Experts & Opinions
Jul 13, 2022
If you’re like me, you are probably tired of and confused by reading and listening to different opinions about the metaverse these days.
From Facebook changing their name to Meta to Disney’s CEO saying that Disney+ will be their own metaverse as well as Microsoft paying 70 billion dollars for Activision as part of their metaverse strategy, the list of big tech and media companies investing billions of dollars in the "metaverse category" continues to grow exponentially.
So what is the metaverse? Today, it is a series of different concepts but still hard to explain. Broadly speaking, the… more
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Jul 06, 2022
It’s hard to take high-level event marketing strategies and turn them into real actions. So, let’s break things down! We’re going to take a deep dive into exactly how you should be marketing your virtual events. But rather than talk from 10,000 feet, we’re keeping our feet on the ground with 10 tactics you can actually use and actionable ways to incorporate them into your strategy.
1. Optimize your event website.
Optimize is the buzzword of the week. It means to take something and improve it to its maximum efficiency. To optimize a website, first figure out what you want the event website… more
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Jun 29, 2022
Over the past two years, event experience leaders showed agility in the face of constant change as they pivoted to virtual and hybrid formats, offering experiences that engaged attendees while safeguarding against the spread of COVID-19.
Today, as restrictions loosen and people begin to feel more comfortable meeting, the demand for in-person events has returned. In-person and hybrid events held on Bizzabo’s Event Experience OS increased 255% between Q4 2021 and Q2 2022, while the volume of virtual events remained steady, according to analysis of aggregated data. These events will occur in a… more
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Jun 22, 2022
Trade shows are back. Kind of.
While the pandemic put the kybosh on trade shows for the better part of two years, conference and event organizers, as well as meeting planners and associations, ushered in 2022 with a sense of optimism. After all, trade shows couldn’t be put on hold indefinitely. There were sales pipelines to fill, products to announce and customer relationships to maintain. The belief among many was that trade shows could be scheduled, organized and executed just like the good old days of 2019.
And trade shows are forging ahead to pre-pandemic times. Kind of.
The… more
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Jun 15, 2022
Event marketing is on the rebound following a nearly complete shutdown during the pandemic and its aftermath of staffing shortages, resource gaps and budget cuts. The question for event marketing and operations leads is how to recover and grow revenue and attendee numbers with less. District Marketing and Bear Analytics recently hosted a webinar to discuss strategy and tactics for attendee acquisition gains. Here are some of our key tips and takeaways.
Read the Tea Leaves
Assessing the needs of the marketplace right now is both challenging and exciting. For the most part, the tenor and… more
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Jun 08, 2022
You’ll find tons of metrics and insights reported across all the virtual event marketing platforms you use. They can help paint an overall picture of your virtual event’s success, but some are much more telling than others when it comes to event evaluation.
Navigating this deluge of data at every stage of your virtual event marketing campaign can be challenging. In this blog, we’ll explain how to measure the success of a virtual event using just a few powerful key performance indicators.
What are the best virtual event KPIs for each stage of your event marketing campaign?
Early-bird period… more
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Jun 01, 2022
The event tech marketplace is a unique animal, reflecting the industry it serves. There are a handful of event technology providers that offer a broad swath of functionality. They’ve built integrated enterprise systems offering services like registration, housing, speaker management, exhibitor services, floorplan management, virtual events, mobile apps and more, all within one system, database and brand. Of course, there are many more vendors that offer a more singular functional set that, in some cases, are considered “best-in-class” offerings. These products often provide a deeper set of… more
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May 25, 2022
In the past few years, audiences experienced much more than just a pandemic (which would’ve been enough on its own). People also experienced extreme isolation, civil unrest, a worsening climate crisis and many moral dilemmas that changed their internal and external perceptions. As a result, event attendees have placed greater importance on values: what brands stand for, what stances they take on political and social issues, how they treat employees, whether their practices are sustainable and more. According to Ipsos, the link between consumer and brand values has grown significantly.
This… more
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May 18, 2022
Our words matter. We often use them at our events or in our teams to communicate ideas, convey passion, express creativity, articulate intelligence, radiate confidence and exude wit. But choose the wrong ones, and you’ll become the insensitive event staff or coworker.
Assuming you don’t want to be that person, let’s explore some commonly used words at trade shows and conferences, or phrases that are either past their expiration, culturally appropriated or downright offensive, and what you can say instead to demonstrate your intellect, wit and inclusivity!
Guru
When we refer to someone… more
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May 11, 2022
In the “Friends” episode, “The One With the Cop,” Ross buys a new couch. He opts to carry it up to his apartment instead of depending on professionals. Who can forget that iconic scene where he shouts, “Here we go! Pivot! PIVOT! PI-VOT!”
We can give Ross some credit for drawing up a plan to get the couch up a narrow stairwell. But it isn’t long before he abandons the plan and suggests Rachel and Chandler just follow his lead. Alas, he’s left with a sawed-in-half couch and a $4 store credit. He should have called in the professionals.
The event industry spent the better part of 2020 and 2021… more
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.