Tech News

Nov 05, 2019
Show organizers are always looking for new ways to grow their events and generate new revenue. Whether they’re innovating on their on-site experience, expanding their show digitally or tackling new verticals, it’s a revolving cycle of expansion. But, one of the most important and underused resources is your event technology provider. Not only your vendor, your event tech provider holds deep insight into your show and more importantly, the ability to help you improve it.   Here are a few different ways your event technology provider can help you optimize your show and expand your potential… more
Oct 29, 2019
Trade shows and events have long been the premiere place to engage audiences, connect with constituents and develop meaningful relationships with other industry professionals. The face-to-face aspect of events can’t be replaced, but event engagement is traditionally limited to the actual on-site activities. That begs the question, how can you create an event that doesn’t end on the final day of the show? An online community can help you do just that.  An event-based community gives event organizers, attendees, exhibitors and sponsors a place to centralize their communication during the… more
Oct 28, 2019
Worldwide outsourced technical production partner NEP Group has acquired SOS Global Express, an international freight forwarding and full-service logistics company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and with operations in 24 countries, NEP’s services include remote production, specialty capture, RF and wireless video/audio, studio production, audio-visual, host broadcast support, post-production, connectivity and transmission, premium playout, and software-based media management technology. For the past three decades, the company has supported live sports,… more
Oct 23, 2019
More than half of exhibiting companies don’t provide training for their exhibit staff, and as many as 86 percent of staffers have never received even one hour of training, according to trade show industry studies conducted by CEIRand Exhibit Surveys Inc., respectively.  To address this disconnect, trade show marketing expert and author Marlys Arnold has launched Exhibit Marketers Academy, an online library of comprehensive trade show training classes. Designed specifically for exhibitors, these courses can be accessed anytime and anywhere from one’s tablet, smartphone or computer. … more
Oct 16, 2019
The Freeman Company has completed its previously announced sale of Encore Event Technologies, a global provider of event technology, staging and production services, to PSAV. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Known to event planners as the in-house or preferred audio-visual provider at many venues across the United States, PSAV has a presence in nearly 1,600 locations within 10 different countries. In August 2018, the company was acquired by investment firm Blackstone and becomes even larger with the Encore acquisition. Like PSAV, Encore also operates as an in-house partner to… more
Oct 11, 2019
Trade show organizers and exhibitors now have a simple, easy-to-use tool to help them manage their events and collaborate with their teams – for free. Officially unveiled last month, ExhibitDay is a B2B SaaS event planning and task management tool designed to help organizers and exhibitors manage their trade shows, expo booths, travel plans and budgets, all in one place.  Specifically tailored for small to medium-sized show teams attending approximately 10-100 trade shows per year, ExhibitDay comes in the free or “Lite” version as well as Professional and Premium versions that offer more… more
Oct 09, 2019
Event professionals and trade show organizers know it’s crucial to create an event website that is not only visually compelling but also easy to navigate and intuitive. We’ve been sharing tips and tricks to help content creators develop event websites that are an end-user’s dream. If you haven’t read about why content creators should care about their event websites, get caught up here.  In part two, we’re sharing a few best practices to consider when developing a website that is designed for event and conversion optimization: Know when to use visual illustration versus plain text. This… more
voice activation
Oct 03, 2019
Voice-operated technology is at its flash point. Innovations in smartphones, networked home devices, and voice recognition enable futuristic applications such as voice-operated Google search, and personal assistant software including Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri. Google is one key beneficiary and driver of voice tech: Voice searches account for 20 percent of queries on Google mobile app and Android devices, according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s Google I/O keynote in 2016 — and that volume continues to grow. More recent data from Statista Digital Market Outlook shows approximately 260… more
Sep 24, 2019
In an effort to solve the industry-wide challenges of digital event tool integration, in 2017 Freeman launched Fuzion by Freeman. The open product ecosystem is designed to give event managers the ability to choose and integrate the best-of-breed software solutions that work best for their programs.  Establishing a common language that allows multiple software tools to talk to one another results in a more unified, meaningful view of events along with improved analytics, according to Freeman officials. Now, to further improve and simplify the event technology selection process, Freeman has… more
Sep 18, 2019
Modern event sponsorship strategies are a dime a dozen. Each one is based on a learning from a different time and place. The strategy might have stemmed from a previous experience or a past position; or it may be a combination of strategies that pull together most efficient and effective parts. When developing your event sponsorship strategy, you do not want to leave revenue on the table. There are two (obvious) ways to maximize your net revenue: increase your sponsorship revenue and reduce event expenses. While you can achieve this goal in many ways, a few strategies hold true over time.… 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.