Dec 03, 2011
While many home, garden and construction-related trade shows still are struggling to pick up steam and return to pre-recessionary growth, the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo enjoyed a second consecutive year of increases in attendee and exhibitor participation. Held Nov. 2-4 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the annual trade show and conference for the pool, spa and backyard industry drew 9,717 attendees and 484 exhibitors to a 122,250 square foot showfloor, according to show officials. Last year, the event attracted 9,255 attendees and 459 exhibitors spanning… more
Nov 30, 2011
The Center for Exhibition Industry’s CEIR Index showed that trade shows continued to buck overall negative economic trends in the third quarter, with 2.6-percent growth in all four key metrics tracked in the report, compared with the same quarter in 2010. Trade show growth in the third quarter of this year also beat out the GDP during the same period, which only grew 1.5 percent. In addition, all four key metrics tracked by the CEIR Index – attendance, number of exhibitors, revenues and net square footage - showed positive results on a year-on-year basis and the growth of… more
Nov 27, 2011
Once a year in the United States, people connected to the amusement parks industry come from far and wide to check out what’s new at the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions’ Attractions Expo. This year’s event ran Nov. 14-18 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, and it saw a 5-percent increase to 15,300 attendees, compared with 14,600 attendees at the 2010 event. “The results for IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011 surpassed our expectations on several fronts,” said IAAPA President and CEO Chip Cleary. He added, “… more
Nov 27, 2011
The Virtual Edge Institute’s Virtual Edge Summit 2012, on tap Jan. 9-11 at the San Diego Convention Center, has unveiled a robust education program on everything a show organizer needs to know on virtual and hybrid events, with 80 speakers and 30 sessions. The theme of the summit, “Accelerate: knowledge. strategy. results”, will focus on presenting digital solutions for meetings, events, learning, training and community and feature speakers from companies such as 3M, Cisco Systems, Herbalife, HIMSS, IBM, Intel Corporation, Microsoft, VMWare, and Xerox. The summit runs… more
Nov 27, 2011
Individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the exhibitions and events industry have been named by the International Association of Exhibitions & Events and will be feted at the organization’s upcoming Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition Dec. 6-8 in Las Vegas. The IAEE Individual Awards winners includes Gary Sain, president and CEO of Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, who will receive Chariman’s Award, given to someone whose assistance to the IAEE chairman has been meritorious. Recipients are recognized for going… more
Nov 21, 2011
The recent Cosmoprof Asia grew in several different areas, including attendance, showfloor size and number of exhibitors, when it ran Nov. 9-11 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show, jointly organized by UBM Asia and BolognaFiere Group, drew more than 48,500 attendees, a 10-percent increase, compared with last year; 1,780 exhibitors, up 9 percent on 2010, from 42 countries and regions, of which 477 were first-time exhibitors; and had the largest-ever showfloor, with 68,000 square meters of exhibition space, up 18 percent, compared with the 2010 edition.… more
Nov 21, 2011
Malaysia recently booked the 8th Design & Health World Congress & Exhibition in 2012 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The five-day congress will explore the latest research findings on the relationship between the built environment and human health, wellbeing and quality of life with a focus on the Asian, African and Middle Eastern emerging economies. Organized by the International Academy for Design and Health headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, the Congress has never been to Malaysia before. It is expected to attract 1,000 delegates and generate an estimated USD3.5… more
Nov 21, 2011
When EIBTM kicks off Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in Barcelona, Spain, the China Meetings Summit will debut for the first time. The summit is intended to give EIBTM attendees insight into how China is poised to capture high profile business events. With economists predicting 70-percent growth during the next five years, if businesses expect to grow in the future, China is an important market to pay attention to. The China Meetings Summit will look at the meetings industry from a first-tier destination perspective and from a meeting planner perspective, bringing an interactive session with live debate… more
Nov 21, 2011
The Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) reported results of its biennial economic impact study report. Compiled by KPMG Transaction Advisory Services, the report shows Hong Kong’s exhibition industry contributed US$4.6 billion towards the local economy in 2010, compared with US$3.9 billion in 2008, or equivalent to 2.1 percent of Hong Kong’s total GDP. Direct expenditure, which covers expenditure specifically on exhibitions and exhibition-related activities, amounted to US$2.3 billion or 50 percent of the total expenditure. Business… more
Nov 20, 2011
Portland, Maine-based Diversified Business Communications has purchased the Pri-Med brand and U.S.-based assets from MC Holdings Corporation. Founded in 1994, Pri-Med is a primary-care focused media network in the United States with more than 50 annual live medical educational conferences and digital properties. “This acquisition fulfills two strategic goals by expanding our medical portfolio and growing our U.S. operations,” said Nancy Hasselback, president and CEO of Diversified Communications, the parent company of Diversified Business Communications. “We launched… 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.