Business Journal 2022 Power Players
The Orlando Business Journal recognized OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester as one of Orlando’s 2022 Power Players, a list of business leaders and executives helping to grow and innovate the way business is done throughout the region.
Best of Meetings Today Awards
Meetings Today named the OCCC one of the Best Convention Centers in the U.S. for 2022.
2021
ConventionSouth Readers' Choice Award
ConventionSouth honors the Orange County Convention Center with a 2021 readers' choice award, signifying its status as a premier southern meeting venue.
VenuesNow 2021 All-Stars Award
VenuesNow recognizes the Orange County Convention Center in their 2021 All-Stars Venues and More: Convention Center category for its success in hosting events after the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic halted the in-person entertainment, meetings and trade shows industry.
Smart Meetings 2021 Smart Women in Meetings Award
Smart Meetings has recognized the OCCC’s Deputy Director Yulita Osuba, CMP as a 2021 Smart Women in Meetings in the Visionary category for her innovative leadership and commitment to the OCCC.
EXHIBITOR Magazine Excellence in Print Advertising
EXHIBITOR magazine recognized five companies who received top honors for their outstanding results in the 2020 AdProbe Ad Readership Study, conducted by the independent research firm Signet Research Inc., on behalf of Exhibitor Media Group. The Center’s Meeting Safely Today for a Stronger Tomorrow ad was included in the magazine’s October 2020 issue.
EXHIBITOR Magazine Centers of Excellence
Exhibitor Magazine has recognized the Orange County Convention Center as a Center of Excellence in its 2022 list of the nation’s best convention centers for trade shows and events.
Smart Meetings Smart Stars Award for Best Convention Center
Smart Meetings recognizes the Orange County Convention Center as the 2021 Smart Stars Best Convention Center winner.
Orlando Family Magazine Mover and Shaker
Orlando Family Magazine recognized OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester as a Mover and Shaker in their April 2021 issue.
Orlando Magazine 50 Most Powerful People
Orlando Magazine recognized OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester as one of Orlando's 50 Most Powerful People in business.
PRSA Sunshine District Radiance Awards
The Public Relations Society of America's Florida Sunshine District recognized the OCCC's Marketing and Communications team with three awards. First place in Executive Communications for their "New OCCC Executive Director a Trailblazer During Pandemic" tactic, first place in the Videos category for their "Meeting Safely Today for a Stronger Tomorrow" video campaign and the 2021 Trailblazer Award to OCCC Marketing and Communications Manager Nadia Vanderhoof.
2020
ConventionSouth Readers' Choice Award
ConventionSouth honors the Orange County Convention Center with a 2020 Readers' Choice Award, signifying its status as a premier southern meeting venue.
VenuesNow 2020 All-Stars Award
Executive Director Mark Tester | Recognizing industry leaders who stood out in 2020 for their ideas and efforts to revive the business in the face of a pandemic and make important changes necessary for fans to return to sporting events and concerts.
Orlando Magazine’s 2020 Women of the Year
Deputy Director Yulita Osuba | During her nearly 20-year tenure with the operation, Osuba has helped the convention center achieve its rank as the nation’s second largest, generating more than $3 billion in economic impact annually while on the brink of a $605 million expansion.
Northstar Meetings Group - Stella Award
NorthStar Meetings Group recognizes the Orange County Convention Center with 2020 Gold Stella Award.
Exhibitor Magazine - Centers of Excellence
Exhibitor Magazine names the Orange County Convention Center one of the 2020 Centers of Excellence.
U.S. Green Building Council - Rise to the Challenge Award
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the Orange County Convention Center with the 2020 Rise to the Challenge Award at the USGBC Leadership Awards Ceremony, in recognition of the Center’s green building and sustainability practices within the conventions industry and beyond.
Orlando Business Journal – The List 2020
Ranked No. 1 meeting and banquet facility in the region on the Orlando Business Journal’s list of 2020 Central Florida Meeting & Banquet Facilities.
2019
Prevue Visionary Awards - Best Southeast U.S. Convention Center
The Orange County Convention Center received silver honors in the Best Southeast U.S. Convention Center category for Prevue Meeting & Incentives Magazine’s 2019 Visionary Awards.
2018
Prevue Visionary Awards - Best Southeast US Convention Center
The Visionary Awards are given annually to acknowledge the forward-thinking destinations, hotels & resorts, cruise lines and airlines of the industry.
2017
USGBC Central Florida LEEDership Awards - Outstanding Sustainable Program
The Orange County Convention Center's new Center-to-Table gardens were named the Outstanding Sustainable Program winner at the annual U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Central Florida region’s LEEDership awards. The gardens, located in the Westwood lobby, provide edible greens and fresh produce for Centerplate, the convention center’s exclusive food service partner.
IAEE Art of the Show – Convention Center Promotion
The IAEE Art of the Show Competition recognizes the know-how, inventiveness and preparation required to successfully market an event. The OCCC won the Convention Center Promotion category for their campaign promoting the Center’s new website.
2016
IAEE Art of the Show – Convention Center Promotion
The IAEE Art of the Show Competition recognizes the know-how, inventiveness and preparation required to successfully market an event. The OCCC won the Convention Center Promotion category for their “Experience the New orange” campaign, promoting the Center’s capital improvement projects.
FNGLA Landscape Awards: Maintenance – Institutional/Public
The OCCC was recognized by the FNGLA, along with landscape contractor, Groundtek of Central Florida, and landscape designer, Larry M. Smith, for excellence in landscape maintenance that is environmentally responsible, sustainable, and adheres to the principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping.
2014
Prime Site Facilities & Top Destinations Award (1995-2014)
Based on destination appeal; attractiveness of facility, marketability, high-tech meeting spaces, customer service, entertainment options and high client satisfaction rating.
2013
Distinctive Achievement Award – Association Convention & Facilities Magazine
OCCC was voted for those that best served their association meetings during the year.
Florida Excellence Award Recipient; Excellence In Lodging – US Trade & Commerce Institute
The OCCC is recognized for the commitment and contribution of small businesses through service to their customers and community and for upholding business ethics and company values.
OCCC Wins Sustainable Florida Award
Honored as 2013 Best Practice Award Winner in Government Category for sustainability, energy, engineering, green building, corporate social responsibility and government.
OCCC Receives LEED EBOM GOLD Certification
Becomes the largest convention center in the world to receive this certification for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.
OCCC Achieves New International Standard Certification (ISO)
The venue standard, introduced by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry, provides event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner.
OCCC Ranked #1 Convention Center in the U.S. by Business Review USA
Recognized for its massive center space, remarkable amount of economic benefits to the surrounding community, and annual tax savings to Orange County households.
2012
Business Review – America’s Top 10 Convention Centers
OCCC Awarded #1st place for its size, economic benefit to the community, household tax savings, and hurricane relief center.
2011
Trade Show Exhibitors Association Exhibitors’ Choice Awards (2009-2011)
OCCC received the Chairman’s Award and the Best Convention Center Award that honor TSEA members who have made special achievements and contributions to both the association and face-to-face marketing in the past year.
2009
Prime Site Facilities & Destinations Award
Based on destination appeal; attractiveness of facility, marketability, high-tech meeting spaces, customer service, entertainment options and high client satisfaction rating.
Inner Circle Award from Meetings Net
OCCC is recognized as one of the best in the industry at servicing their meetings and conventions based on quality of exhibit and meeting space and staff service.
Pollution Prevention Award from Florida Pollution Prevention Roundtable
OCCC received the award for water conservation, energy efficiency, waste and source reduction, recycling and communication.
2004
Association Meetings Magazine (1999-2004)
Based on convention center excellence, specifically their high level of service and flexible functions space.
Inner Circle Award from Meetings Net (1999-2004)
OCCC is recognized as one of the best in the industry at servicing their meetings and conventions based on quality of exhibit and meeting space and staff service.
Conventions South Magazine – Readers’ Choice Award
For exemplary creativity and professionalism in serving the meetings and convention industry.
National Association of County Information Officers - Superior Award in Special Projects
For the Grand Opening of the OCCC North/South Concourse.
1997
Meeting News Magazine - Planner’s Choice Award (1994-1997)
For attractiveness of facility, meeting and exhibition space, accessibility and professionalism of staff.