News

Oct 05, 2018
With the help of a newly launched exhibitor co-marketing solution, VIP Guest Invites, some major U.S. trade shows are seeing a significant spike in invited guest attendance.  The new system, recently launched in partnership with several UBM events, empowers event organizers to offer their exhibitors a free, fully customized marketing toolkit to simply and easily promote their show presence as well as invite customers and prospects to an event.  “We started VIP Guest Invites to assist frustrated event managers who were seeing low engagement in existing exhibitor co-marketing solutions… more
Oct 04, 2018
TSNN is thrilled to announce that the 10th Annual 2019 TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence will head Nov. 15-17 to Dallas to celebrate the top U.S. fastest-growing trade shows in net square footage and attendance (www.T-awards.com) Attendees will be hosted not only at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center for the TSNN Awards education conference, breakfast and lunch, but also the Omni Dallas Hotel for gala celebration and other activities. “We are very excited to host the 2019 TSNN Awards in Dallas,” said Phillip J. Jones, president and CEO of VisitDallas. He added, “… more
Oct 04, 2018
Some of the construction in downtown San Francisco will be ending soon, with a positive impact for event planners and attendees. The $551 million Moscone Center expansion project is due to be completed at the end of 2018. Started in November 2014, the expansion adds more than 157,000 gross square feet of flexible meeting space to Moscone North and South, increasing the center’s total exhibit space to more than 504,000 sq. ft. According to Tom David, executive vice president and chief sales officer for San Francisco Travel Association, the expansion was driven by the need to both keep and… more
Oct 03, 2018
Two large U.S. footwear trade show operators are teaming up to better meet the evolving needs of the industries they represent. Spurred on by a clash of show dates in February of next year as well as the need for a consistent market calendar based on industry demand, the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY), the organization that leads FFANY Market Weeks in New York and its NY Shoe Expo trade shows, and Informa, organizer of FN PLATFORM, MAGIC, Coterie and PROJECT, are forming a collaborative industry partnership designed to address the footwear industry’s emerging and evolving… more
Oct 02, 2018
The National Restaurant Association and Winsight, an information services company in the foodservice industry that publishes “Restaurant Business”, have announced the formation of an equity partnership through which the National Restaurant Association will become an equity partner of Winsight, and Winsight will assume operational ownership and execution of the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. The National Restaurant Association Show, the largest annual gathering of foodservice professionals in the world, will continue to be branded under the name of the… more
Oct 02, 2018
The Indoor Lab, a provider of indoor foot traffic analytics solutions for events and trade shows, has been chosen by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) to provide privacy-compliant behavioral analytics during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition, set for Dec. 11-13 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. With the help of proprietary sensor technologies, The Indoor Lab will use its EventAnalyzer Suite of Analytics during Expo! Expo! to accurately capture and measure foot traffic trends and attendee activities, which will help… more
Oct 02, 2018
Demand for meetings and events is on the rise. According to the recently released CWT Meetings & Events 2019 Meetings & Events Future Trends report, the meetings market will see an increase of five to 10 percent in 2019.  “The global meetings and events industry can look forward to a buoyant 2019,” said Kurt Ekert, president and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). “On top of growing demand worldwide, we also expect global hotel rates to rise 3.7 percent, and flight prices 2.6 percent.” In most regions, meeting attendance numbers are also projected to grow, with a 14 percent… more
Sep 29, 2018
The summer didn’t slow down show organizing companies from contracting new services and renewing existing ones with a bevy of trade show industry suppliers. CompuSystems reached contract renewal agreements with a trio of clients to provide registration, data analytics and lead retrieval services -- the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA), and WATT Global Media. AANS, a CSI partner for the last eight years, signed a three-year agreement through 2021 for its Annual Scientific Meeting show. DEMA, a CSI partner for more… more
Sep 27, 2018
The MedTech Conference wrapped up its 12thannual edition boasting double-digit growth in attendance and partnering meetings.  Held Sept. 24-26 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, the three-day gathering of global MedTech executives attracted more than 1,000 companies, 132 exhibitors to a 20,800 square foot expo, and 3,000 medical technology professionals hailing from 35 countries, including newcomers South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic. “Holding this conference in the Philadelphia/New Jersey corridor provided us (with) an amazing opportunity to bring… more
Sep 27, 2018
Cloud-based event management and marketing solutions technology provider, a2z has officially launched its new Business Intelligence & Reporting Engine for the B2B events industry. Now available to a2z’s existing clients at no additional cost, this robust, state-of-the-art engine is designed to help event management teams mine and visualize their data with extra ease.  “When there are too many numbers in a report, our eyes start to glaze over,” said Rajiv Jain, president and CEO of a2z. “One big part of this release is that you can see the data, you can group it and you can slice 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.