Experts & Opinions
Jan 22, 2019
Today’s speaker marketplace comprises literally thousands of speakers who are potentially available as a keynote or featured speaker for your association’s events. How do you know if you are making the right choice before you commit to a speaker and perhaps paying a very large speaker fee?
Here are some myths and truths when it comes to selecting your keynote or featured speaker.
Myth No. 1: The higher the speaker fee, the better the speaker.
Speaker fees are based on two things: 1., The demand for a given speaker and 2., the perceived demand that the speaker feels exists and how much… more
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Jan 17, 2019
It is another year of planning your annual trade show and it’s time to start calling the same exhibitors to see if they will register again. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. You aren’t asking them if they are getting value, if they are getting leads or closing business on those leads. Is it time to ask yourself if you need to reimagine the way you run your show?
Even if your number of exhibitors hasn’t decreased, it still may be time to be thinking about the longevity of your event. We all remember what happened to Blockbuster! Here are some ways that you can reinvent your trade show to increase… more
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Jan 15, 2019
Event professionals at trade shows and exhibitions expect a display of seamless integration of the latest event tech. Event tech trends have evolved at a rapid pace continually in the past few years, creating ways for the new tech to accommodate in the events industry.
The events industry welcomes the dynamic and new elements of surprise that raise the attendee engagement at exhibitions.
“Around 80 percent of planners embed a tech requirement in their initial request, but with a growing understanding of technology’s role in delegate management, feedback and ROI, that figure is rapidly… more
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Jan 10, 2019
The use of Virtual Reality (VR) at exhibitions is growing but so is the cost and the complexity. So how do you use VR with your exhibition and how do you do it without spending all of your budget?
To find out, we’re looking at what VR is, why that matters for exhibit stand builders and how you can use VR in your booth and manage the cost. We also look at VR in use to give you some inspiration for your next event.
What is VR?
Virtual Reality builds or recreates spaces digitally. What makes VR exciting is what you can do in these spaces, which is almost anything.
The equipment required for… more
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Jan 08, 2019
Technology evolves faster every day and that’s a great thing when it comes to the event space. This rapid innovation means there are new event technologies available at a constant pace, bringing new ways to collect data, engage audiences, manage details and more.
But how can event professionals stay on top of these new offerings and figure out what best applies to their needs and challenges?
Read on for our predictions on what’s ahead when it comes to digital and event technology in 2019 and beyond. Be sure to read all the way to the end, where you'll be able to cast your vote for the… more
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Jan 02, 2019
Post-trade show planning often gets overlooked, but I’m here to argue that your follow-up strategy is just as important as pre-show promotion and on-site preparation. It’s important to spend as much time — if not more time — on your post-event strategy because that’s when a key phase of connecting with your attendees begins: the follow-up.
A strong, clean list is the first thing you will need to build your post-show plan and target future prospects. So, gathering your booth visitors’ basic contact information during the trade show, as well as more granular data such as interactions and… more
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Dec 18, 2018
If you’ve been to a trade show, you’ll know that they can be something of a labyrinth that everyone is trying to navigate in their own way. There’s booth after booth, buzzwords galore and you’ll collect a thousand business cards that need to be sorted and emailed once you get back to work. Often, you’ll email those people without a clue who they are, and you never get a response anyway. So, how do you make sure that you are meeting the relevant people and that you make a lasting impression for them?
How to Create an Eye-Catching Booth
Your booth is where you’re going to attract most people… more
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Dec 13, 2018
Exhibitors and sponsors invest significant resources – financial and human capital – to make their presence at leading trade shows and conferences a success. In fact, event marketing budgets are on the rise as evidenced by a Bizzaboo “Event Marketing 2018: Benchmarks and Trends” report that found that 63 percent of marketers plan on making higher investments in their event, both in terms of dollars spent and number of events in which they exhibit.
One area where event budgets are growing is event technology. For instance, Bizzaboo research suggests that $50 million was invested in 2017 for… more
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Dec 11, 2018
You’ve spent months, maybe even years, planning your next big conference or event. It’s one of your organization’s most significant milestones this year and also, a big opportunity to generate earned press coverage.
If you want to leverage the media and PR opportunities that trade shows and events provide, make sure to do these three things.
Think Local
In the past six years, my agency has managed public relations for more than 80 conferences and events hosted by Experience Grand Rapids. While the majority of these meetings and groups hosted were from outside of the Grand Rapids region,… more
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Dec 06, 2018
For many larger, tech-savvy companies and event venues, when a software need arises, a similar discussion takes place: is this something we can build and maintain ourselves, or better to invest in a third-party system to meet the need?
The market for event management software - spanning everything from venue management to ticketing, analytics, marketing and more - is growing at a phenomenal rate, and a recent report estimates the market to be worth 11.06 billion by 2020.
In this piece, I’ll break down some advantages and disadvantages of each side of the buy vs. build discussion, with a… 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.