News

Nov 08, 2018
SmithBucklin, an association management and services company, has acquired 360 Live Media, an association-focused, live-event experience design agency with full-service marketing capabilities. 360 Live Media has redesigned dozens of association meetings, and has also created innovative, first-to-market events. Both SmithBucklin and 360 Live Media are at the forefront of how associations are rethinking their live events in order to create value, generate non-dues revenue, and foster loyal communities of engaged members. The two firms will work together to serve existing clients and the… more
Nov 08, 2018
Last month, BizBash Media Founder and CEO, David Adler, announced that his company, along with he and his family, have invested more than $500,000 in Goodshuffle Pro, a business operations and intelligence software tool designed for the event rental and production industry. “After watching the Goodshuffle Pro team iterate and study the industry, they have created a solution that could be the backbone of the inventory, management and marketing control system for what I call the new temporary infrastructure industry,” Adler explained. “In a Pop-Up Events world, with brick and mortar retail… more
Nov 07, 2018
On the heels of its recent merger with AmericasMart in Atlanta, International Market Centers has announced a new executive leadership team and a preview of its long-range plans for its furnishings, home décor, gift and apparel Markets and continued capital investment. Boasting more than 150 years of collective experience in the gift, home furnishings and apparel industries, IMC’s new executive team includes:  Greg Avitabile, Executive Vice President, Operations Dorothy Belshaw, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer Scott Eckman, Executive Vice President, President… more
Nov 06, 2018
In keeping with its objective to provide vital data and best practices to the entire exhibition industry, UFI released the results of its “Women in the Exhibitions Industry” research at the 85th UFI Global Congress, held Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a joint project between UFI and its media partner m+a, the goal of the research is to provide insights into the perception of women’s and men’s skills in the workplace, the potential for advancement for women within the industry and details of the different aspects driving women’s careers drivers. More than 200 mostly female… more
Nov 06, 2018
Exhibition referral marketing platform provider, Gleanin, will be launching its white paper on “The Future of Event Registration” at Event Tech Live 2018, set for Nov. 7-8 at Old Truman Brewery in London, U.K. The content of this research stems from a deep dive into millions of event registration data points gathered from 627 events across 98 organizers and aims to help exhibition organizers gain insight into today’s attendee behavior, according to Tamar Beck, CEO of Gleanin. “We have now seen three million registrations via our Gleanin Connect platform, which puts us in a unique position… more
Nov 02, 2018
To help speakers to overcome the challenges of audience engagement and presentation logistics when presenting at an event or trade show, Freeman has simplified the presentation process by upgrading two of its conference solutions and rebranding them to the Sync second-screen platform and the Orchestrate presentation optimization tool.  “With the upgrades to our Sync and Orchestrate digital tools, we’re helping to simplify presentation logistics and we’re providing new, engaging ways for presenters to interact with their audiences in real time,” said Richard Maranville, chief digital officer… more
Nov 01, 2018
David Loechner has stepped down as president and CEO of Emerald Expositions and as a member of the company’s Board of Directors, effective as of the close of business on November 8.  Emerald CFO Philip Evans will serve as interim president and CEO until a permanent replacement is chosen, while Loechner will stay on with Emerald as an employee through December 31, working closely with Evans and the company’s leadership team to ensure a smooth transition. “After more than 35 years with Emerald and its predecessor companies, this was a difficult decision to make, however, I believe that the… more
Nov 01, 2018
For another year in a row, the ASSEMBLY Show wrapped up its annual Conference and Expo boasting upticks in attendance, exhibiting companies and expo space. Held Oct. 23-25 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill, the 6thedition of the show for assembly technology, equipment and products attracted nearly 9,000 registered manufacturing professionals and 318 exhibiting companies – participation increases of 12 and 15 percent, respectively, compared to 2017.  Besides its popular education program, the ASSEMBLY Show boasted the largest exhibit hall in its history at 88,000… more
Oct 31, 2018
More than 450 events professionals from UFI members in more than 54 countries met today in St. Petersburg, Russia, to review UFI’s work throughout 2018 and confirm plans for the year ahead. The 2018 UFI General Assembly took place before UFI’s Global Congress, “The Dynamics of Transition – Our Industry’s Complex Future”. Chaired by UFI’s 2018 President, Corrado Peraboni, the General Assembly highlighted an array of new initiatives supporting UFI’s 780 members in 86 countries. Global membership has grown by another 5 percent this year. “It has been a busy year serving the growing global… more
Oct 31, 2018
We all want to have experiences that we feel are worthy of sharing with others and that we look back on with positive feelings. Traditionally, those experiences haven’t been found at trade shows. While a good place to get business done, the standard model trade show – aisles of pipe and drape and dozens of lecture rooms – is not as strong when it comes to creating a lasting impression. Today, however, the model is changing at events of all sizes. Krista LeZotte, senior manager of conferences at ASAE says that making an event memorable is the best way to capture attendees’ attention both… 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.