Experts & Opinions

Sep 07, 2014
It's a new event era, where content creates opportunities for marketers and meeting planners to craft experiences that endear customers and members while having their brand message blasted across social media. An event may garner 5,000 people, but you could reach 5,000,000 when event content is generated and shared! Clearly, the Event Marketing Summit event is driving shares online – because this blog post is based on a session I attended there presented by Josh Nafman, Senior Digital Brand Manager at Pepsi, and his agency partner Matt Statman, CEO and Creative Director of Motive. They shared… more
Sep 06, 2014
My first company focused solely on online reputation management, so I have a relatively strong digital presence and am generally off put when someone doesn’t “Social Stalk” me before we meet. I put a great deal of time and effort into making certain all the information I want someone to know about me, personally and professionally, is online. In this way, my first true impression is before we ever actually meet. Have you ever Googled yourself? Probably not, but you should! You might be surprised… Here are my Google results for Trace Cohen – so let’s run through different social… more
Aug 30, 2014
Competition is fierce for business. From consumers with less disposable income to companies operating with much smaller budgets, marketing and sales departments put in the extra work to increase sales and ultimately the company’s bottom line in more creative ways. If your company is paying the money for the space rental, the purchase of the trade show display and related sales collateral, along with paying for travel, accommodations and more, they should be spending the time to promote their trade show marketing event on their blog. It’s a cost-effective way to extend the life of your trade… more
Aug 28, 2014
There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to show floor design. Just as exclusive as the fashion trends I see at MAGIC every year, the GES team aspires to bring our Advanstar client’s show floor vision to life and make it unique as possible. Too often, trade shows look alike, and our client is committed to making their exhibitors’ experiences fresh – from the way they manage the show to the way they interact with attendees. For their summer 2014 show, Advanstar challenged us to create a new look and feel that would elevate the look of MAGIC. It… more
Aug 24, 2014
Before jumping into these 7 problems that can be solved by trade show display rentals, I’d first like to dispel a major myth about trade show exhibit rentals. Some may equate rentals with boring or basic displays and imagine an attendee pointing and discussing how generic their booth is or how much it looks like that other rental over there. Fortunately, rentals have come a long way, running the gamut from basic portables to practically custom exhibits. Used well, trade show rental displays can fit a variety of needs and solve some basic problems. Now, to the problem solving! 1. Your… more
Aug 24, 2014
With hundreds of exhibitors competing for the attention of attendees at the trade show, it can seem like a daunting task trying to stand out. While some companies opt to hand out branded giveaway items, have the most state-of-the-art technology incorporated into their exhibit, or have stunning signage that can be seen from across the show floor, there are still a wide variety of things that you can do to become a fierce competitor to these other businesses. The following ideas will get attendees and exhibitors alike talking about your booth before they even get to the event.  Create a… more
Aug 15, 2014
Standing out at trade shows when there are dozens of trade show booths trying to grab the attendee’s attention is easier said than done. The most memorable exhibits are those that have a personal touch that is both unique and matches the theme of your booth. There are plenty of ways to do this without spending hundreds of dollars. Here are several ideas to create a booth that will attract a crowd and stand out above the competition. Have a Consistent Theme Trying to promote too many different products or services can be confusing and overwhelming to attendees. Instead of pulling their… more
Aug 15, 2014
I recently was at the Women In Travel conference,  which had a focus on networking and connecting in order to promote and learn.  Since the focus of the conference was around the idea of connecting, I was very happily surprised with the spin it took on the traditional way of engaging. Networking across industry and title, boundaries:  This particular organization wanted to reach anyone who works in travel, regardless of whether they are a travel agent, or work with a corporation.  The other unique point was that everyone was networking together. There were no boundaries… more
Aug 09, 2014
Great exhibitors are not necessarily the biggest brands, the biggest booths, or the ones with the biggest budgets. And they certainly are not the ones who are the busiest. Great exhibitors are identified as much by what they avoid as what they do. They have the insight and character to say “no” to their bosses and their colleagues when asked to make poor choices – and they take the time to educate their teams on what makes other choices better. Great exhibitors avoid: 1. Exhibiting at more shows than they can do well Just as it takes a lot to make a house a home, it takes a lot to… more
Aug 09, 2014
A substantial contributing factor to the greenness of your trade show is the venue itself. Many convention centers are making huge strides to streamline recycling and reduce water consumption while an increased emphasis on green construction processes allows a complex to be green throughout. There are a lot of factors that will help you zero in on the ideal venue for your event, but consider how green a venue itself is before booking. Here are 10 of the top green locations for your next trade show in no particular order. 1.      Raleigh’s Convention Center boasts… 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.