Jul 08, 2012
Northstar Travel Media, a business-to-business media company serving the travel industry, has gone from one private equity owner – BV Investment Partners – to another, Wicks Group, which purchased the company for an undisclosed sum.
“We are very impressed with the growth of Northstar Travel Media over the last few years during challenging economic conditions,” said Dan Kortick, a managing partner at Wicks.
He added, “The management team has done an excellent job of migrating its core business to an integrated information and marketing solutions company.… more
Jul 08, 2012
Trade show veteran Kevin O’Keefe has taken a new post at GLM as senior vice president, leaving his position at UBM Canon Communications at which he oversaw several 2011 TSNN Top 250 shows, such as Medical Design & Manufacturing West, East and Midwest, as well as other shows in the UBM Canon portfolio.
O’Keefe has worked in the trade show industry for 20 years and will assume many of the duties of GLM’s departing Senior Vice President Phil Robinson, who has decided to leave the company as of Aug. 1 after 22 years, but will remain as an advisor through year-end, according… more
Jul 04, 2012
Germany’s Messe Frankfurt shrugged off the economic doldrums plaguing several countries in Europe and posted its best sales year on record last year driven by growth in group and foreign sales.
The final figure for last year’s group sales was €467.5 million.
“Even though 2011 was by no means an easy year from an economic perspective, we succeeded in further expanding our business activities,” said Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt.
Accounting for sales revenue attributable to Messe Frankfurt service subsidiaries Accente Gastronomie Service… more
Jul 04, 2012
Chicago just received a big boost with the American Library Association signing on to bring its annual trade show to the city in 2020, 2023 and 2026.
The association already was committed to having the event in the Windy City in 2013 and 2017.
Each show is projected to bring in $50 million in estimated direct expenditures per year, according to Choose Chicago officials.
“This is great news for our convention industry and shows that Chicago is the place for large, national organizations to come and do business,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.
He added, “The reforms at… more
Jul 01, 2012
A new report commissioned by the Professional Convention Management Association’s Education Foundation takes a look into meetings, events and conventions from the perspective of the Millennial generation to identify key motivations and challenges in engaging this emerging audience.
“What the Millennial Generation Prefers in Their Meetings, Conventions and Events” reportis based on the findings of the largest survey conducted of its kind, according to PCMA officials.
More than 2,000 respondents ages 18-30 participated in the study, which was led by a team of hospitality and… more
Jul 01, 2012
Temperatures are soaring across the U.S., and what’s typically a slower time in the trade show industry is filled instead with a bevy of industry meetings.
Destination Marketing Association International’s Annual Convention is on tap July 16-18 in Seattle and will kick off with an opening keynote by Jason Ryan Dorsey, known as “The Gen Y Guy”, who will discuss “Crossing the Generational Divide: Leveraging the Power of Generations for Your Strategic Advantage.”
Other events on the schedule for the three-day event include a volunteer activity with locally… more
Jul 01, 2012
Dallas-based Freeman will sell Cincinnati-based Fern Exposition & Event Services, which it bought just more than a year ago as part of the acquisition of Wheelhouse Solutions, to Fern’s COO Aaron Bludworth and an investment group.
Both companies chose not to disclose financial information related to this transaction.
The Wheelhouse Solutions deal in June 2011 also included Champion Exposition Services and Immersa Marketing, but while Champion was folded into Freeman, Immersa and Fern were operated for the past year as standalone brands.
“I am excited to represent Fern… more
Jun 27, 2012
For the second time in the past few years, ownership of the California Gift Show changed hands – this time from Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. to Urban Expositions.
In 2009, as part of the slimming down of dmg world media’s gift show portfolio, the event was sold to MMPI.
Urban Expositions will take over management of California Gift Show after the event’s July edition on tap at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
“We seized the opportunity to buy this show as we felt it could accelerate our efforts to rebuild the southern California gift market’s brand… more
Jun 25, 2012
Other regions of the world may be experiencing economic troubles, but according to a recent survey released by the HongKong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association, the exhibition industry in Hong Kong is thriving.
The survey tracked exhibitions in Hong Kong last year and the numbers of companies coming to Hong Kong to exhibit, the amount of exhibition space they occupied and the numbers of visitors coming from overseas to exhibitions all grew year over year, in some cases posting double-digit growth.
“This is another effective testimony to the importance of the exhibition… more
Jun 25, 2012
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, in cooperation with international exhibition and event bodies, recently held the Thailand MICE International Forum (TMIF) 2012 in Bangkok.
The Forum brought together expertise from TCEB, the Asian Federation for Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) and the U.S.-based International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).
With the theme, “Connecting Asia, Connecting Success,” the Forum had two goals.
The first goal was to domestically enhance the appreciation among Thailand’s MICE operators of the importance 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.