Association Show News
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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 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
Sep 11, 2024
At this year’s ASAE conference in Cleveland, one exhibitor took the concept of “breakout session” to a whole new level. On Aug. 13, the final day of the annual meeting, Destination Canada used a free afternoon to fly 13 lucky attendees to Pelee Island on Lake Erie, which is about a 25-minute flight from Cleveland—and located over the border in Ontario, Canada.
The idea for the excursion, the first of what the DMO is calling “Breakout-Breakout Sessions,” came from Destination Canada’s new marketing campaign, “Leave Inspired. Not Tired.”
“We all go to conferences, and there’s so much content… more
Sep 10, 2024
This summer, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), a 4,000-member trade group based in Boulder, Colo., and Outdoor Retailer, a biannual trade show owned by Emerald, agreed to conclude their exclusive 30-year partnership.
Outdoor Retailer provides a platform for face-to-face commerce, product launches, networking, and industry education to enhance business and support the outdoor recreation economy that reached $1.1 trillion in spending in 2022 in the U.S., a 19% jump from 2021, according to data by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). U.S. outdoor businesses earned $563.7 billion in 2022… more
Aug 30, 2024
Attendees of next month’s Predict, the Annual Exhibition Industry Outlook Conference will have the opportunity to experience an inspiring lineup of external experts covering a diverse range of pressing global topics when they converge Sept. 12-13 at the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino in Oxon Hill, MD.
Produced and hosted by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), the annual event brings together B2B exhibitions industry executives to learn and discuss emerging trends that could impact trade shows over the next three to five years. Predict’s forward-looking programming is… more
Aug 28, 2024
In a groundbreaking move set to elevate the exhibitions and events industry, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and Trade Show News Network (TSNN) have solidified a multi-year strategic partnership during Connect Marketplace, creating a powerful collaboration that will shape the industry through 2026. This is not just a partnership—it's a deliberate, strategic alliance that will define the future of the exhibitions industry.
Kicking off with a co-located, spectacular awards program at The Novo on December 16 during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition… more
Aug 21, 2024
In an indication that business events have solid momentum right now, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) drew 5,070 participants—including 2,900 association executives and planners—to its 2024 annual meeting, held August 10-13 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland. That figure is 2.4 percent higher than for the 2023 event at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
On August 12, ASAE held a press conference for industry journalists and local reporters, touching on the $6-million economic benefit the meeting generated for Cleveland. That data served as a lead… more
Aug 15, 2024
On July 30, event-furniture rental giant CORT Events invited 200 industry leaders and tastemakers to a five-hour, garden-themed open house event on the 9th floor of New York City’s iconic Rockefeller Plaza. The to-do drew inspiration from the venue’s adjacent alfresco event space—where a foliage-filled oasis was a reprieve from the traffic below—and boasted setups throughout of different seating, table-and-chair, and decor arrangements for guests to both ogle over and mingle in.
Here are the five noteworthy trends that CORT chose to display, plus insights the company’s executive director of… more
Aug 13, 2024
The global exhibition industry is on track to achieve record revenues this year, according to UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s latest Global Exhibition Barometer flagship industry report.
Released on August 8, the 33rd edition of UFI’s bi-annual report, designed to take the pulse of the worldwide exhibitions industry, was concluded in July 2024 and includes data from 453 companies in 68 countries and regions, as well as dedicated outlooks and analysis for 19 focus countries and regions.
The Barometer’s results confirm UFI’s early data from its January report that… more
Aug 07, 2024
Despite some threats to boycott the Florida location due to politics, destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), and tourism board leaders came out in record numbers to attend the Destinations International (DI) 2024 Annual Convention in Tampa. Held July 16-18 at two connected Marriott hotels near the Tampa Convention Center, the event attracted nearly 2,000 participants, including more than 750 international delegates from more than 30 countries.
“We had a record-breaking Annual Convention in Tampa this year and based on our guest feedback we couldn’t be more pleased… 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.