News

Nov 17, 2016
With business winding down into the holiday season, companies who provide services to the trade show industry continue to score new contracts before the end of the year. Event technology company, Core-Apps, has been selected to provide mobile apps for Professional Convention Management Association’s signature events in 2017, including the Convening Leaders and Education Conferences. Core-apps also will support a mobile app help desk and a tech kiosk at both events. “Our renewed partnership with PCMA is a testament to the great experience the organization has with our team and our platform,”… more
Nov 16, 2016
Emerald Expositions has acquired its third show in the past several weeks - the RFID Journal LIVE! Event - from RFID Journal. The company also bought National Pavement Expo from AC Business Media and Digital Dealer Conference & Expo from Dealer Communications. RFID Journal LIVE! is the world’s largest event focused on radio frequency identification (RFID) and related technologies, bringing together buyers, sellers, researchers, academics, consultants and others interested in using RFID technologies to identify, track and manage assets and inventories. The global market for RFID hardware,… more
Nov 15, 2016
Billed as the ‘world’s largest’ equestrian event - held in Essen, Germany, and drawing 200,000 visitors and 850 exhibitors from 30 nations - a new EQUITANA show will be heading to the United States in 2018. “EQUITANA USA will become a landmark event - one created with vision and purpose which markets the future of equestrian sports," says Robert Keegan from EQU Expo. He added, “It is our responsibility as the show producer to set forth practical, professional and socially correct themes in order to awaken new interest and markets around the horse.” The original EQUITANA trade fair in Germany… more
Nov 15, 2016
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ 2016 IAAPA Attractions Expo, currently running in Orlando, and the 2016 International Baking Industry Exposition both can boast that their largest events in history are this year. IBIE was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center with more than 1,000 exhibitors - 340 new to IBIE and a 28-percent increase, compared with 2013 - on more than 700,000 square feet of exhibit space. Attendance also continued its upward trend with more than 23,000 registered attendees - a 9-percent increase, compared with 2013, which also saw a whopping… more
Nov 15, 2016
The largest educational trade show and second-largest education convention in the nation returned to the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center, as more than 9,000 attendees attended the 61st annual Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference and Trade Show Nov. 13-16. “This is the time that we get to shine for our members,” said Jeff Chambers, OSBA director of Communication Services. Among the highlights were the18th annual Student Achievement Fair, featuring five performing groups representing each of the OSBA regions, an artwork exhibition and 100 student groups sharing… more
Nov 14, 2016
With the election last week, international trade remains a big topic. What does it mean for trade shows? Major players in the global exhibition industry are taking a “wait and see” attitude. However, the new Administration with their, “America First” position represents a terrific opportunities for US show organizers to increase their international visitors. Join us for this week’s #Expochat led by Stephanie Selesnick, who will discuss bringing international visitors to your shows.  Here are some questions: 1.       Do we want to recruit international… more
Nov 14, 2016
Those of us who have been associated with the tradeshow industry for a long time know that the key to having a successful event is in having satisfied attendees. If attendees accomplish their goals and objectives in attending the event, then they’ll automatically become cheerleaders for your brand. This may seem like something so obvious that it doesn’t need to be stated, but this is also something that confounds event managers when they don’t have a good insight into what their attendees’ specific objectives are and what would define a “successful experience… more
Nov 12, 2016
PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) has unveiled its new Digital Experience Institute, formerly known as the Virtual Edge Institute. “The revealing of the DEI is the latest step in the PCMA’s commitment to providing the best digital educational tools and resources for the industry,” PCMA CEO Deborah Sexton said, “Like the VEI before it, the Institute will represent our ability to harness future success for everyone involved.” DEI is designed to deliver insights and connections essential to attendee engagement in a changing climate of connected… more
Nov 11, 2016
By Elizabeth Johnson If you watched the U.S. Presidential Election coverage on Tuesday night, you likely saw a crowd of people gathered under the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s glass ceiling in New York. What you didn’t see was hidden underneath that crowd - NAB Show New York was set up and ready to open just hours later, early on Wednesday morning Nov. 9.    Despite some unique operational challenges not faced by many show organizers—think Secret Service level security during move-in—the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) team put together a strong, successful event.… more
Nov 10, 2016
In response to feedback, Emerald Expositions’ Outdoor Retailer will shift its 2018 dates to better align with buying cycles, as well as collocate its shows with Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s Connect. In 2018, Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will move to June 11–14, 2018, and Winter Market will move to Nov. 12–15, 2018. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s Connect will collocate with Outdoor Retailer Summer and Winter Markets in Utah, and will run June 6–9, 2018, and Nov. 7–10, 2018. In addition, OR will launch a Winter Expo in January 2019 to serve market segments and product categories that have… 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.