Dec 13, 2021
Talk to Chef Mike Mantia about how he found his way into the culinary world and he’ll tell you the story of a young teen who loved the hustle and bustle of a kitchen so much, he never looked back once he fell into the profession.
Born in the U.S. to Sicilian parents, Mantia’s culinary training started early at his grandmother’s side, learning to roll meatballs at the ripe old age of five. His burgeoning passion for food became further cemented once he discovered the wonder of cultivating herbs, greens, vegetables and fruit in grandfather’s garden, an experience that instilled in him a… more
Dec 10, 2021
Event experience leader Bizzabo recently acquired two new companies, Klik and TeeVid, and debuted the Ultimate Video Production Suite to further invest in innovative, experiential technology for virtual, hybrid and in-person events.
Klik is a pioneer of smart wearables technology to power onsite experiences at live events. Its technology helps event professionals elevate and measure attendee engagement, participation, and networking.
Bizzabo believes event organizers have established appetites for the rich behavioral and intent data that virtual events have captured for the past 18… more
Dec 10, 2021
Destinations International, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) will launch Business Events Industry Week, aimed at bringing the global events industry to the U.S. Capital region and consolidating several important annual gatherings into one week.
The inaugural Business Events Industry Week, taking place March 23-25, 2022, at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., will be dedicated to community, commerce, content, awards and advocacy in order to unite the global business… more
Dec 08, 2021
ASM Global, the largest venue management company in the world, is continuing to lead the way for the return of in-person events, this time in Philadelphia, as host to the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Expo! Expo! 2021 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) Dec. 7-9.
IAEE is the trade group that represents the exhibition industry, which contributed $396 billion annually to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and supported 6.6 million jobs prior to the pandemic. Expo! Expo! 2021, the largest think tank of trade show organizers and… more
Dec 08, 2021
U.K.-based global events, data and media platform Arc has acquired five rural sector events from B2B trade show company Fortem International. Now part of Arc’s Agriconnect business, which provides information, events and digital platforms for the U.K. agriculture community, the five collocated events are expected to add additional depth and reach across this expansive sector while continuing to connect U.K. farmers and landowners seeking alternative sources of income.
“We are excited to add the rural and leisure portfolio to Agriconnect, which is already one of the U.K.’s largest… more
Dec 06, 2021
The iCompli Sustainability division of global assurance provider BPA Worldwide has become an official member of the new Maritz Global Events Wellbeing Network. The alliance is designed to provide a custom tool for clients to measure the carbon footprint of an event and then provides guidance to improve it.
Three phases will consist of measurement, improvement and implementation through the BPA iCompli Sustainability Carbon Footprint Measurement Tool and Maritz Global Events:
For phase 1, Discovery & Assessment, participating organizers are educated on the information required to… more
Dec 03, 2021
The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition and standards, has extended the benchmarking survey for the first phase of its recently launched Equity Acceleration Plan. The landmark plan aims to provide a framework to turn its vision to action and lead the challenge against discrimination and systemic racism in the events industry.
The first phase was designed to focus on establishing a benchmark by which to measure progress for the industry through a survey that determines the current state of diversity,… more
Dec 02, 2021
Take a look at the jam-packed schedule of this year’s Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition, and it’s obvious why this annual gathering for trade show and event professionals is dubbed “the show for shows.” But this year, the show will serve as a homecoming for the $101 billion B2B exhibitions industry following two years without an in-person Expo! Expo! to help show organizers forge business connections, access premium learning opportunities and foster valuable peer relationships.
Set for Dec. 7-9 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, the trade show and… more
Dec 01, 2021
The Dubai Airshow, Tarsus Group’s flagship event, recently wrapped up its 2021 edition with more than 104,000 face-to-face attendees from around the world for the first time in nearly two years.
The five-day show, held Nov. 14-18 at DWC, Dubai Airshow Site in Dubai, saw a 50% increase in trade visitor numbers over the 2019 pre-pandemic event as well as a 24% boost in overall attendance. Meanwhile, as an industry-leading hallmark show for facilitating thousands of in-person meetings, commercial deals and new partnerships, the order tally by closing day was U.S. $78 billion.
Douglas Emslie,… more
Nov 26, 2021
Members of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) released a white paper underscoring the importance of event organizers posing key questions to suppliers and vendors when processing their customers’ data.
The creation of the white paper became crucial since the pandemic has significantly accelerated the adoption of digital solutions by event organizers over the last 18 months, according to Douglas Emslie, group CEO of Tarsus Group.
“As a result, there has been a substantial increase in the data ‘we’ are collecting on our customers and their behaviors, as well as an… 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.