Experts & Opinions
Aug 28, 2018
Forbes recently published a terrific article entitled 3 Reasons Why CMOs Should Embrace Experiential Marketing. Lots of areas for agreement. But I think it could have gone a little deeper.
When I get asked the “Why Experiential?” question, here’s my “rule of three” answer:
The Power of DOING something: There is a great Chinese quote (often misattributed to Confucius) “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand” that social scientists have discovered to be true.
Both emotional and logical memory is vastly improved when someone physically engages with a person, an idea… more
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Aug 23, 2018
Every event planner knows technology must be integrated into their events to sustain growth and meet the demands of an increasingly tech-savvy audience. Yet the specific needs of your attendees and exhibitors are often harder to identify amongst the countless options available. Understanding what technology makes sense for your audience goes a long way in pulling off a great meeting, conference or trade show.
Continue reading to better understand the relationship between technology, exhibitors and attendees.
Everyone Needs Reliable WiFi
The foundation of any event—regardless of size—should… more
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Aug 21, 2018
The theme of last weekend’s TSNN Awards was transformation, which is a common thread that links all shows together right now. The need to reimagine the trade show experience is not a new concept. But what I think is a new way to think about it, is the way the content itself is presented.
The long-in-the-tooth formula of filling up convention centers with exhibitors, sprinkled with education offerings of regurgitated industry buzz – is simply no longer sustainable.
It’s time for event organizers to put the show in trade shows. Organizers need to lead their exhibitors by example too, and… more
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Aug 16, 2018
Trade shows are crucial to the growth of many businesses. They are competitive events but can lead to the successful business relationships. The key is to stand out in the right way at the trade show. When used effectively in a trade show setting, exhibits and displays can grow your business and bring it to the next level.
How do you get the most value from your trade show display?
Any company participating in a trade show and commissioning portable displays should first establish how they want to brand themselves. They can get a custom-made display or customize a pre-existing one, but this… more
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Aug 14, 2018
Successful trade show marketing is about developing a media plan that aligns with and capitalizes on attendee behaviors in the market to accomplish a brand’s marketing goals. At a trade show, the focus of the attendees and exhibitors is the convention, but they also spend time outside of the convention center and their hotel. Since every city has its unique attractions and ways to get to those attractions, an effective market strategy for reaching those attendees must be equally unique.
Getting There: How do attendees travel to the market?
Each market around the country has different travel… more
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Aug 09, 2018
I am often asked what giveaways are the most popular at trade shows. Event managers feel they should offer something but they are at a loss of what will draw people in so they can talk to them. However, they find that while giveaways were a good draw in the past, many of today’s show attendees are not interested in them. I have had multiple show-goers decline my offer of a giveaway because they don’t need it and this response has become much more frequent over the past three years.
This is in line with the demographic changes we are seeing in our population. Millennials have become most of… more
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Aug 07, 2018
Businesses large and small present their latest and the most futuristic gadgets at the biggest confabs like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) each year. Over the last decade or so, LED has made its market in digital signage industry owing to low cost, better quality, smart fixtures and greater efficiency. The technology is expected to keep evolving in the years to come in terms of efficiency and affordability.
Pulling off a successful trade show is an even greater challenge when you are catering to the consumers accustomed to disruptive advancements like… more
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Aug 04, 2018
When planning an event there is one element that can make a huge difference to the atmosphere of the occasion – the lighting.
The right lighting will direct attention to the most important areas of the space, create the desired mood and ultimately set the scene for the occasion, whether it is a conference, a trade show, a corporate occasion or a private party.
To find out more about how lighting can make – or break – an event I spoke to events planners Julie Girgenti, owner of Exceptional Events and Ellen Davies, owner of LND Events. Here’s what they had to say:
Setting the Tone
Lighting… more
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Aug 01, 2018
Virtual Reality (VR) is a powerful sales and marketing tool, and with a little planning, it can help your company become the focal point of any event. Of those that try VR, 81 percent say they tell their friends about the experience and 79 percent seek to try it again. These numbers illustrate the massive advantage VR has on every other form of media. It is fully immersive and therefore, the most engaging platform for trade show pitches.
Aside from the numbers and engagement statistics, VR trade show experiences give you unprecedented creative control over what your audience experiences.… more
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Jul 26, 2018
If you say the No.1 goal of a Facebook page is to get Likes, Comments and Shares then, well, you’re wrong. Likes and Comments are great and you need them to have a thriving Facebook page, but they’re just one component of fan page strategy. By focusing only on engagement, you are losing sight of people taking actions – visiting your website, signing up, registering or buying a product.
Competing for customers in the digital economy is not easy. People look online to find businesses to buy from – and they predominately are searching social media. Social media is launching businesses, leading… 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.