Experts & Opinions
Nov 05, 2016
The exhibition industry has seen huge growth in the past 20 years, driven by economic growth around the world, as the global economy expanded at the fastest pace in recorded history. This happened in part, as a recent article in the British Guardian pointed out, thanks to greater freedom of movement for goods, capital and people. Essentially, globalisation has boosted the growth of living standards for millions of people around the world. And our industry, providing the market places for international trade all around the world, played a vital role in this.
Yet, at the same time, already… more
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Nov 05, 2016
Planning for an outdoor exhibit or trade show requires considering a myriad of factors involving exhibit space, meeting rooms, marketing theme, available hotel rooms, and hundreds of other items both large and small. I’d like to introduce one more: weather.
Although the weather can be an afterthought during event planning, it is a critical component to a successful event and should be used to inform on-site logistics and event planning to ensure attendees and exhibitors are informed and prepared.
Whether there are outdoor exhibits to consider, or delegates traveling from out of town, the… more
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Oct 30, 2016
Readers responsible for organizing professional events, conferences and trade shows know that one of the biggest event planning challenges is registering enough attendees to “fill the house.” In order to do that organizers need to be proficient at various event marketing strategies and perhaps one of the most cost-effective strategies to employ is content marketing.
According to a study released by Curata (a content marketing platform) 88% of marketers use content marketing to promote a product or service in North America, and 75% planed to increase content marketing activities this year. It’… more
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Oct 30, 2016
Staffing for trade shows and events has changed. Before “Big Data” and the proliferation of electronic marketing it was sales people who reigned supreme at the show. Their personality and ability to connect with people were key tools for getting more people into the booth.
Crowd gatherers were big too as it was all about getting people who you did not know to come into the booth and learn all about your company. While salespeople can still be great staffers and people skills are always great, the landscape of trade shows has changed and with that the type of skills needed to staff the booth.… more
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Oct 23, 2016
An age-old debate has finally been resolved – by me, at least, anyway. A big mistake a lot of show organizers and marketing firms make is changing their event’s brand each year. This needs to stop.
Creating a new campaign for an annual trade show or conference is fine. In fact, it’s a necessary way to illustrate what’s new and different about your show. But changing the complete look and feel of your event each year - as many shows do - damages the show brand because it eliminates whatever brand equity you have built.
Think of it this way. What would you think if Starbucks changed its logo,… more
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Oct 21, 2016
Trade show exhibiting can be a little overwhelming, especially if your show is just around the corner and you don’t have a clear trade show strategy. The key to success is careful planning. Exhibiting at an exhibition is very different from attending an exhibition. To drive traffic to your exhibition stand and leave a memorable impression on your visitors, you need to create a detailed plan for your event activities.
1. Choosing the right show
With thousands of exhibitions taking place around the world, it’s important to choose the right one. Exhibitions are a great marketing tool, especially… more
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Oct 15, 2016
There’s no denying how effective promotional products can be for businesses at trade shows – and it doesn’t matter what industry you’re in either. Why? Because the products are designed to get your name and branding in front of people, to help them remember you when they’re in need of your product or service.
Nowadays there is such a wide range of promotional products available to give out at trade shows, so you’ll be able to find something that suits your target audience and your budget.
Let’s start with the classics…
The most obvious choice of promo product for a trade show would be pens.… more
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Oct 14, 2016
Storytelling, User-Generated Content, Virtual Reality... The global event series, Social Media Week is known for covering a range of exciting topics of relevance to our industry. Video, however, is one trend that really seemed to jump out at me as part of the London installment.
Many of the speakers, including representatives from brands such as Facebook and National Geographic, stressed that incorporating video into social is the way of the future. It’s an effective tool for the events industry, as it enables us to promote our client’s events in an engaging way… more
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Oct 07, 2016
From seasoned event organizers to novice marketers, everyone measures event ROI differently. Organizers and meeting planners are often looking to better understand the big picture and are searching for ways to prove ROI while improving their programs.
But each organization has unique goals and objectives. And an event measurement strategy should be as unique as the event itself.
There are, however, certain universal aspects that should be part of every trade show or event measurement plan to ensure a healthy, vibrant, successful program year after year. Instead of looking at metrics… more
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Oct 07, 2016
As someone who grew up in the 60s and 70s, I consumed a lot of sugar. I mean A LOT. Kool-Aid, popsicles, Shasta pop, ice cream, breakfast cereal, and every Hostess snack from Twinkies to Ding Dongs (perhaps the best product name ever!). Sugar and salt (S&S) balanced an endless dinner-time diet of casseroles and salads with mayonnaise. It was a great childhood.
The sugar feeding frenzy wouldn’t have been complete without packaged cookies. My mother called the shots when it came to cookies, which meant she bought store or off-brand cookies most of the time. But occasionally, she would… 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.