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Mar 11, 2024
If your trade show or event organization works with independent contractors, it’s important to know how a new employment rule that takes effect on March 11 could impact labor costs for businesses that rely on contract labor or freelancers, such as trucking, manufacturing and more. The industry sector most likely to be impacted: general service contractors, AV companies, freight companies and other suppliers that rely on independent contractors.  Why it matters: Increased costs for suppliers could be passed on to event organizers or exhibitors, who were already facing increases of 7%-30% for… more
Mar 06, 2024
The Events Industry Council (EIC) awarded a water quality trade show and an events destination with its highest level of the Sustainable Event Standards for environmental and social responsibility within the global events industry. Created by the EIC Sustainability and Social Impact Committee in partnership with industry professionals and leading sustainability practitioners, the EIC Sustainable Event Standards are a collection of eight specific standards that assess events and industry suppliers on a wide range of sustainability criteria, including organizational management, marketing,… more
Feb 29, 2024
Event producers and suppliers across the country have been inking new business agreements and forming partnerships to improve their offerings and grow market share. Here’s our monthly roundup on trade show industry deals and partnerships.  CloserStill Media  Business events, exhibitions and conferences producer CloserStill Media has acquired a majority stake in the Trailblazer Summits event group in Hamburg, Germany. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.  Why it matters: Now set to become one of Germany’s largest independent event operators, the group produces a series of two-day, content-… more
Feb 26, 2024
Pink is out, red is in. If that’s too bold, neutral “quiet luxury colors” are still going strong. Those were just some of the fashion trends featured at the apparel-focused trade shows MAGIC, Project and Sourcing at MAGIC that took place Feb. 13-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Days before the shows opened, Informa Markets Fashion, which owns and operates the events, announced the group’s brand transition to MMGNET Group and the launch of MMGNET (pronounced “magnet”), the new insights and resources-powered parent brand designed to support the wider fashion industry and connect the… more
Feb 21, 2024
What’s the latest at UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry? On Feb. 14, we checked in with UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf and UFI North America Regional Director Martha Donato to get the inside scoop on UFI’s Global CEO Summit, held Jan. 31–Feb. 2 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the UFI Global Barometer, a biannual report that was released in January (our take on the data and a link to the full report is here).  Here are 11 takeaways from our conversation. Listen or watch the full interview here. Recap of the UFI Global CEO Summit The vibe: “I think it's fair to say that there… more
Feb 15, 2024
Viad Corp., parent of Global Experience Specialists (GES) and Spiro, said it is moving into 2024 with momentum after revenues for the company’s experiential marketing and exhibition management services surged in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, helped by increasing demand for in-person events by corporate clients and exhibiting companies.  On Feb. 8, the company posted revenue of $291.7 million for the last three months of 2023, up 17.6% from the prior-year period. Viad’s full-year 2023 revenues increased 9.9% YOY, from $1.1 billion in 2022 to $1.2 billion in 2023, according to the company’s… more
Feb 14, 2024
Last August, Freeman announced a rigging safety initiative that impacted exhibitors and event organizers with hanging signs, video walls that have overhead support and all other tie-offs. The rigging rule could have potentially affected thousands of exhibiting companies and events across the U.S. with higher costs and longer timelines.  In response, Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA), The Exhibitor Advocate and Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA) collaborated with Freeman to roll back some of the requirements, making it faster, easier and cheaper… more
Feb 13, 2024
The New Year started with a bang in January as some of the nation’s largest trade shows expanded in terms of exhibitors, attendees, show floor size or some combination of those metrics.  Following three years of lackluster or canceled events in COVID’s wake, the growth demonstrated the importance of face-to-face trade shows, and how much they’re valued by audiences. As one exhibitor put it, “There is no substitute for meeting face-to-face with associates and customers.”  NRF ’24: Retail’s Big Show   What, When & Where: NRF ’24: Retail’s Big Show, Jan. 14-16, Javits Center, New York … more
Feb 08, 2024
Have you ever considered sponsoring restrooms at an event? At PCMA Convening Leaders 2024 (CL24) in January, Montreal Business Events worked with Les Cabinets for the fourth year in a row to deliver a unique and memorable activation in one of the women’s and men’s bathrooms at the San Diego Convention Center. We caught up with Les Cabinets Co-Founder Patrice Marier to get an inside look at the women’s bathroom activation to find out more about how his team manages the sponsorship and optimizes the attendee experience for events. Here’s what you need to know: How it worked: Montreal… more
Feb 06, 2024
Global exhibition revenues on average are projected to reach a comparable level to 2019, growing by an average of 15% compared with 2023 revenues, according to the the findings of the latest UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry Global Exhibition Barometer, the association’s biannual flagship report designed to take the pulse of the worldwide exhibition industry. “Our report shows that the exhibition industry hasn’t just reached pre-pandemic levels in 2023 but is also planning to grow in 2024, and many new jobs in exhibitions are coming up around the world,” said Kai… 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.