Mar 31, 2015
Not only has the American Society of Association Executives and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events expressed concern about the recent passing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana, but also Visit Indy, which represents the city of Indianapolis, is worried about the act’s possible impact.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's ability to practice his or her religion, but opponents say it opens the door to possible discrimination.
“Since February, we have opposed Indiana’s RFRA bill, a bill… more
Mar 30, 2015
USITT 2015 broke all previous attendance records, attracting nearly 5,500 people to Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Center last week for the backstage industry’s annual event.
More than 280 exhibitors were at booths with state-of-the-art entertainment products for the largest Stage Expo ever – and 170-plus already have signed on for USITT 2016 in Salt Lake City.
“So many people told us this was their best conference experience ever,” said USITT Executive Director David Grindle.
He added, “We are very proud to be known for a show that shines in quality, excitement, and customer service.”
USITT 2015… more
Mar 30, 2015
The American Society of Association Executives expects nearly 5,500 nonprofit and association professionals to come together Aug. 8-11 for the 2015 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, which will be held at Detroit’s newly renovated Cobo Center.
How can associations harness fresh approaches to all aspects of their work? Opening general speaker Josh Linkner, a business leader, venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur and author, will discuss a systematic process he discovered that increases creativity and produces results.
At the opening keynote, attendees will walk away with practical… more
Mar 26, 2015
After making its home in Chicago for a long time, Graph Expo will be moving to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando in 2016 for the first time.
The show, owned by the Graphic Arts Show Company, will be held Sept. 25-28.
"We are delighted to be bringing GRAPH EXPO to Orlando in 2016," said GASC President Ralph Nappi.
He added, “Not only did Visit Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center superbly represent just how ideal a destination Orlando would be for our show’s date and size requirements, they also convinced us with the momentum behind Orlando's… more
Mar 26, 2015
Meetings Mean Business, a coalition formed in 2009 to spread the word about the value that business meetings, travel and events bring to the U.S. economy, recently conducted a survey of 100 federal employees who organize, attend or influence meetings and travel as part of their jobs.
Even with the pressures on government travel to meetings, a whopping 98 percent of the respondents said that in-person meetings are important for advancing their agency’s mission.
Ninety-two percent said that engaging with colleagues, peers, partners and vendors face-to-face improves their ability to work… more
Mar 25, 2015
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies has teamed up with Germany-based Koelnmesse GmbH to launch a U.S.-based trade show focusing on processing and packaging technologies for the food and beverage marketplace.
PMMI produces the PACK EXPO series of shows and Koelnmesse GmbH produces the Cologne-based Anuga FoodTec, the international supplier fair for the food and beverage industry.
"Koelnmesse, and its Anuga FoodTec show are world leaders in food and beverage processing," said Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO, PMMI. "With shows dating back nearly 100 years, the… more
Mar 24, 2015
Last year, children from the Palabra Viva church in Las Vegas drew pictures of their dream playground, and this week, hundreds of orthopaedic surgeons and other volunteers attending the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) 2015 Annual Meeting joined forces with KaBOOM! and members of the community to bring those designs to life.
Since 2000, the Academy has sponsored a one-day Safe and Accessible Playground Build as a gift to the AAOS Annual Meeting host community. This will be the Academy’s 16th playground build and the second in the Las Vegas area.
“The Safe and… more
Mar 24, 2015
Nat Wong, current president of Reed Exhibitions Greater China, will be succeeded April 16 by Hu Wei.
Wei came on board March 16 to understudy Womng and be orientated to the business.
“We owe a lot to Nat for his contributions,” aaid Paul Beh, regional president of Reed Exhibitions Asia-Pacific.
He added, “Over this period of time, he has been instrumental in growing the business and we have seen RXGC scaling greater heights with expansion into new markets through acquisitions and launches of which I am fully appreciative and proud of.”
Describing his tenure in RXGC, Wong said, “My time at… more
Mar 24, 2015
More than 300 delegates from 21 countries and territories broke attendance records when they gathered recently in Hong Kong for UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibitions Industry’s 10th Open Seminar in Asia.
This year, the seminar returned to Hong Kong, which also hosted the inaugural edition in 2006. The seminar was co-hosted by both the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), and it was held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
Speakers at this year’s seminar included a number of industry veterans… more
Mar 24, 2015
The NPE2015: International Plastics Showcase, which was held March 23-27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, was not only the largest in its 69-year history, but also drew the highest attendance ever, especially from overseas.
SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, which owns the show, projected the number of exhibitors to match and possibly exceed the record of 2,009 set at NPE2000 and attendance likely reached 60,000, well above the total for the successful 2012 show.
The amount of exhibit space taken exceeded the previous record set at NPE2000 and was expected to… 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.