Experts & Opinions
May 24, 2013
When I say I felt privileged and pretty darn lucky to attend Coachella in 2012, I’m not exaggerating. This year’s festival sold out in 24 hours. People come from all over the world to experience Coachella and it’s one of the most unique events I’ve attended. Yes, I’m a music junkie. Everything from electronic dance music to indie and even hip hop, I love it all. My first concert (in fifth grade) was N’Sync and they literally brought tears to my eyes.
Nothing can replace the memories you make at an event, and what better way to extend that experience than… more
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May 18, 2013
I have probably interviewed well over 200 salespeople in the last 20 years when I was seeking to fill various positions. One question I always ask every candidate is:
“On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being ‘not at all’ and 10 being ‘obsessed’, how motivated are you by money?”
If you want to work for me, the answer needs to be a 9 or a 10. Mostly, the response I get is “well … a 5 … because family and other things are more important …” This is a great response also and family is, unequivocally, more… more
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May 18, 2013
When it comes to “virtual trade shows”, I agree with Gertrude Stein’s long-ago observation: There is no there, there.
A virtual event and an in-person event can each be described as a “trade show”. True … and a TV turkey dinner and mom’s Thanksgiving turkey dinner are both “turkey dinners”.
There are virtues to “virtual”, but for some purposes, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Let me give you an example. I’m on the advisory board oftheCollegeof Socialand Behavioral Sciences at UMass Amherst, my alma mater.
At most… more
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May 12, 2013
Finding the right speaker for an event is paramount to the success of the conference. Speakers do more than just share content, they set the tone for the whole meeting. But finding speakers who can have the right impact is getting more difficult, as more people are calling themselves speakers.
As a speaker I know that I am not the right fit for every event, yet I also am an attendee at many events. I am perplexed sometimes as to how a speaker ever ended up on the stage. Matching up topics and experience to the goals of the conference are paramount to the success,… more
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May 12, 2013
Trade show attendees have more and more options available to them every day. New, competing events are popping up everywhere vying for their attention. Education, networking opportunities and vendor research is now available for free online.
Trade Shows have a unique opportunity provide enhanced education, networking and exposure to industry suppliers that attendees can’t get elsewhere.
That enhancement was the topic of discussion on May 8 during the weekly gathering of show organizers, exhibitors and suppliers in the Twitter chat #ExpoChat.
Chat participants first talked about what… more
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May 04, 2013
As many of you know, I write about travel and hotel experiences. Hotels have to work on the user experience as much as we trade show managers do, since that experience can affect your trip, regardless of business or travel. I also write about online reputation management and how important that is. Let’s discuss what happens when those items intersect.
I was traveling to Santa Fe, New Mexico, a trip I have done several times, and I booked my normal hotel, La Posada de Santa Fe, in my usual way – via phone to get a special rate I cannot get booking online. I… more
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May 04, 2013
The EMS team traveled to Orlando, Fla., for the Southeast Acquirers Association’s Annual Conference this past March. While there, we organized a 6-second Vine Video Contest.
My apologies for the redundant structure of that last sentence to those already familiar with Vine. For those who are not, however, @VineApp is precisely that - a 6-second video application streamlined through Twitter, playing on loop upon publication.
We raffled off an iPad Mini at random with the Vine contest we ran at SEAA 2013. Conference attendees could enter our contest by recording a video… more
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Apr 28, 2013
While wrapping up the panel discussion she led at the 7th annual MOD Awards in Las Vegas, Liz Miller, vice president of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council explained, “The role of marketing is to convert brands into business.” Brilliant in its simplicity. Powerful in its implications. Most marketing and sales leaders – be it the Chief Sales Officer (CSO) or a manager – are in one way or another measured on their contribution to the bottom line.
In most companies, marketing or sales (or both) provide funding for shows and events. Both groups have options… more
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Apr 28, 2013
“80 percent of success is showing up.”
I recently attended a breakfast meeting. I sat at a table with a group of friends, “friends” as defined by Will Rogers: “A stranger is just a friend I haven’t met yet”.
Richard, my new friend to my immediate right, asked what I did for a living. When I described what “trade show lead retrieval” is, he nodded, then offered an observation.
“Ah, the mystery device”, he said. “Mystery?”, I replied. “Yes, it’s a mystery to me. Information is collected, but the mystery… more
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Apr 21, 2013
Zombies are having a renaissance lately, what with the popular “The Walking Dead” T.V. show on cable, and now the romantic comedy “Warm Bodies” in the theaters. But unfortunately, zombies have always been all-too popular at trade shows.
Trade show zombies are those slow-moving, nearly brain-dead attendees stumbling down the aisle. After a few hours wandering a trade show floor, their brains are on overload from the visual and sensory torrent. They’ve lost the mental ability to recognize why they should stop in your trade show booth and… 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.