Feb 21, 2015
The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority’s Board of Directors voted to approve a contract for the purchase of the historic Riviera Hotel & Casino’s 26-acre site as the cornerstone for its planned Las Vegas Global Business District.
The District will expand the Las Vegas Convention Center’s footprint from 3.2 million square feet to nearly 5.7 million square feet and give it a Strip-front location.
“The Las Vegas Global Business District is the single most important economic development project in the state,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the LVCVA.
He added, “… more
Feb 20, 2015
In its 87th year, Western Veterinary Conference evolves with the times just like the dynamic industry it’s serving. For its annual event that took place Feb. 16-19 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, it made strides into the RFID technology and Amazon-inspired marketing model for its continued education offerings, as well as revealed its new branding, to stay on the cutting edge.
“It’s about having an accessible, customized and personalized experience,” said WVC CEO David Little. “If we can enhance that, it makes our attendee experience more valuable.”
One of the steps on that… more
Feb 17, 2015
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events reported that Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition, held Dec. 9-11 in Los Angeles, yielded higher attendance than in 2013, according to an independent attendance verification audit conducted by Exhibit Surveys.
The audit was conducted in compliance with the requirements of attendance audits promulgated by the Exhibition and Event Industry Audit Commission (EEIAC).
Here are some of the key statistics comparing Expo! Expo! 2014 to the 2013 event:
· Overall attendance increased by 15 percent in 2014 from 1,934 to… more
Feb 17, 2015
Supplier and show organizers alike promoted from within and brought on new personnel for a variety of positions across the trade show industry in the past month.
Reed Exhibitions appointed Nick Pilbeam to the position of divisional director – Travel.
Pilbeam will oversee the travel division under Reed Travel Exhibitions, which includes the International Luxury Travel Market portfolio, World Travel Market portfolio and the newly branded ibtm events portfolio of global and regional events providing business solutions on five continents.
They include ibtm world, ibtm arabia, ibtm… more
Feb 17, 2015
In a letter to UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s members, UFI President Andrés Lopez-Valderrama said Paul Woodward, the organization’s managing director, would be stepping down later this year.
Lopez-Valderrama added that Woodward had made the decision “to spend more time with family and to cut down on travel and business commitments. UFI is in a very strong position, but we now have to embark on the task of finding a replacement for Paul.”
Woodward, who has been in the position for the past five years, will remain in his post until at least after the Milan Congress,… more
Feb 16, 2015
USITT 2015, which is run by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, is on tap in Cincinnati and now boasts a record 280 exhibitors – including 60 new ones.
USITT Stage Expo Manager Ron Procopio says he is excited to welcome so many companies new or returning after years away to the 55th Annual Conference & Stage Expo.
The event will fill some 45,000 square feet of Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Convention Center March 19-21.
“As the industry and economy changes, so does USITT’s Stage Expo floor,” Procopio said. “So, besides our huge showing of big industry names, we’re attracting… more
Feb 13, 2015
Cybersecurity is a topic affecting every business that utilizes the Internet, including meetings, conferences, and trade shows where business intelligence and private information is exchanged and communicated regularly over wired and wireless networks.
While it only takes ONE major incident to compromise the integrity of an organization, most trade show planners are oblivious to the risks and remedies available to them.
In this TSNN webinar, event-technology journalist Michelle Bruno speaks with cyber-security expert Michael Robinson about what to look for, how to prepare, and who… more
Feb 12, 2015
This month on Interview with a Trade Show Exec, part of an ongoing TSNN series conducted by Traci Browne, we’ll be getting to know a bit more about another one of our industry’s rock stars. While it may not have the Gothic setting of an Anne Rice novel, I think these main characters are just as complicated and deep as were Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac, but without all that brooding undead thing going on.
Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr.
Vice Chairman, president & COO AMC Inc.
AmericasMart shows and markets and LIGHTFAIR
29 years in the trade show industry
Traci Browne: Where… more
Feb 11, 2015
The Kentucky International Convention Center, located in Downtown Louisville, is set to begin an expansion and renovation project in August 2016 with an early completion date of summer 2018.
Kentucky State Fair Board President and CEO Rip Rippetoe said that the accelerated construction schedule will “keep this renovation on time and within budget which is certainly a top priority.” The Fair Board oversees the center.
The renovation of the convention center is projected to cost $180 million. The investment will increase contiguous exhibit space by more than a third, from 146,000 square feet to… more
Feb 10, 2015
World of Concrete 2015 that took place Feb. 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center showed the strongest results in six years. Attendance was up 20 percent, at 55,779, compared with last year’s numbers. Exhibitor count reached 1,400, a jump of 17 percent. Square footage also has grown by close to 20 percent to almost 700,000 square feet.
“We’ve had a phenomenal show,” said Tom Cindric, vice president of World of Concrete, Informa Exhibitions U.S., Construction and Real Estate. “The economy is getting better on the commercial construction side.”
The show also saw a boost in conference… 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.