News
Sep 19, 2019
Last year, Cori Dossett, president of Conferences Designed based in Dallas, spent two weeks in New Zealand. It was meant to be a holiday, but despite being 7,500 miles from home, it didn’t feel like one.
“I literally worked half the vacation — some days I did not leave my hotel room,” recalls Dossett. “It was unfortunate and sad in so many ways.”
This meeting planner’s experience is relatable on many levels. It’s hard to take time away from work in this industry, and even more so when you’re the boss. As a self-employed small business owner, Dossett says she has freedom to take as much… 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
Sep 17, 2019
Following an extensive international search, Tourism Toronto appointed Scott Beck as president and CEO.
For the past 14 years, Beck has served as the president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake in Salt Lake City, Utah, and will begin his new role on Oct. 15.
A proven leader in the destination sales and marketing industry, Beck served on the Executive Committee of Destinations International for six years and served as the organization's International Board Chair from 2014-2015.
"To say that I am excited about the opportunity to join the highly respected team at Tourism Toronto is an… more
Sep 17, 2019
Two new shows representing two very popular and expanding industry sectors will debut in the next two years.
Questex is gearing up to launch Impact CBD, a content-based trade show and conference and digital platform focused on the rapidly evolving world of the $22 billion CBD market.
Set for Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2020, at Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, the inaugural Impact CBD will feature in-depth education with tracks analyzing the impact of CBD on patients, clients, health practices and businesses. It will also have an expo hall with hundreds of CBD providers and experience centers… more
Sep 16, 2019
If you were flying home from Las Vegas last week, there’s a good chance you were seated next to a fellow IMEX attendee. This year’s IMEX America, held at Sands Expo and Convention Center from Sept. 10-12, drew an estimated 14,000 attendees and generated an economic impact of more than $20 million, according to show officials.
Held in Las Vegas for nine years now, IMEX included more than 3,500 exhibitors from 150 countries on the trade showfloor. IMEX Group, which organizes the show, estimates a total of 76,000 individual and group appointments took place over the three-day event. That marks… more
Sep 16, 2019
Entertainment and event technology solutions provider Production Resource Group and 3D Live, creator of 3D holographic LED display technology, have formed an exclusive partnership to provide 3D LED technology to live event clients. Via this partnership, PRG will offer 3D Live’s patented “holographic” 3D LED technology to live concert, corporate events and e-sports clients, and 3D Live will exclusively use PRG’s LED walls on its productions.
According to Nick Jackson, senior vice president of PRG, the 3D holographic experience is comparable to augmented reality – without the need for… more
Sep 12, 2019
Lemon chia breakfast bread. Spirulina goji berry energy bites. Adzuki bean brownies.
It’s safe to say Murray Hall, executive chef of Bank of Montreal Conference Center, got creative with these healthy treats dubbed “foods of the future” at MPI World Education Congress in Toronto earlier this summer. The spread was part of the inaugural Meeting Room of the Future showcase put on by IACC at WEC, intended to give a glimpse (and a taste) of what’s to come for meetings and events.
While at WEC these were called foods of the future, serving healthier offerings at corporate events has picked up… more
Sep 11, 2019
Aventri and Meetingmax have teamed up to offer event planners a fully integrated registration and housing solution. The new platform integration connects the Meetingmax room block management and Aventri event registration systems to streamline planning, drive registration and increase attendee satisfaction.
The integration provides an enhanced customer experience, allowing attendees to register and book accommodations seamlessly without having to enter their information twice.
For event planners, housing logistics are simplified. Planners can run real-time reports that identify attendees… more
Sep 10, 2019
Summer’s coming to a close, the kids are back in school, and companies in the meetings and hospitality space are ramping up hires for the last third of the year. Take a look:
The Offprice Show, the leading U.S. retail trade event, announced two new senior appointments last month. Tricia Barglof, formerly U.S. director, is now executive director of Offprice, while current CEO Stephen Krogulski is now director of business development. The announcement was made the week of the 50th edition of the biannual show, which is produced by Tarsus Group.
Lindsay Berezan has returned to ConvExx, a Las… more
Sep 10, 2019
As Hurricane Dorian moved over the cold waters of the Labrador Sea and became an extra-tropical storm on Sunday, many communities along the Atlantic are facing the devastation left in its wake. By far the greatest destruction was in the northern Bahamas, where Dorian planted itself for 48 hours as a monster Category 5 hurricane, obliterating everything in its path and leaving an estimated 70,000 people homeless, according to news reports. So far, the death toll has risen to 45 and is expected to climb as thousands remain missing.
To help with what is expected to be a massive recovery effort… 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.