News
Mar 10, 2021
As we move toward the second quarter of 2021, event organizations and suppliers are announcing new hires and promotions far and wide. Check out who’s been moving forward in the trade show industry lately:
Dana Freker Doody has joined the leadership team of live and on-demand digital platform provider JUNO as vice president of marketing and communications. In her new role, Freker Doody will work to develop strategies to serve clients and secure business, while developing a brand-defining communications platform.
She most recently served as vice president of communications and public… more
Mar 10, 2021
Good luck trying to have a conversation about events in 2021 without using the word “hybrid.” The consensus is that a vast majority of conferences, conventions and trade shows will incorporate a virtual element when returning face-to-face, most convening in-person for the first time since 2019. Dig beyond that general thought process, though, and the specifics are a bit hazy. “There’s a reason you’re hearing about those generalities,” said Alon Alroy, co-founder, CMO and CCO of Bizzabo. “No one has cracked it yet.”
Truth be told, that code for hybrid success might be different for each event… more
Mar 09, 2021
As the exhibition industry sets its sights on recovery, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events is doing what it can to increase its international and local educational resources that its chapters can offer members. To help do just that, IAEE has for a fifth-straight year partnered with full-service exhibitions services contractor Fern to offer a free specialized education program targeting top-of-mind topics most relevant to each chapter’s membership base.
“It is important to us to provide the best and most pertinent education programming to our members, especially as our… more
Mar 08, 2021
While a faculty member at East Carolina University, Dr. Alleah Crawford taught courses in event management. She joined the Association for Women in Events as a board member to build connections for her students.
The association may no longer exist, and Crawford is now professor and associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University in Alabama, but the work done by both remains of utmost importance to an industry trying to match its talk about diversity and inclusion with action.
Specifically, there remains a need to elevate women to leadership… more
Mar 05, 2021
Proclaiming the industry is sick of virtual events, IMEX Group Chairman and Founder Ray Bloom reaffirmed that the company’s signature trade show, IMEX America, will happen as scheduled this November 9-11 in Las Vegas
“There is no doubt there,” said Bloom during Meetings Made Easy’s weekly Facebook Live session on Thursday.
The confidence in the event is welcomed news for events professionals eager to speed the recovery from COVID-19.
More than 13,000 attendees — planners, DMO representatives, hoteliers, vendors and more — converge annually in Las Vegas for the event. The grand scale of the… more
Mar 04, 2021
ASAE made the difficult but what it felt was the prudent decision this week to move its Annual Meeting & Exposition online for the second consecutive year.
Originally scheduled to be held in Dallas this summer, the association’s largest event will take an approach similar to PCMA’s Convening Leaders. In addition to online distribution, there will be small meeting hubs set up in different regions for in-person networking and activities. The annual meeting will be conducted over the week of August 16.
“As has been the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ASAE’s first priority in all… more
Mar 03, 2021
Las Vegas Sands Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to sell The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo and Convention Center Operating Company for $6.25 billion to the Global investment firm Apollo Global Management, Inc.
Apollo affiliates and real estate investment trust firm VICI Properties Inc. will acquire subsidiaries that hold the real estate and operations of the Las Vegas Strip’s Venetian and Palazzo resorts and the Sands Expo and Convention Center.
“The Venetian is America’s premier integrated resort, with an unrivaled set of amenities to serve guests across hospitality,… more
Mar 03, 2021
As the heart of South Padre Island’s meeting and event business, the South Padre Island Convention Center is accustomed to hosting an array of year-round corporate and consumer events. These range from fishing tournaments to quilt shows to college basketball tournaments.
Tourists and event groups alike are drawn to the island for obvious reasons. Situated on the coastal tip of Texas, along the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the barrier island destination boasts 34 miles of white sand beaches, clear emerald waters and 300 days of sunshine per year.
But during the recent polar vortex… more
Mar 02, 2021
This year has gotten off to a roaring start, with event-related organizations far and wide forming new partnerships, signing new deals and renewing long-standing business relationships in preparation for brighter horizons. Here’s what’s been going on so far during the first quarter of the trade show industry:
eventPower
Cloud-based software and conference management services provider eventPower has welcomed more than 60 new virtual clients, thanks to its Virtual Event Experience platform, which enabled the company to grow its business and staff as well as host more than 50 virtual events… more
Mar 01, 2021
International travelers are used to presenting passports to enter foreign countries. Event attendees may very well have a similar requirement going forward — one tracking health status.
Sharemy.health is quickly establishing itself as the go-to platform for major organizations to ensure safety while bringing back face-to-face events. With clients including the U.S. Olympic Committee, Major League Baseball, universities and live events, the cloud-based software’s offerings include a digital passport providing proof of vaccinations.
The offering comes as the Centers for Disease Control and… 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.