Association Show News
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Sep 23, 2020
While there has been an understandable drop in new and renewed business deals in the trade show industry lately, there have been some bright spots, particularly in the virtual space. Here are a few companies continuing to forge ahead as they prepare for a post-COVID-19 business future.
Stetson Convention Services
Pittsburgh-based Stetson Convention Services has been tapped by Jamie Belkin Productions, Cleveland Clinic and The Commission on Presidential Debates to help produce the 2020 Presidential Debate, set for Sept. 29 at the Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve University… more
Sep 22, 2020
Last week PCMA announced the next steps in its global business events industry recovery plan, Recovery Discovery, at a series of digital broadcasts in Asia Pacific, EMEA and the Americas late last week. The announcements provide PCMA members, partners and business event stakeholders all over the world with new opportunities to gain actionable insights and community connections that will help them be successful through the pandemic and beyond.
"PCMA is making bold moves to help our audiences — from business event strategists to destination marketing organizations to premier venues around the… more
Sep 17, 2020
Held Aug. 29–Sept. 6 at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre in Germany, CARAVAN SALON, the world’s largest RV trade fair and consumer show, drew 107,000 mobile travel and leisure enthusiasts to the event’s 59th edition. Spanning 762,000 square feet, the show was the first major trade fair to take place in the western German city since the COVID-19 lockdown.
Produced by Messe Düsseldorf in partnership with the Caravaning Industry Association (CIVD), the annual event features vehicles and equipment, technology, trends, tents, mobile homes, camping equipment, camping and caravan sites, as well as… more
Sep 15, 2020
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events(IAEE) held its first fully virtual Women’s Leadership Forum, featuring education sessions for women at all stages of their career, on Sept. 9.
This year’s program included sessions like “Truths Female Leaders Need to Know,” “Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Be the Innovator and Leader Your Team and Clients Need When Times Are Uncertain,” Cultivating Connectivity, One Step at a Time” and “BrainSHIFT: Mindful Leaders Rise Above the Panic.”
“Since its inception in 2013, the Women’s Leadership Forum has become a must-attend event… more
Sep 15, 2020
On Sept. 9-10, Connect Sports, a live business conference and reverse trade show for sporting event planners and those in the sports travel and tourism industry, held its first-ever online event, Connect Sports Virtual. The two-day online conference attracted 180 participants — 90 attendees and 90 suppliers — seeking to gain industry insights, make professional connections and generate new business.
In the digital event’s new virtual appointment lounge, 3,912 one-on-one marketplace appointments were conducted with the help of Connect’s matchmaking platform. Suppliers who attended indicated… more
Sep 01, 2020
PCMA and Korea MICE Association have signed a two-year strategic agreement to provide support to members of both organizations and equip them for the post-COVID return of events through specialized training programs.
The partnership will focus on the delivery of PCMA’s Digital Event Strategist (DES) course in Korea, in a move to ensure event planners are skilled for designing and delivering hybrid and digital events.
Karen Bolinger, PCMA’s managing director for APAC, said this partnership is an opportunity to engage with the Korean business events industry by providing practical, skills-… more
Aug 26, 2020
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events is moving forward with a different event model for this year’s Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Set for Dec. 8-10 at Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, the annual show for exhibition and event industry professionals will be produced as a hybrid event that will include a virtual and a live, face-to-face experience.
According to Scott Craighead, IAEE vice president of exhibitions and events, the virtual component will still allow attendees who are unable to participate in person the opportunity to… more
Aug 20, 2020
To help exhibitions and events professionals return to the face-to-face business environment safely and effectively, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events has partnered with global cleaning industry association ISSA on a Global Biorisk Advisory Council technician training course. Designed to teach participants how to prepare for, respond to and recover from biohazards in the workplace, the GBAC Fundamentals Online Course: Cleaning & Disinfection Principles teaches the principles behind infection and contamination control measures for infectious disease outbreak… more
Aug 18, 2020
On Aug. 10, the ASAE Research Foundation released the results of its multi-year Centennial Research Initiative, “Impact Every Day” to coincide with the 2020 ASAE Virtual Annual Meeting & Exposition.
A sample of the findings show survey respondents overwhelmingly agree that associations have enabled them to contribute to society in their respective fields. Additionally, their expectations for associations to assist in shaping future industry progress and productivity is extremely high. Finally, interviews with external stakeholders revealed a perception that the largest contributions of… more
Aug 14, 2020
The results are in: Registration reached an all-time high for the 2020 ASAE Virtual Annual Meeting & Exposition, with the most registrants ever in the organization’s 100-year history. Held Aug. 10-12, the online event registered 14,108 association professionals, consultants and industry partners, 71 percent of which were first-time attendees. The event’s final attendance breakdown included 12,813 executives; 544 exhibitors; 207 industry partners; 433 consultants and 111 others including press, vendors and staff. The ratio of buyer to sellers was 95 percent to 5 percent, respectively.
The… 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.