Northstar Travel Group Buys Schneider Publishing Events, Magazines
April 4, 2017
Northstar Travel Group acquired not only the TEAMS Conference + Expo and Meetings Quest conferences from Schneider Publishing, but also magazine titles SportsTravel and Association News.
Timothy Schneider, president and CEO of Schneider Publishing, joins Northstar Travel Group as founder and chairman of the company's new Sports Division.
The division will be a part of Northstar's Meetings Group, which includes Meetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Meeting News, and Incentive, and the Group's integrated data, digital, and in-person event platforms.
"Sporting events are an exciting, fast-growing, specialized meetings-industry segment, catering to diverse audiences with distinct needs," said Tom Kemp, chairman and CEO of Northstar Travel Group.
He added, "Schneider Publishing's SportsTravel brand and their TEAMS Conference have built a reputation as a key partner to sports-event organizers and the destinations and hoteliers who serve them. This acquisition is another important step in the transformation of Northstar into a marketing solutions company serving all key segments of the travel and meetings industries."
TEAMS is a conference and expo for the sports-event industry. Presented in association with the SportsTravel media brand, TEAMS '17 will be held Oct. 30–Nov. 2 in Orlando.
Launched in 1998, TEAMS attracts more than 1,000 attendees, including CEOs, executive directors and event managers from sports organizations, as well as representatives from sports commissions and convention bureaus, corporate sponsors, event suppliers, and other hospitality industry opinion leaders.
"Our strategy to serve the widest variety of meeting planners, and the suppliers who serve them, is further enhanced with the addition of Association News and the Meetings Quest conferences," said David Blansfield, executive vice president and group publisher of Northstar's Meetings Group.
He added, "Schneider Publishing's extensive databases and relationships complement and expand our capabilities in the corporate, association, and specialty meetings markets, as well as provide an immediate leadership position in sports."
Meetings Quest is the live-show counterpart to Association News, and is the longest-running series of trade shows for meeting planners in the U.S.
"Finding the right strategic partner with the necessary capabilities over a range of areas — event management, digital media, and database marketing, to name a few — was important to me to scale the business," said Timothy Schneider.
He added, "Working with Tom, David and the Northstar team, we'll be leveraging Northstar's strengths to enhance and expand our offerings in service of our customers."
Included in Northstar's acquisition of Schneider Publishing's sports- and meetings-industry assets, the company has also acquired the rights to the Shamrock Shootout Golf Classic, the longest-running golf tournament in the hospitality industry, which has been recently named the exclusive golf tournament of the IMEX America trade show, which will be held Oct. 10–12 in Las Vegas.
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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