News
Apr 17, 2018
Dallas-based Freeman bought Sydney, Australia-based Info Salon Group led by CEO Jo-Anne Kelleway, an event technology solutions company that focuses on online and onsite registration, as well as data tracking and capture.
“We’re always looking for ways to simplify the event and show planning processes for our clients; and investing in leading digital technologies enables us to provide the robust capabilities show organizers need to thrive in the ever-evolving events industry. This was the case with our recent Blueprint floor plan management solution launch, and it is the driving factor… more
Apr 17, 2018
After a shareholder vote today in which 99 percent voted in favor of approval, Informa’s $5.5 billion valued deal to buy UBM was given the greenlight, creating the largest trade show company in the world.
“We are encouraged by the strong support from shareholders of both companies for this combination, which will create a leading, international B2B Information Services Group,” said Stephen A. Carter, Informa’s CEO.
Under the terms of the offer, UBM shareholders will receive 1.083 Informa shares for each UBM share and $2.33 in cash.
Carter in an earlier statement said that shareholders… more
Apr 16, 2018
If you attend a fair amount of industry conferences, you’ve likely run into Jim Spellos, an incredibly popular and engaging technology speaker whose educational sessions on topics ranging from mobile apps and digital security to VR and other hot technologies have a reputation for packing a room. But besides his love for tech and rock music (he’s an accomplished musician and songwriter, too!), Spellos harbors a lesser-known passion: saving the planet while helping those in need.
As a board member and director of technology for Rock and Wrap It Up!, an anti-poverty think tank dedicated to… more
Apr 16, 2018
Trade shows in the fashion retail sector have gone through another shift, with Liberty Fairs buying Reed Exhibitions’ Capsule shows.
"Bringing the Capsule show under the Liberty Fairs Fashion Group umbrella creates an even stronger platform for all of our shows,” said Sam Ben-Avraham, founder of Liberty Fairs Fashion Group.
He added, “We are always thinking about the future, about what's coming, how we create the right thing to satisfy our core audience, and also attract new eyes to what we are doing. Together, we will have more opportunities to serve the fashion space and also build our… more
Apr 16, 2018
It goes without saying that trade shows and events are tough on the environment, producing daunting amounts of waste and carbon emissions every year. According to MeetGreen, the typical conference attendee creates more than four pounds of waste and just under 400 pounds of CO2emissions per day. Multiply that by hundreds or even thousands of attendees and the environmental footprint of a typical event is pretty staggering.
As an event organizer, you know you should do your part to help the planet by taking your events in a more sustainable direction but you’re concerned that going green will… more
Apr 16, 2018
Last year was an especially green one for the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland and the Global Center for Health Innovation, which knocked it out of the ballpark in the areas of waste diversion and recycling.
The facility, which is managed by SMG,succeeded in diverting a grand total of 357,274 pounds of materials from the landfill last year, including 75,880 lbs. of cardboard; 46,440 lbs. of wood pallets; 18,480 lbs. of mixed plastic; 14,780 lbs. of mixed fibers; 10,000 pounds of glass and nearly 9,000 pounds of bulk and shredded paper, sustainable efforts that diverted 49.1 percent… more
Apr 13, 2018
Last year was a pivotal one for Detroit’s Cobo Center and its environmental initiatives, which have been highlighted in its recently released 2017 Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report.
According to Claude Molinari, general manager of Cobo Center, each year the facility’s Green Committee makes great strides in expanding its environmental program, and last year was no exception.
“We were recertified by the Green Meetings Industry Council (GMIC), hosted Sustainable Brands 2017, and made significant strides in our efforts on environmental and social stewardship of the Metro Detroit… more
Apr 12, 2018
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released its 2018 CEIR Index Report, which analyzes the 2017 exhibition industry and provides an economic and exhibition industry outlook for the next three years.
The growth of the B2B exhibition industry accelerated along with the macro economy in 2017.
The CEIR Total Index, a measure of overall exhibition industry performance, increased by a moderate 2 percent, 1 percentage point higher than in 2016.
All four metrics rose in 2017, with real revenues leading at 2.9 percent above 2016. Attendees and net square footage rose 2.1… more
Apr 12, 2018
In an effort to deliver even more value to its customers, digital marketing and analytics software provider, Feathr, has formed technical partnerships with Convention Data Services and CompuSystems to create unique combined solutions for event planners.
Through Feathr’s partnership with Convention Data Services, an event registration, business intelligence and lead capture solutions provider, joint customers will have the ability to easily integrate both platforms, enabling CDS clients to quickly launch Feathr campaigns and more accurately measure conversions.
“As our customer base and… more
Apr 12, 2018
If the recently unveiled design drawings of its expansion project are any indication, the nearly 60-year-old Las Vegas Convention Center has a vibrant new look in its future.
Presented on April 10 by architects from tvsdesign to the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the drawings depict an innovatively designed, modern-looking convention center as iconic as the city itself, according to Rossi Ralenkotter, CEO of the LVCVA.
“This is one of the most important days in the history of the LVCVA,” Ralenkotter said. “Southern Nevada’s economy is driven by… 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.