News
May 17, 2019
From Los Angeles to Germany, trade shows around the world saw higher attendance and larger exhibit floors than previous years last month. Take a look:
DSE 2019
Digital Signage Expo—the world’s largest trade show and conference for digital displays and interactive technology—saw the second-largest attendance in its 16-year show history at its Las Vegas show this year, logging a 3 percent increase in end-user attendees over the previous year and a 6 percent increase in total verified attendance (4,260), which includes end-users along with system integrators and advertising executives. This… more
May 16, 2019
Event industry executives and technologists will have a chance to test new event-ready tech solutions at the second-annual TechDemo, to take place during the 18th annual Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum on May 29 at JW Marriott in Washington D.C.
Produced by Lippman Connects, ECEF is an information-sharing and networking event for exhibition and convention industry executives, independent organizers and associations. ECEF’s expanded tech and networking experience will offer hands-on demonstrations of 11 ready-to-use event tech platforms, including:
a2z Personify Next-Gen… more
May 16, 2019
Reed Exhibitions (RX) is launching eight new trade shows this year across six cities: Chicago; Las Vegas; Orlando; New York; Portland, Oregon; and San Diego. A combination of B2B and B2C, the new events include collaborations with leading media brands and associations, geo-clones of RX global brands and value chain extensions of existing RX events.
“[Launching new events] is an integral strategic pillar for business growth at RX,” says Hervé Sedky, president of Reed Exhibitions, Americas. “We launched eight events in 2018 that will continue in 2019. To date, RX [Americas] has approved eight… more
May 16, 2019
The UFI Board of Directors has elected Anbu Varathan president of UFI for 2020-2021, making him the first person from India to hold this role in the history of the association. The decision was made yesterday at a board meeting kicking off the annual UFI European Conference in Birmingham, U.K.
"I am delighted to be part of UFI’s top leadership in the coming years and to continue with the development and support that UFI has provided the industry for so long,” said Varathan. “As the first president in UFI’s history based in India, I’m even more pleased to have been elected to this position,… more
May 14, 2019
Technology company Chili Piper has launched a new event scheduling tool designed to improve how B2B event managers and field marketing managers book, manage and track individual and group meetings on-site at events.
Besides delivering a broader feature set that can be deployed in just hours, the platform is also designed to help event managers improve and measure their event ROI.
“The expertise we developed from creating our scheduling platform led us to launching a first-of-kind solution specifically for event managers that meets all their goals,” said Nicolas Vandenberghe, CEO and co-… more
May 14, 2019
American Society of Association Executives enjoyed Salt Lake City so much during its annual conference in 2016, it has selected the destination as its host city for its Great Ideas Conference in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
A flagship event for association professionals around the world, ASAE’s Great Ideas Conference will bring together 500 attendees in a retreat-like setting at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The first iteration of the event here will take place March 1-3, 2020.
“The Great Ideas Conference raises the collective capacity for innovation in the association community and… more
May 13, 2019
Emerald Expositions' board of directors appointed Sally Shankland as president and CEO of the company.
Shankland will assume her new role on June 1 and will remain a member of the company’s board.
Phil Evans, Emerald’s Interim president and CEO, who was appointed when long-time leader David Loechner stepped down, will continue to serve as the company’s CFO.
”Sally’s experience, skills and approach are a perfect match with the Board’s requirements for the Emerald CEO position; and, after conducting a thorough search over the last seven months, I am thrilled to have her accept the position… more
May 09, 2019
The city of Madison, Wisconsin, while less than half the size of Milwaukee, has a lot of things going for it. For one, it has one of the best farmer’s markets in the United States (visit in July and you’ll see what we mean). It also sits right on Lake Mendota, making it a prime spot for water recreation; ranks among the top five healthiest cities in the country; and has a creative, energetic vibe thanks to University of Wisconsin-Madison.
It makes sense that many trade show organizers and meeting planners want to capitalize on all of those amenities by hosting events in Madison (among the… more
May 08, 2019
Following a Dallas city audit released in January that scrutinized VisitDallas and its president and CEO, Phillip Jones, the bureau announced he is stepping down.
The VisitDallas Board of Directors and Jones came to a mutual decision at a board meeting today. An interim CEO will be announced May 9, and the Board has begun a search for a full-time successor.
“The Board is thankful to Phillip for his 15 years of leadership and great career at VisitDallas,” said Mark Woelffer, VisitDallas board chair.
He added, “We are proud of the work VisitDallas has accomplished during Phillip’s tenure… more
May 08, 2019
A primary reason many people attend conferences and trade shows is to meet the right contacts and vendors. To support this need, show organizers across industries are launching formalized matchmaking programs designed to help attendees make better connections and everyone is reaping the benefits.
Jessica Blue, senior vice president at Licensing Expo—an organization that connects entertainment, character, art and corporate brand owners and agents with consumer goods manufacturers, licensees and retailers—says it created the Matchmaking Service in 2016 to further help its attendees 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.