News
Oct 23, 2015
The Las Vegas Convention Center’s need for renovations and new exhibit and meeting space should have already occurred was the consensus among top trade show organizers who spoke Oct. 22 to the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee.
In a candid fact-finding session, they urged the 11-member committee to think strategically about the Las Vegas future and its position not just as a U.S., but also as a global trade show destination.
The session was the third of five the committee was conducting before making decisions on what would be priorities for next year.
The panel of trade show… more
Oct 21, 2015
Trade show organizers and venues continued to ink new deals with suppliers as summer turned into fall.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation extended its relationship with CSG Creative to serve as the official marketing agency of SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show ) Show through 2019.
Based in Alexandria, Va., CSG Creative specializes in marketing campaigns for trade shows and member associations.
"For the last four years, CSG Creative has played a key role in the growth of the SHOT Show," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and CMO. "Those efforts have resulted… more
Oct 21, 2015
Taking a major step to expand its overseas footprint, Dallas-based Freeman, a global provider of brand experiences, has acquired New South Wales, Australia-based Staging Connections Group Limited, a global event services company.
Founded in 1986, Staging Connections is an international business with offices in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and China.
With its 15 offices and 600 employees throughout ANZPAC, Staging Connections provides Freeman with an immediate presence throughout the region, according to Freeman officials.
“As our clients are expanding globally, they want… more
Oct 20, 2015
By Wendy Helfenbaum
When Kathie Canning first started working at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center in the mid 1980s, it was a bit of a circus. Literally.
“At that time, we were the only concert venue; we did a lot of civic events, and we did the circus every year. It was very interesting when Avon came in to do a meeting right after the elephants left,” said Canning, now the OCCC’s executive director. “Many things have changed drastically since then; it’s been quite an amazing transformation.”
Today, as convention centers worldwide explode in number, size, and technology, Orlando… more
Oct 18, 2015
Showcare Event Solutions, a company in the event registration and housing industry space, has teamed up with QuickMobile, a company with enterprise mobile event applications.
Both Showcare and QuickMobile see the relationship as a good strategic and cultural fit, according to company officials.
“Since their first application launch in 2008, no other event application provider has released more apps than QuickMobile,” says Robert Kozub, president at Showcare.
He added, “They are constantly improving their product and have also been very accommodating. We explored… more
Oct 18, 2015
Showcare Event Solutions, a company in the event registration and housing industry space, has teamed up with QuickMobile, a company with enterprise mobile event applications.
Both Showcare and QuickMobile see the relationship as a good strategic and cultural fit, according to company officials.
“Since their first application launch in 2008, no other event application provider has released more apps than QuickMobile,” says Robert Kozub, president at Showcare.
He added, “They are constantly improving their product and have also been very accommodating. We explored… more
Oct 16, 2015
The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year Awards winners for 2015 emerged from a field of hard-working nominees committed to their craft.
Created in 2000, the “SMOTY” Awards recognize show organizers who are creating amazing experiences with their exhibition and in their marketplace community.
"The dedication, innovation and downright determination of the people in this business continually impresses me and the judging panel, as well," said Ray Pekowski, president and CEO of The Expo Group.
He added, "We began this program to give back to the community by honoring unsung heroes, and I am… more
Oct 15, 2015
As the 5th IMEX America wrapped up in Las Vegas, records were broken across the board, with a total of 3,100 companies representing 150 countries exhibiting, including 80 new booths and 56 expanded booth.
In addition, the IMEX hosted buyer program brought a record 3,000 buyers from 54 countries to the show, for a total 10,600 people participating in the event.
There were 66,000 business appointments of which more than 57,000 were one-to-one appointments and booth presentations.
More than 40 leading buyers from the corporate sector also came for the annual Executive Meetings Forum. With senior… more
Oct 14, 2015
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Consumer Electronics Association have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the World Trade Center Las Vegas and the World Trade Center Seoul that will help enhance international business relationships.
The WTC Seoul is owned and operated by the Korea International Trade Association, which is the largest business organization in Korea with more than 71,000 member companies.
Through the agreement, Las Vegas and Seoul can co-market under the World Trade Center brand creating access to key trade information, market research… more
Oct 14, 2015
ibtm china’s Knowledge Programme, which took place at the China National Convention Centre (CNCC) in Beijing last month, was the best attended to date.
“We are extremely pleased with the attendance at this year’s Knowledge Programme in China,” said Cici Chen, ibtm china Event Manager.
He added, “Furthermore, in-depth analysis and research has confirmed that primary reasons for increased attendance were the sessions’ relevance to participant’s needs and the reputation of the presenters delivering the sessions. These findings confirm that as an event we are delivering a programme that… 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.