Association Show News
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Feb 25, 2025
Think event email marketing is dead? Think again, said Jay Schwedelson, founder of GURU Media Hub and podcast host of Do This, Not That: For Marketers, during a recent Women in Exhibitions Network (WIEN) North America meeting in January.
Back story: In the last 12 months, Schwedelson has participated in or hosted more than 2,000 webinars and 157 in-person events. His company produces the Guru Conference, which attracted more than 24,100 marketers, and the Delivered Conference that drew more than 7,400 marketers. In June, he’s launching Eventastic, which is touted as the largest event about… more
Feb 18, 2025
Concerned about pressing issues currently facing the industry, such as tax reform, the next-gen workforce, inbound travel restrictions, and decarbonization? Then it’s time to make your voice heard at Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA)’s 2025 Legislative Action Day, taking place on Thursday, May 29 in Washington, DC.
Background: Held annually, ECA’s Legislative Action Day brings together leaders and advocates from across the business and professional events industry to Capitol Hill to meet with their elected officials in support of ECA’s top public policy priorities. Established in… more
Feb 17, 2025
"Innovation” isn’t just a buzzword for the Specialty Food Association, which is reimagining the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show as the Winter FancyFaire* in 2026. In its final iteration as the Food Show, 12,000 food-industry professionals descended on Las Vegas for the fourth-consecutive year to sample the latest F&B innovations and network with industry professionals.
It all went down Jan. 19-21 in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s 1.4 million-square-foot West Hall, where 1,100 exhibitors—180 of which were first-timers—from around the world exhibited across 45 specialty categories,… more
Feb 11, 2025
What’s the outlook for the U.S. and global exhibition industries? UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has released the 34th edition of its flagship Global Exhibition Barometer report, which takes the pulse of the industry.
Zooming out: For the global exhibition industry, revenues in 2024 and 2025 are expected to grow by a respective 16% and 18% year on year. Globally, 46% of companies declare they plan to increase their workforce in the coming six months, while another 51% declare that they will keep current staff numbers stable.
Context: “UFI’s Barometer research has… more
Feb 07, 2025
After officially announcing the once glorious E3 Show dead in December 2023, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has unveiled the launch of the Interactive Innovation Conference (iicon), an invitation-only event designed to bring together visionaries, thought leaders, and innovators across industries that intersect with interactive entertainment.
Set to take place April 27-30, 2026, at the Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas, iicon hopes to capitalize on the global video game industry that is set to surpass $300 billion in projected revenue by 2027, according to a statement released… more
Jan 30, 2025
With 3,800 attendees registered for the in-person event and 4,500 total registrants, PCMA Convening Leaders (CL25) landed in Houston for the first time in its 70-year history of gathering convention and business events industry professionals at its annual meeting held this year from Jan. 12-15. By comparison, the 2024 Convening Leaders drew more than 4,200 industry professionals to San Diego. This year’s theme: Go beyond your orbit.
“Because we convene people, we have the power to use business events to impact economic and social change,” said PCMA and CEMA President and CEO Sherrif… more
Jan 28, 2025
In the face of people’s changing perceptions toward alcohol consumption, fueled by an increasing focus on health and wellness, the growing “sober-curious” social moderation movement appears to be picking up steam as people are re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol.
Between 2016 and 2023, the share of Americans who view moderate drinking as “good for health” dropped from 19% to 10%, whereas the share who perceive it as “bad for health” increased from 26% to 39%, according to Gallup. Americans are drinking less than they used to--with the average number of drinks consumed falling… more
Jan 24, 2025
With the help of 4,500 exhibitors—1,400 of which were startups—in front of 141,000 attendees, the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show lived up to its reputation as one of the world’s leading tech events by underscoring AI's intersection with humanity, highlighting accessibility-focused tech, and debuting energy transition and quantum computing conference tracks.
Attendance figures at CES 2025 marked a roughly 2% yearly increase compared to the previous year, when CES 2024 drew 138,000 participants.
A spokesperson for the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which produces the annual tech… more
Jan 21, 2025
Two trade show industry organizations announced key launches and initiatives recently.
ESCA Gears Up for New Leadership Summit
The Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) is gearing up to launch a new event designed to empower and educate the next generation of exhibitions and events industry leaders. Set for February 4-5 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, the 2025 Rising Leaders Summit will provide an engaging educational experience designed specifically for young professionals and emerging leaders.
The conference marks the first major initiative… more
Jan 20, 2025
Since stepping into her role as President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) in December 2023, Marsha Flanagan has hit the ground running. With a focus on innovation, community building, and sustainability, she is setting ambitious goals for the association in 2025.
In this exclusive Q&A with TSNN, Flanagan shares her vision for IAEE, outlines key initiatives, and discusses how the association is adapting to meet the evolving needs of its members and the exhibitions industry.
Vision for IAEE in 2025
Tormohlen: As you step into 2025, what is your… 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.