News

Feb 02, 2013
Digital events no longer are something that event planners are worried will replace their live events. Instead, digital events are becoming an important part of an organization’s strategy to extend the life of their three-day physical event to something that can be available 365 days a year. With the increased demand in holding digital events, there’s also a need for qualified professionals to produce them. To that end, the Virtual Edge Institute is the only entity that currently offers a certification program for lDigital Event Strategists and at the recent Professional… more
Feb 02, 2013
Digital events no longer are something that event planners are worried will replace their live events. Instead, digital events are becoming an important part of an organization’s strategy to extend the life of their three-day physical event to something that can be available 365 days a year. With the increased demand in holding digital events, there’s also a need for qualified professionals to produce them. To that end, the Virtual Edge Institute is the only entity that currently offers a certification program for lDigital Event Strategists and at the recent Professional… more
Feb 02, 2013
Social media is all the buzz right now, and if you want to reach the masses relatively inexpensively then you should be using social media. However, it is easy to become overwhelmed with questions like “what do I say”, “what should we post today?”, “what if someone says something negative?”, ”how many people liked us, retweeted or shared our content?”.  If this seems familiar to you, take a step back and remind yourself of the opportunity in front of you to talk one-on-one with your fans, customers and prospects. Social Media offers you a… more
Feb 01, 2013
It’s hard to keep from taking photos of ripe oranges in the middle of the winter along Anaheim’s newest gem – the Grand Plaza that opened in January in front of the Anaheim Convention Center. This is, after all, Orange County. With fountains and palm trees, the 100,000-square-foot pedestrian esplanade is the place to dig into a gourmet burger from a food truck, soak in the Cali sun between sessions and dance the night away at an outdoor concert. Soon the Anaheim Convention Center campus also will welcome a $160 million expansion that will feature 250,000 sq. ft. of… more
Jan 31, 2013
The trade show industry continues to see more and more people flocking to exhibit halls, with three recent shows from completely divergent industries all scoring strong attendee numbers. AHR Expo, the top heating, air-conditioning and refrigerating show in the United States that was held Jan. 28-30 at the Dallas Convention Center, established four new all-time records for a show held in the Southwest.  More than 52,000 attendees, 35,000 of them visitors, filled the aisles to see the latest products and technologies on display from 1,951 exhibiting companies covering 397,000 square feet… more
Jan 30, 2013
George Armando Aguel was named president and CEO of Visit Orlando, filling the open position after its prior leader, Gary Sain, passed away suddenly last year. “George is an incredibly accomplished industry leader, with extensive experience in both leisure and business travel,” said Paul Mears III, chair of the Visit Orlando board of directors. He added, “His knowledge of the meetings and conventions industry, as well as his relationships throughout the travel and tourism segment, matches perfectly with the criteria that our search committee identified as priorities.”… more
Jan 29, 2013
George Little Management’s US Antiques Shows portfolio just grew a little bigger, with the recent acquisition of the Miami National Antiques Show and Sale from Dolphin Promotions. "The acquisition of the Miami National Antiques Show and Sale further strengthens US Antique Shows' unique position to deliver well-timed and ideally located shows to support the southeast Florida antiques marketplace,” said Dan Darby, GLM vice president and US Antique Shows group director. The Miami National Antiques Show features 150 exhibitors annually, presenting a wide range of antique… more
Jan 29, 2013
Messe Frankfurt’s Texworld USA nearly doubled its exhibitor base by 47 percent to 238, compared to last year’s event during the same time frame, when it ran Jan. 14-16 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York. There also was an 8-percent increase in attendance, compared with the 2012 January event as well. A total of 3,627 verified attendees visited the three-day event. Visitors came from 48 countries including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Mexico and the United States, to name a few. First-time exhibitors from Belarus, Turkey and Taiwan and returning exhibitors… more
Jan 27, 2013
Nielsen Expositions, which produces the biannual ASD Show in Las Vegas, will launch a regional event – Miami Wholesale Expo - Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Miami Airport Convention Center. The new event is in response to market demand for a wholesale merchandise event to expand relationships for vendors specializing in fashion accessories, travel/leisure products, health and beauty items, resort apparel and footwear, novelty and souvenir items and general merchandise, according to show officials. The Miami Wholesale Expo is a natural extension to Nielsen’s two ASD Show flagship events,… more
Jan 27, 2013
Imagine you are on a site tour of a convention center and you’re standing in the middle of the empty hall. You’re trying to picture, in your head, what the hall would look like if you decided to go with midnight blue carpet in the aisles and gold for the pipe and drape. Freeman’s ColorSelector app allows you to replace that image in your head with a more useful one right in the palm of your hand. Love the carpet but don’t like the look of the gold pipe and drape? Simply tap on the drape and use the color slider to select a different color. You can see, right on your… 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.