Expanded Anaheim Convention Center Attracts Multi-Year Event Bookings
August 16, 2018
Thanks to the flexibility and modern allure of the newly expanded Anaheim Convention Center, trade shows including the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and Natural Products Expo West have booked the facility for multiple years.
Completed in September of last year, the ACC expansion provides an additional 200,000 square feet of meeting space allowing for an even greater variety of event uses at what is known as the West Coast’s largest convention center.
Having met in Anaheim for almost 40 years, NAMM will make ACC its home through 2023. The association’s 2018 show in the expanded space was the largest in its 117-year history with a record-setting 115,000 attendees – a 7 percent increase compared to the previous year.
For its future winter shows, NAMM has secured peak January dates when attendees from across the nation are especially interested in meeting in Southern California to escape cold weather.
“Our members travel from 140 countries to attend NAMM and look forward to coming to Anaheim to advance global trade in the music and sound products industry, attend the NAMM U educational sessions and to network with friends and peers,” explained Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO.
He continued, Like NAMM, the convention center has grown over the years and we’ve expanded our activities to create a true ‘crossroads’ of the music industry. The Anaheim community has been a great partner and for me personally, having been attending NAMM since 1983, it feels like ‘coming home’ each January!”
The expanded facility also helped Anaheim’s meeting package fulfill the growing needs of Natural Products Expo West. Produced by Natural Hope Media, the 2018 edition of the show at the ACC helped enable a 5.8 percent increase in exhibitors and an 8.5 percent spike in attendance.
As a result, the show has committed to meeting in Anaheim through 2022.
“Natural Products Expo West is the gathering place for the rapidly growing natural products industry and a launching pad for industry innovation and trend-setting,” said Lacey Gautier, show director for Natural Products Expo.
She continued, “The 2018 show was the most successful yet with our much-anticipated expansion into the Anaheim Convention Center’s North Halls and we’re looking forward to future years of continued growth in Anaheim. In addition to the expanded exhibit space, the Anaheim Campus provides many unique and spacious venues for our growing audience. With a robust education program and networking opportunities throughout the week, we are able to offer an enhanced forum for community engagement.”
ACC hosts an average of nearly one million attendees each year. Thanks to its recent expansion, the center officially joined the “1 million-square-foot-club,” becoming the 11thlargest convention center in the U.S.
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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.
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