Experts & Opinions
Sep 27, 2018
In the competitive meetings landscape, with a rise in smaller, more frequent events and continued emphasis for conventions and trade shows, planners are under immense pressure to deliver top-tier programs featuring those one-of-a-kind, local experiences that attendees increasingly crave. Destinations Marketing Organizations (DMO) and Conventions and Visitor Bureaus (CVB) are competing to garner the attention of event planners to entice future event bookings, but there is a clear disconnect between the parties.
DMOs seem to find it difficult to communicate with meeting planners effectively… more
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Sep 25, 2018
Trade show booths. If this phrase doesn’t excite you, you aren’t alone. We have all been to trade shows and seen countless booths without a single drop of inspiration between them. They are all too often boring. Stale. Corporate.
With so many bland trade show booths out there, it’s no wonder that many people struggle to come up with engaging ideas for their own booths. How do you make something compelling, on-brand and unique when so much of what’s out there is so boring? Where can you draw a bit of inspiration from?
Before you call up your old vendor and resign to a booth as uninspired as… more
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Sep 20, 2018
Events need an audience. That fact may seem obvious, but with so many priorities it can be easy for planners to omit this step. Overlooking your audience’s needs can be detrimental, as the purpose of an event is to create enjoyable and memorable personalized experiences. So, reprioritize. Use audience segmentation to identify attendee needs, wants and interests, and then implement target preferences into your planning process.
Audience segmentation provides a number of benefits and advantages. By including this essential step, you can:
Calculate the investment level needed and strategically… more
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Sep 18, 2018
Fandom conventions aren’t just gatherings for “geek culture,” they’re big business. According to an Eventbrite study, the industry is currently worth $4 billion.
The standard-bearer of these events is Comic-Con. In 2017, more than 135,000 people and north of 725 exhibitors attended the San Diego show, while a record 200,000 tickets were sold to the New York festival. These numbers point to an industry that will only continue to grow in popularity, profitability and participation.
However, bigger doesn’t always mean better in the event industry. As fandom gatherings become more popular, old… more
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Sep 17, 2018
Waste is one of those issues that affects all aspects of the triple bottom line (which measures the social, environmental and financial performance of events): people, planet and prosperity. Fortunately, there are some easy steps to follow that can have a big impact on our performance in this area.
Here are five simple ways to help reduce and manage waste at your next event:
Use less: The first step in reducing waste is to start by using less. When making your purchasing decisions, select only items that are needed to drive event objectives. Maybe this seems obvious, but too often we buy… more
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Sep 13, 2018
Planning a successful trade show exhibit requires strategy and creativity. You’re challenged to engage with potential customers and make a lasting impression – all while surrounded by competition and working with limited space. The big question is, “How do I stand out?” Consider the newest tool being used to create buzz around brands: Virtual Reality (VR).
Demonstrations and Product Training
VR is used to sell all kinds of products – it’s not just for techies. Take, for example, Lowe’s new Holoroom Test Drive. Using the HTC Vive headset and a specially made controller, customers at Lowe’s… more
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Sep 11, 2018
Successful brands must differentiate themselves to stand out to their target audience and from their competitors. For many, trade show marketing is a major component of the integrated marketing mix because it offers unique brand engagement opportunities. Atypical B2B marketer’s single largest budget item is trade show and event marketing – averaging 20 percent of the total marketing budget, according to Advertising Age, How to Triple Your TradeShow Marketing Results.
Trade shows are designed for associations and their members to exchange ideas, share what’s new and important, and help shape… more
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Sep 06, 2018
The simplest explanation of GDPR is that it is a set of rules that protect individuals’ privacy. The legislation regulates the processing of EU residents’ and citizens’ personal data, including collection, use, transfer, monitoring, tracking and even viewing of personal data. It went into effect on May 25, 2018.
Data subjects, as individuals are called in GDPR, have more rights to control their data. This creates a massive compliance challenge for U.S. companies processing data from European citizens.
Does GDPR Apply to You?
GDPR applies to any organization that processes the data of EU… more
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Sep 04, 2018
The world of exhibitions is an exciting and stimulating one, but how do you stand out from the crowd?
Making your exhibit as profitable as possible starts with the planning process. In this guide, we’ll share five tactics to help you create a healthy traffic flow of quality leads and generate a buzz around your booth.
Pro Technique #1: Have an Aesthetically Pleasing Exhibit Booth
Designing an exhibition booth that helps you stand out and creates a positive association is an intricate process. Your stand will act as your shop window, representing your brand and product and driving traffic… more
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Aug 30, 2018
As a fairly new and small company in our niche B2B marketplace, we were faced with a challenge at our first ever conference: displaying our biggest differentiator – customer service.
Many companies talk about how great their customer service is until they’re blue in the face but to potential customers, hearing about great service and experiencing it are two very different things. How would we show, rather than tell, that our customer service really was what we said?
Our answer to this challenging problem was to provide actual customer service to conference attendees in a tangible way, right… more
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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.