Sep 24, 2024
Creativity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of convention centers, known for their cavernous, utilitarian spaces. But these meeting meccas have long promoted public artwork. In the last decade especially, convention center designs have aimed to be more than just functional and now strive to inspire and reflect cultural values. Their expansive lobbies, atriums, and outdoor plazas also make prime locations for large-scale works. Below, we highlight a few standout pieces and collections from convention centers around North America, from British Columbia to Miami.… more
Sep 23, 2024
IMTS, the International Manufacturing Technology Show returned Sept. 9-14 to McCormick Place for its biennial five-day conference and trade show that brought 1,700 exhibiting companies and 89,020 registrants to Chicago. Attendance was up from 86,307 registrants while exhibiting companies were down from 1,816 for its last show in 2022, according to IMTS data.
In its 97th year, the show—originally called the International Machine Tool Show until 1990—has been calling the iconic Chicago venue its home since 1972, when it only occupied the first floor of Windy City convention center, back when… more
Sep 23, 2024
Sponsored by Visit Tampa Bay
With cutting-edge upgrades to the Tampa Convention Center, modern hotels and award-winning dining, all steps from one another, Tampa Bay offers a dynamic, easy meeting experience. And it’s all amid a long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion that makes every guest feel welcome. The result is an unforgettable meeting with an easy, stress-free vibe. It’s something we like to call The Tampa Bay Effect, and it’s how we’ll make your meeting shine.
Plus, there’s so much to experience that guests will want to bring their families, extend their… more
Sep 20, 2024
Echo Media Group and Skyline Displays Orange County have partnered to create Echo Experiential, enhancing event services across industries, while Endeavor Business Media has acquired a portfolio of events, media, and digital offerings focused on residential construction. Check out our monthly roundup of new business deals.
Event Marketing and Exhibit Service Leaders Team Up to Launch Echo Experiential
Echo Media Group and Skyline Displays of Orange County have joined forces to form Echo Experiential, a new full-service event solution and exhibit service provider designed to be a one-stop… more
Sep 19, 2024
What do trade show organizers need to know about Atlantic City, NJ?
We spent 48 hours at the Jersey Shore to discover some of the old and the new of what Atlantic City has to offer.
Getting there: While there is an airport in Atlantic City, there are many more direct flight options into Philadelphia International Airport, which is about 65 miles away or a one-hour drive with light traffic.
Where we stayed: Nobu Hotel Atlantic City, located in Caesars Atlantic City, opened in March 2024. The latest hotel addition to the Caesars Entertainment portfolio in Atlantic City, Nobu Hotel blends… more
Sep 18, 2024
If you watched the Olympics closing ceremony in mid-August, you might have noticed some unique lighting displays happening in the crowd. That was the work of wireless lighting technology company PixMob, which distributed high-powered X4 LED wristbands to each of the event’s 70,000 fans and athletes. PixMob’s Moving Visual Transmitter technology essentially transforms audiences into interactive canvases, allowing for the projection of moving graphics onto crowds.
At the closing ceremony, PixMob’s Moving Visual Technology cast animated effects illustrating the long history of the Olympics,… more
Sep 17, 2024
Public company Emerald has expanded its Sports and Outdoor portfolio with the addition of Glamping Show Americas (GSA), a media business that includes conferences, content and commerce for the luxury camping sector that is expected to increase at a compounded annual growth rate of 15.14% from 2023 to 2029, according to Arizton data.
Co-founded by trade show industry veteran David Korse, the six-year-old Glamping Show Americas touts itself as the “only trade show in the Americas dedicated to glamping industry,” which generated $561.42 million in revenues in last year in the U.S. In 2023,… more
Sep 16, 2024
The U.S. B2B exhibition industry experienced a minor slowdown following a robust first quarter (Q1) in 2024, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) Q2 2024 Index that measures overall exhibition performance by four metrics—exhibitors, attendance, net square footage and real revenues.
Due to a modest performance in all four of the CEIR metrics for completed events, the Q2 Index value dropped from 92.3 in Q1 to 87.7 in Q2, compared to 100 in 2019.
Marsha Flanagan, president and CEO of IAEE, said the latest CEIR data demonstrates the B2B exhibition industry is… more
Sep 13, 2024
New convention facility offerings, fresh and extended partnerships, and philanthropic activities comprise the latest developments for several North American convention centers as summer turns to fall. Take a look:
Anaheim Convention Center Opens New Marshaling Yard
The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) recently opened the Claudina Marshaling Yard, located on 6 acres of on-grade asphalt within 2 miles of the facility on the corner of Anaheim Boulevard and Claudina Way.
Serving as a staging ground for the coordination of deliveries and shipments, the new yard provides optimal space for… more
Sep 12, 2024
A record number of business event professionals are now working full-time as freelancers, according to a recent study designed to highlight the motivations, demographics, and work values of independent workers in the events industry.
In fact, across all industries, the independent workforce trend has significantly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 36% of the U.S. workforce across all industries engaging in freelance work in 2023, an increase of 4 million total professionals from 2022, according to a December 2023 study conducted by leading online freelance marketplace Upwork. … 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.