News

Jul 13, 2016
The 24th edition of ProPak Asia was held from 15th to 18th June at Bangkok International Trade Exhibition Centre (BITEC). The exhibition attracts 1,976 exhibiting companies from 48 countries to showcase a variety of food, drinks, pharmaceutical processing & packaging technology.   Organised by Bangkok Exhibition Services (BES) Ltd, a total of 17 international pavilions, including ones from China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, UK, USA and new pavilions from Australia and Denmark, were featured at the show. The four-day show attracted nearly 41,000… more
Jul 13, 2016
Diane Chen has been promoted to the position of General Manager of the Shenyang New World EXPO (EXPO). It is a new venue located in northeast China offering 24,000 m2 of indoor exhibition space and an additional 4,000 m2 of convention, meeting and banquet space.   Chen previously worked with Ernst & Young in China. She joined EXPO in June 2012 as the Director of Business Development and was promoted to Deputy General Manager in September 2015.  In response to her new position, she stated “I am confident in leading the EXPO team to reach EXPO’s vision and mission using my… more
Jul 12, 2016
Las Vegas has a streak of good news with shows held in the first half of 2016 seeing major upticks in their numbers, with several reporting record growth. Through May 2016, more than three million visitors traveled to Las Vegas to attend a meeting or convention. That’s a 12.1 percent, compared with the same time last year.   CES 2016 broke its own record from last year with 2.47 million net sq. ft. showfloor, up from 2.2 million last year, taking over the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Expo & Convention Center and the Venetian, as well as the Wynn, Aria, Vdara and Cosmopolitan.… more
Jul 10, 2016
Detroit’s Cobo Center, which is managed by SMG, recently launched a new Technology Services Department. Thanks to the venue’s recent $279 million renovation, a new broadcast studio, digital signage, Internet and Wi-Fi upgrades, and an extensive fiber network represent meaningful change in the business model for providing Internet services to attendees, exhibitors and show management. The new Technology Services department at Cobo Center now in place to provide customers with state-of-the-art technology supported by a dedicated in-house team. "The creation of Cobo Center… more
Jul 10, 2016
Emphasizing the growing role that technology plays in the meetings world, key findings of new research carried out for IMEX America by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) show that more than 40 percent of the MPI Research Panel members surveyed use laptops or mobile devices to capture content real-time. Of that group, 10.5 percent of these professionals always use them for note taking and 31.6 percent use them sometimes. Handwritten notes continue to be the choice of the majority (57.1 percent), while just 0.8 percent record their observations. “In an era when capturing live… more
Jul 10, 2016
Detroit’s Cobo Center, which is managed by SMG, recently launched a new Technology Services Department. Thanks to the venue’s recent $279 million renovation, a new broadcast studio, digital signage, Internet and Wi-Fi upgrades, and an extensive fiber network represent meaningful change in the business model for providing Internet services to attendees, exhibitors and show management. The new Technology Services department at Cobo Center now in place to provide customers with state-of-the-art technology supported by a dedicated in-house team. "The creation of Cobo Center… more
Jul 08, 2016
The United Fresh Produce Association had a busy time during its show, United Fresh 2016, which was held June 20-22 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. First, the association made another substantial donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and second, it launched the Global Cold Chain Expo in partnership with the Global Cold Chain Alliance. Besides the launch event, United Fresh is collocated with several other shows, including the International Floriculture Expo and FMI Connect. In an effort to give back to the Chicago community, United Fresh donated 51,042 lbs. of produce and 641 lbs. of… more
Jul 08, 2016
The 2016 Summer Fancy Food Show was the largest in exhibit space since it was established in 1954. More than 2,670 exhibitors filled the halls of Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, with the latest in specialty food and beverages from across the U.S. and 55 countries. Owned and produced by the Specialty Food Association, the show ran June 26-28. More than 47,000 specialty food professionals were in the exhibit halls, which spanned the equivalent of six football fields. "The show is the place to be to discover the latest in specialty food and what's next for stores and restaurants… more
Jul 07, 2016
The 2016 Dwell on Design (DOD) Los Angeles conference ran June 24–26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and saw great attendance for the show’s 11h year. “We have seen great growth and changes over the last 11 years,” said Michela O’Connor Abrams, CEO of Dwell. “This has been an amazing year for us, starting with the great partnership with UK based Informa. It is hard to believe we already have a year under our belt, and the new ownership has brought such collaboration and inspiration as a team. We are now looking at the show through a global lens, and targeting 2018 as the year to take DOD… more
Jul 07, 2016
The plastics industry was still in its infancy when the first National Plastics Exposition (NPE) opened its doors in April 1946 at the Grand Central Palace in New York. The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) was founded in 1937. Organizers realized industry professionals needed a place to meet face-to-face and discover the latest technology in real-life machinery, materials, and processed goods all in one place at one time. So once World War II ended, the opportunity to demonstrate equipment operating in front of an audience of thousands became a reality. Plastics were a… 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.