Giving Back

TSNN is shining a bright, well-deserved spotlight on event companies that are #GivingBack to make a positive impact in their host and home communities.

Is your company #GivingBack? Tweet us using the #GivingBack hashtag to @TSNN_com_us and we’ll feature what your company is doing to help make the world a better place!

Feb 12, 2019
As part of its ongoing partnership with the American Heart Association’s Orange County Division, Visit Anaheim has donated eight life-saving CPR kits to two more high schools in its local community. Launched in November 2017 in conjunction with the AHA, the CVB’s multi-year Heart-to-Heart campaign was created to give back to local residents by providing more than 15,000 Anaheim high school students with life-saving CPR skills and education.  “Inspired by American Heart Association’s decision to host their 2017 Scientific Sessions at the Anaheim Convention Center after a 16-year absence and… more
Feb 04, 2019
By Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director Firstly a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored me for the Boston Marathon. I really appreciate it, and it will go a long way to help the charity achieve its goals this year.  For the first time, I’ve got corporate sponsors and a huge thank you to them - details of my various supporters are below - you have gone above and beyond. Finally, a big thank you to Rachel, Brian and Jeffery for their Herculean efforts on the fundraising - a fantastic team effort. Training in January hasn’t quite gone to plan. I’ve picked up a hip injury -… more
Jan 31, 2019
MGM Resorts International has re-established its MGM Resorts Scholarship Program for Children of Employees with an initial gift of $1 million.  Offering scholarships up to $2,500 to selected children of MGM Resorts’ full-time domestic employees (excluding executives) through a highly competitive application process, this philanthropic program is intended to help high school graduates increase their access to post-secondary opportunities, including universities, community colleges and recognized certification programs. Although the scholarships will be funded by MGM Resorts, the program… more
Jan 23, 2019
In an effort to help Southern Nevada’s vulnerable populations, Caesars Entertainment has launched The Shared Future Fund, a first-of-its-kind investment model that will be used to create long-term positive change for adult and child victims of human trafficking.  The new fund will be controlled and managed by ImpactNV, a Southern Nevada nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing cross-sector leadership to address pressing social needs and building a better community. Created as a self-sustaining model designed to catalyze solutions to core regional issues via grants, loans and investments, The… more
Jan 18, 2019
As the American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” We are seeing Mead’s words come to fruition in many aspects of our society, including the global business community, as more people and companies are taking the lead in creating positive change via corporate social responsibility programs.  The events industry is no exception to this, with many companies and individuals doing their part to set up programs and campaigns to help make a difference in… more
Jan 09, 2019
As part of its new vision that business events can be the drivers of social positive change, PCMA has committed to combat child exploitation by signing The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.  In partnership with ECPAT-USA, the leading U.S. policy organization that works to end the commercial, sexual exploitation of children around the world, The Code is the only voluntary set of business principles that companies and organizations in the travel, business travel and tourism industries can implement to prevent and eradicate human… more
Jan 07, 2019
By Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director I strongly believe that we as an industry need to do more to give back to our communities. To practice what I preach, this year I will be running the Boston marathon on behalf of a local Boston charity that does a fantastic job for the Newton community – NWW Committee for Community Living. HERE is a link if you would like to support my running on behalf of this great non-profit! I’m planning to write a monthly blog on my challenge, which will go out on TSNN.com and on social media. So here is my first-ever blog!The year 2018 ended as it… more
Dec 20, 2018
While many exhibition venues may choose the holiday season to carry out acts of service that help their local communities, the San Diego Convention Center has made corporate social responsibility a year-round labor of love. According to Barbara Moreno, SDCC executive director of communications and outreach, the San Diego Convention Center Corporation has a long-standing commitment to giving back to its Southern California community. “We believe in being good neighbors and for years have worked together with event meeting planners to connect them with non-profits and charities that they can… more
Dec 11, 2018
Leaving a destination better than one found it isn’t just a theme that’s been resonating with many events lately – it’s been inspiring some convention and visitors bureaus to do their part, too. Case in point is the Barcelona Convention Bureau (BCB), which teamed up with 13 of its partners for a Volunteer Day consisting of a full-day park clean up at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah prior to IMEX America, held last October in Las Vegas. With corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives a top priority for BCB and its partners, the activity was created to showcase BCB’s CSR initiative… more
Dec 04, 2018
Speak with Tammi Runzler for just a few minutes and it’s obvious she’s one of those special individuals with a deep passion for making a difference. A 30-year veteran of the meetings, events and destination marketing industries, Runzler recently co-founded CSRconnections, a corporate social responsibility program planning company that connects organizations with customized CSR opportunities designed to engage attendees while positively impacting the destinations that host their events.  As an enthusiastic proponent of CSR at events, I was excited to sit down with Runzler to hear about her… 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.