News
Mar 23, 2023
March, designated Women’s History Month, marks an opportune time to celebrate the female achievers of the events industry and beyond. We had the pleasure of checking in with six outstanding industry professionals to find out how their organizations support women, what they would advise for the next generation of female leaders and who they believe are women to watch.
Monique Ruff-Bell, Head of Events, TED Conferences
What are you most proud of in terms of the ways your organization supports women?
Internally at TED, many of our key departments and initiatives are led by women. We are… more
Mar 21, 2023
On the heels of a successful OFFPRICE Show held Feb. 11-14 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, which attracted 10% more exhibitors than the previous show, Tarsus Group announced it will launch a new regional OFFPRICE Show in Florida to meet the needs of East Coast chain stores and independent retailers.
Set for Oct. 17-18 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, OFFPRICE Orlando Market is slated to be a premiere two-day trade show featuring wholesale brands, distributors of closeouts and overproduced, immediate/in-season and cost-friendly goods to help retailers maximize their year-… more
Mar 20, 2023
The technology industry is about to get a new conference and trade show that will fuse all aspects of the telecom/cloud, IT services and communications hardware channel. Set to hold its inaugural edition at the Charlotte Convention Center June 7-9, Channel Fusion Expo will converge channel sales agents, value-added resellers (VARs) and managed service providers (MSPs), along with service providers, tech solutions brokers (TSBs), tech solutions providers (TSPs), distributors and IT technology suppliers.
To be delivered in hybrid format, the multi-experiential event will be produced in… more
Mar 17, 2023
Denver is readying for a future boost in meetings and conventions business, with vertical construction of the $233 million expansion of the Colorado Convention Center recently culminating in a commemorative “topping out” ceremony, as the project remains on schedule for a late 2023 opening.
“This is a welcome milestone in the progress of the expansion, which will assist us with booking multiple groups simultaneously to maximize capacity,” said Richard W. Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. “Ultimately, these improvements will pay huge dividends for years to come by generating new… more
Mar 17, 2023
TSNN, the top online news source for the trade show industry, launched Exhibitor News Network (ENN), a new website, e-newsletter and social channels (LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram) for exhibit management and event marketing professionals who participate in U.S. exhibition industry, valued at the $101 billion, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). Exhibitors represent 70% of the revenues generated from the trade show industry, CEIR research finds.
This new online hub for industry news, insights and original content will focus on information,… more
Mar 16, 2023
London, U.K.-based event organizer Hyve Group has been sold to media-focused equity investment firm Providence Equity Partners, based in Providence, R.I.
In a joint statement, Providence Equity Partners said it had agreed to a buyout deal paying $1.30 (£1.08) in cash for each Hyve share — a bid that gives the international event organizer an equity value of more than $386 million (£320 million) and an enterprise value of $579 million (£481 million). Hyve had previously rejected two offers from Providence worth $1.22 (£1.01) and $1.26 (£1.05) per share.
This is the third largest… more
Mar 14, 2023
Industry-leading meetings, events and hospitality technology provider Cvent Holding Corp. (“Cvent”) has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of private equity funds managed by Blackstone for approximately $4.6 billion.
According to company officials, under the terms of the agreement, Cvent stockholders will receive $8.50 per share in cash, which represents a premium of 52 percent to the volume weighted average share price over the 90 days prior to Jan. 30, 2023 – the day before media reports were published of a potential transaction.
As part of the transaction… more
Mar 13, 2023
The story of how Laura Purdy found a career in the exhibitions and meetings industry will be a familiar one for many event professionals: she fell into it – and never left. While in the process of building a marketing and retail management career at a prestigious commercial real estate firm in Toronto, Canada, Purdy had the chance to participate in new business development projects, including responding to RFPs for management contracts for global commercial real estate properties.
One of those projects was for The National Trade Centre (now Enercare Centre), which was under construction at… more
Mar 10, 2023
IMEX Group launched a partnership with leading event management company ExpoPlatform to be the new official event tech provider at its shows in Frankfurt and Las Vegas.
Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt 2023 in May, IMEX has been working with ExpoPlatform to offer participants a new online platform enhanced with a range of features and tools carefully designed to maximize business connections and ease of use.
At its core, the new platform makes it simpler for exhibitors and buyers to find and connect with each other in the run-up to the show and then to enhance those relationships face to face… more
Mar 09, 2023
Two major trade shows recently returned to Las Vegas with robust attendance and expanded footprints pushing the boundaries of pre-pandemic levels. Check them out!
World of Concrete
World of Concrete, the world’s largest trade show for the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries, held its 49th annual event at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Jan. 17-19. With 48,000 registered professionals, heavy show floor foot traffic and more than 120 countries in attendance, the event further solidified itself as the critical meeting place for industry advancement, according to… 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.