News

Mar 23, 2014
At the recent IAEE DC Chapter’s luncheon meeting, a2z’s vice president of Professional Services, Angi Carr, shared some important strategies for multi-year and multi-event attendee engagement. Here are the key insights from her presentation: Know what engages and re-engages your attendees Events are not just about products, services and education. In fact, they are mostly about people. To know what draws your audience, focus on what’s important to them, and what brings them to your event.   Provide smart, integrated tools Provide solutions that are easy… more
Mar 19, 2014
Open footprints, deeply integrated technology and fast follow-ups defined the experience at EXHIBITOR2014 that brought together trade show and event professionals March 16-20 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The star of the show? A giant Earth Harp at the Global Experience Specialists’ booth that lured attendees to the back of the hall. The moment William Close of the Earth Harp Collective touched the strings rigged to the ceiling, attendees whipped out their cellphones to record and share. Since the instrument took up pretty much the entire exhibit, the GES booth… more
Mar 18, 2014
Reed Exhibitions has scooped up two shows in Mexico - Expo Beauty Show and Expo Lighting America Show – expanding its portfolio in the country even more. The combined events attract more than 300 exhibitors and 70,000 attendees each year and occupy more than 20,000 net square meters of annual exhibit space in Mexico City. The two new events join Reed's existing portfolio in - Expo Seguridad (acquired in 2011) that runs April 8-19  in Mexico City and Expo Ferretera (acquired in 2013) that runs Aug. 28-30 in Guadalajara. Last May, Reed also acquired Expo Nacional Ferretera,… more
Mar 18, 2014
Trade Show News Network is pleased to announce Cleveland has been chosen as the host city for the 5th Annual 2014 TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence. More than 50 show organizers from the fastest-growing events in the United States will be feted during the three-day weekend event Nov. 14-16 (www.T-awards.com). “We are very excited to bring the 2014 TSNN Awards to Cleveland,” said TSNN President Rachel Wimberly. “We have no doubt that the award winners will be very impressed with everything the city has to offer as a high-value trade show destination.”… more
Mar 17, 2014
Each year, the U.S. Travel Association and the American Society of Association Executives sponsor separate fly-ins to Washington, D.C., during which hundreds of travel and association professionals meet face-to-face with legislators on Capitol Hill to discuss issues important to them. Dubbed “Destination Capitol Hill”, U.S. Travel held its second annual fly-in Feb. 24-27, and nearly 300 travel professionals had 275 meetings with members of Congress. Among the fly-in participants were several convention and visitors bureau executives, including Steve Moore, president and CEO of… more
Mar 17, 2014
Attendees spend an estimated $44.8 billion and exhibitors spend an estimated $24.5 billion at events, according research compiled by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. This research documents the substantial contribution business-to-business exhibitions make to the U.S. economy through attendee and exhibitor direct spending. For the first time, CEIR commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to quantify attendee and exhibitor direct spend estimates based on data compiled as a part of an interim update of The Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy Study. This data, along… more
Mar 17, 2014
The medical association sector has been busy signing on plenty of new business contracts recently, ranging from management to registration and lead retrieval services. The Healthcare & Billing Management Association (HBMA) announced it has selected SmithBucklin as its new association management partner. In addition, Andre Williams has joined the company and will serve as HBMA's executive director. HBMA's headquarters now are in Washington, D.C. "HBMA provides tremendous value to its members, and leadership is dedicated to seeing that value maximized in the future. We trust… more
Mar 16, 2014
Returning to Las Vegas was a lucky charm for Hanley Wood Exhibitions’ 2014 International Roofing Expo, which saw record-breaking attendance Feb. 26-28 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The show drew a total attendance of 9,568, a 13-percent increase, compared with the 2013 show in San Antonio, and a 20-percent increase in verified attendees, compared with 2013. “With a fresh sense of optimism and excitement, the 2014 International Roofing Expo drew the largest attendance in the show’s history,” said Tracy Garcia, IRE show director. She added, "In addition… more
Mar 16, 2014
Transitioning from his role as interim president and CEO of NYC & Company, Fred Dixon has been named the city convention and visitors bureau’s new president and CEO. Dixon will replace George Fertitta, who stepped down Jan. 1 after joining the bureau in 2006. “Fred’s been such a star since he joined New York City & Company,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “And I don’t know about you; the Southern charm definitely works … As I’ve spent time with him, I became as convinced as everyone on the board that this was the right man… more
Mar 16, 2014
Trade Show and expo organizers always are striving to make their exhibitor and attendee experience run smoothly. They take great pains to make the event registration process as painless as possible. In many cases, the online registration process takes just minutes. But it doesn’t end there for the attendees and exhibitors. Now, they have to start the laborious task of booking flights, arranging ground transportation and booking dinner reservations for meetings with clients or team dinners. AttendBee, an online concierge service, steps up to eliminate much of that frustration.… more
Partner Voices
  MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.  At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident in several key areas:  Protecting Natural Resources  MGM Resorts is home to industry-leading recycling, renewable electricity and water conservation programs. Some highlights include a cogeneration power plant at ARIA, producing ultra-efficient electricity; one of America’s largest contiguous rooftop solar arrays atop the convention center at Mandalay Bay; and onsite wells that provide water for the celebrated Fountains of Bellagio, avoiding reliance on precious Colorado River water. These efforts and many more save on natural resources while boosting attendee satisfaction.  Committed to Community  Always striving to be good neighbors, MGM Resorts works to avoid food waste and combat food insecurity with the Feeding Forward program. In partnership with local food banks, they safely divert unserved food to food insecure members of the community. Since 2016, over 5 million meals have been provided, highlighting MGM Resorts' commitment to minimizing food waste and addressing community needs.  MGM Resorts supports clients in their responsible-meetings efforts, not only with efficient venues but also waste-reducing décor and signage; sustainable food and beverage options; and outreach to help planners communicate sustainability efforts to attendees. What’s more, they offer a Mindful Meetings series that puts attendee wellness first—through fitness and mindfulness activities, and in give-back events with local charity organizations.   Fostering Diversity & Inclusion  To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.  MGM Resorts offers unparalleled service and venue options while standing out for its proactive approach to sustainability and community engagement. Choosing MGM Resorts for your next meeting means aligning with a company that values social responsibility, efficiency, and attendee satisfaction, ensuring a meaningful and impactful event experience.