May 21, 2018
Drumroll please …. After a RECORD year of nominations, TSNN proudly unveils the top seven show finalists competing for the TWO “Best of Show” Awards being announced at TSNN Awards Aug. 10-12 in Louisville (www.T-awards.com). The two winners will be determined on social media and industry voting!  So, get out there and vote for your top choice today! (Voting closes June 16.)  Waste Expo – Why a finalist? Because they "wowed" in multiple ways and didn’t waste any time jumping in on their 1960's theme. They got groovy and celebrated 50 years (rockin’ it since 1968) carrying their fun theme… more
May 15, 2018
International Market Centers and AmericasMart, two operators in the furniture, gift, home decor, rug and apparel B2B industries, have entered into an agreement to form the world’s largest owner and operator of premier showroom space. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The combined corporate entity, which will operate under the name “International Market Centers,” will own and operate nearly 20 million square feet of permanent showroom space in Las Vegas, High Point, and Atlanta. The individual Markets and their respective venues will continue to operate under existing… more
May 15, 2018
The Exhibitions Mean Business campaign will hold its fifth annual Exhibitions Day on Capitol Hill June 5-6 to champion the impact that the exhibitions industry has upon the U.S. economy. According to new information obtained by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), events contributed $91 billion to the U.S. GDP in 2017, approximately a $10 billion increase from what was previously reported. “Recent data shows the economic contribution of events, which includes direct spending of organizers, exhibitors, attendees and venues, totaled $91 billion in 2017,” said Allen Shaw, Ph.D… more
May 15, 2018
As part of its contribution to the campaign to fight the global crime of human trafficking, MGM Resorts International recently awarded $250,000 to the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University. Founded in 2012 and inspired by the public service of Senator John McCain and his family, the nonpartisan think tank will use the gift to fund several initiatives designed to aid the vulnerable population of homeless youth and provide prevention measures.  “We are so grateful for the support of MGM Resorts International,” said Cindy H. McCain, who serves on McCain… more
May 10, 2018
GES recently reported its first-quarter 2018 earnings results in which revenues dropped 15.8 percent from $318 million in 2017 to $268 million during the same period this year. Steve Moster, GES’ parent company – Viad - president and CEO, said, “GES delivered solid results, with continued same-show growth that partially offset significant negative show rotation. We remain focused on driving in-sourcing benefits and pursuing additional cross-sell opportunities from our ON Services audio-visual production business and capturing additional share in the corporate event space.” He added, “I… more
May 10, 2018
The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, Healthy Food Expo West and Coffee Fest Los Angeles are gearing up to take place alongside each other Aug. 19-21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.   According to Clarion UX officials, one registration will give industry professionals access to all three trade shows and conferences for the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industries.  “We are thrilled to be bringing three leading events together for the first time so buyers looking for new products and services for their foodservice establishments can find everything under one roof,”… more
May 09, 2018
Tech giants Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google were among some of the brightest minds to converge at the annual IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP), held April 16-20 at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  As the world’s largest and most comprehensive technical conference focused on signal processing and its applications, the 43rdedition of ICASSP attracted 2,300 attendees and 28 high-caliber exhibitors spanning 21,000 square feet of expo space. Touting the theme “Signal Processing and Artificial… more
May 08, 2018
In a move that CEO Tom Baugh has labeled as “highly strategic,” B2C home shows producer, Marketplace Events, has purchased three Atlanta-based home shows from SEMCO Productions. The events include the Spring Atlanta Home Show and the Fall Atlanta Home Show & Outdoor Living Expo, held annually at the Cobb Galleria Centre, as well as the North Atlanta Home Show & Outdoor Living Expo, which takes place at the Infinite Energy Center in Gwinnett County. “For more than 40 years, SEMCO has been synonymous with Atlanta and home shows” Baugh explained.  He continued, “The Atlanta market is… more
May 03, 2018
GES has named Jay Altizer president of its North America division, effective May 14. Altizer will lead GES’ exhibition and exhibit program business in the U.S. and Canada, with a focus on accelerating growth. He brings extensive management experience, including operational excellence, business development and product innovation. Altizer successfully has led teams at Dean Foods, PepsiCo and Bain & Company. Altizer will report directly to Steve Moster, president of GES, and president and CEO of Viad. “Jay has distinguished himself throughout his career as a strategic and creative… more
May 03, 2018
Enterprise event management company Cvent has announced that it will acquire mobile event app provider QuickMobile. The acquisition is expected to close before the end of May 2018. The addition of QuickMobile's technology will help Cvent expand its Event Cloud Platform's mobile capabilities, providing mobile apps for events of all sizes. Together, the organizations will: Serve more than 25,500 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 100 Deliver 16.7 million app downloads Offer over 950 product support professionals to ensure customer success Reggie Aggarwal, founder and CEO of Cvent,… more
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.