Meetings, Travel, Hospitality Leaders Speak at IMEX America to Support #VegasStrong After Mass Shooting
November 10, 2017
Leaders representing the meetings, travel and hospitality sectors gathered Oct. 10 during IMEX America at the Sands Expo & Convention Center to support #VegasStrong, the hashtag that represents the resiliency of Las Vegas after a mass shooting occurred at the Route 91 Harvest Festival 10 days earlier.
The Sands Showroom was packed for the press conference with individuals from the Las Vegas hospitality community, as well as media and executives from industry associations, including IAEE, SISO and ASAE.
A video played first with an Andre Agassi voiceover asking “What Is Strength” and then detailing all of the heroic actions during and after the shooting took place and ending with “Strength is our promise for tomorrow.”
Ray Bloom, chairman and founder of IMEX Group, took the stage and said, “When we first heard the news of what happened here in Vegas, we wanted to give our support.”
IMEX Group, a hosted buyer event for the meetings and events industry, decided to go ahead with its show that brings 12,000 attendees and a $23.7 million overall economic impact to Las Vegas. “It is very fitting we have the meetings industry here to show their support,” Bloom said.
Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, took the stage next and said that Las Vegas always has been a “compassionate community,” adding, “all of a sudden this happened. It was all attack on all of us. … The best of what we are (also) happened that night.”
He detailed how the LVCVA’s marketing agency R&R created the #VegasStrong hashtag to support the community and how the Las Vegas Convention Center still is being used as a support center for people impacted by the shooting. “This really is a caring community,” Ralenkotter said.
Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association, spoke next, saying, “We’ve been so proud to see the way you all have handled this. One fear, one senseless act – Las Vegas has refused to let this define them.”
Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, the parent company of Mandalay Bay where the gunman went on his rampage from, spoke next during the press conference.
He said he represented 50,000 men in women in Las Vegas who work for the MGM properties, as well as their families. “They have a job because of you, and without you they cannot take care of their families,” Murren said. “IMEX being here right now is almost poetic.”
He added that he has never been prouder of the MGM organization. “We are heartbroken, but we are not broken,” Murren said.
David Peckinpaugh took the stage next and said he was speaking on behalf of all the 43 million people who visit Las Vegas every year.
“As an industry that’s involved with meetings, events, incentives and trade shows, we need to make sure we are educating our clients,” he added. “We need to let our customers know it is a great place to hold events and continues to be a great place to hold events.”
To donate to the Las Vegas Victim's Fund, please go HERE.
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.
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