Show Organizers Share Details on New Show Floor Destinations and Neighborhoods to Debut at Vision Expo East 2021
Alexandria, VA – March 22, 2021 – The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions, organizers of Vision Expo, announce that registration for Vision Expo East 2021, taking place June 2-5 in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center, opens today, Monday, March 22 under the banner of ONE Vision – ONE Focus – ONE Future. Hotel reservations at Vision Expo’s official partner hotels also open today, March 22.
The Show’s educational program, together with OptiCon®@Vision Expo, will open Wednesday, June 2 and exhibits open Thursday, June 3. To register for Vision Expo East’s Exhibit Hall and Education, click here.
“We know that the community is ready to get back to business and, as the first major in-person trade show since 2019, we are aware of the enormous responsibility and incredible opportunity we have to host an impactful event,” said Fran Pennella, Vice President, Vision Expo at Reed Exhibitions. “As the 35th anniversary of the Vision Expo East, this is the perfect moment to reinforce the Show’s legacy of serving as the industry’s ultimate gathering place to establish relationships, meet prospects, learn and do business in a safe environment.”
Vision Expo East 2021 will feature several new Show destinations and Show Floor neighborhoods, including:
The Focus – Representing the foundation of eyecare and offering the key to masterfully servicing patients and customers, The Focus brings together lens and coating technology, lens processing techniques, disease management solutions, contact lens innovations and eyecare practice optimization. Think “before-the-frame” and discover the most advanced technologies dedicated to groundbreaking vision care. Exhibiting companies include: Alcon, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, Novartis, Topcon and ZEISS.
The Park – Industry icons, ubiquitous brands and prestigious collections unveil their latest styles and offerings in inspired large-scale displays that celebrate the worlds of superior style and exemplary service. Explore a vibrant assortment by eyewear’s most prominent players in The Park. Exhibiting companies include: Charmant, Eyewear Designs Ltd., Tura, Liberty Sport and McGee Group.
The Union – The ultimate shopping experience for those seeking the newest in independent design, this energetic showcase offers new collection launches, pop-culture inspired collaborations and “talk-of-the-show” trends. Exhibiting Companies include: Modo Eyewear, Etnia Barcelona, Studio Optyx, ic! berlin and Spectacle Eyeworks.
The River – Driven by design, this is the realm of the daring with collections that continue to shape the future of eyewear in a thrilling fashion, art and culture-inspired universe. The River is a celebration of an industry steeped in innovation, discovery and deep relationships that will ensure its prosperous future. Exhibiting companies include: TD Tom Davies, Sospiri by Ottica Veneta, Wood Optic and Rigards.
The Springs – A bold platform for the next generation of optical icons, The Springs is a true discovery zone and incubator for emerging talent in eyewear design and vision innovation. The Springs is where buyers dive into collections by the industry’s ones-to-watch and are privy to a first glimpse of these rising optical stars. Exhibiting companies include: Ferilli Eyewear, TYCHE + ISET Eyewear, Bonavista Optics and SpiltMilk Eyewear.
The Bridge and the Innovation Stage will also be located on the Show Floor. More information on special programming and keynote speakers will be released in the coming weeks.
VisionEd is Vision Expo’s newly branded, sought-after education program dedicated to seminars, workshops and presentations where attendees can hone their craft in courses led by renowned experts in clinical research, business, fashion and marketing. In addition, OptiCon®@Vision Expo returns with an unmatched education program and exhibit hall experience for opticians, contact lens technicians and ophthalmic allied professionals. To learn more and register to experience the industry’s leading educational offerings, please click here.
Additionally, Vision Expo will introduce the Global Plaza powered by ShopVISION, a new destination showcasing international designers and suppliers who are unable to attend Vision Expo East 2021 in-person due to travel restrictions. Housed in the main lounge of Vision Expo, the Global Plaza will also be a discovery zone for attendees and exhibitors to learn about and demo ShopVISION, a new virtual marketplace and sourcing platform. A personal concierge will curate the visitor experience at the Global Plaza.
“In addition to the rich programming on-site, there are several exciting off-site experiences and events to look forward to, like Prevent Blindness’ Swing Fore Sight Golf Tournament,” said Mitch Barkley, Vice President of Trade Shows and Events at The Vision Council. “In the spirit of bringing the industry back together again, we are thrilled that several organizations within the community are co-locating their events to coincide with Vision Expo.”
Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest voluntary eye health organization, will host its annual Swing Fore Sight Golf Tournament on Wednesday, June 2 at the Orange County National Golf Course in conjunction with Vision Expo East. All proceeds from the event will support the sight-saving programs and services of Prevent Blindness. For more information on the Prevent Blindness Annual Swing Fore Sight Golf Tournament, including tickets and sponsorship or committee positions, please contact Sue Corbett at [email protected] or click here.
Hotel reservations at Vision Expo’s official partner hotels also open today, March 22. The official partner hotels include the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Rosen Centre Hotel, Rosen Plaza Hotel, Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center and DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. Discounted rates are available to attendees and exhibitors at all partner hotels by booking through the Vision Expo East Official Housing Company, Connections Housing. Official Vision Expo hotels will not honor direct reservations. Attendees must book through the Vision Expo’s official housing company to take advantage of special rates and incentives. To secure your hotel reservations, call (702) 675-6566 or (866) 204-6960. For more information on the official hotels, click here.
Health and safety measures continue to be a top priority for the show organizers. VisionSAFE, an initial comprehensive set of health and safety guidelines, policies and resources designed to support a safe experience at Vision Expo East 2021, first launched in February 2021 and will continue to be updated as needed in accordance with the latest health and safety guidelines. For the most recent enhancements to VisionSAFE, including exhibiting guidelines, please refer to the VisionSAFE page on the Vison Expo website, located here.
“The safety and wellbeing of everyone in attendance at Vision Expo East is our primary focus. From reconfiguring the Show Floor to monitoring the best practices released by public health officials, the Vision Expo team has worked tirelessly to make this year’s Show safe and comfortable,” said Mitch Barkley, Vice President of Trade Shows and Events at The Vision Council. “With a number of exciting new Show Floor destinations and neighborhoods planned, we look forward to a vibrant Show where we can bring the community together again to conduct business under the best possible circumstances.”
VisionSAFE complements the robust health and safety measures in place at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). The OCCC has strict health and safety precautions in place, as well as upholding all nationally recommended precautions, including mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing. Additionally, the OCCC is part of a first of its kind collaboration between Orlando Health and Visit Orlando, which provides convention groups with personalized medical planning and support. The OCCC was one of the first convention centers in the nation to receive the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s GBAC STAR™ accreditation, which is designed to help facilities establish a comprehensive system of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention, and is widely recognized as the gold standard of safe and prepared venues. The Orlando International Airport holds the same accreditation.
Vision Expo East 2021 is scheduled to take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from June 2–5, 2021. The Show’s educational program, together with OptiCon®@Vision Expo, will open Wednesday, June 2 and exhibits will open Thursday, June 3. For more information on Vision Expo, visit visionexpo.com and follow Vision Expo’s social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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About Vision Expo
Vision Expo East and West are trade-only conferences and exhibitions for eyecare and eyewear presented by co-owners Reed Exhibitions and The Vision Council. Vision Expo is the complete event for ophthalmic professionals, where eyecare meets eyewear, and education, fashion and innovation mingle. In the Vision Expo Exhibit Hall, eyecare providers can discover trends, interact with new technologies and access innovative products and services. The Vision Expo education program is driven by the profession, offering content of the highest quality and relevance to enhance overall patient care. For more information, visit VisionExpo.com and follow Vision Expo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About The Vision Council
As the vision care leader in enabling better vision for better lives, The Vision Council positions its members for success by promoting growth in the vision care industry through education, advocacy, research, consumer outreach, strategic relationship building and industry forums. Furthermore, through a partnership with Think About Your Eyes, The Vision Council supports consumer education around eyewear and eyecare.
About Reed Exhibitions Global
Reed Exhibitions is a leading global events business. It combines face-to-face with data and digital tools to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 400 events in 22 countries across 43 industry sectors, attracting more than 7 million participants. Our events leverage industry expertise, large data sets and technology to enable our customers to connect face-to-face or digitally and generate billions of dollars of revenues for the economic development of local markets and national economies around the world. Reed Exhibitions is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.www.reedexhibitions.com