FABTECH Signs on to Stay in Atlanta for 2018 and 2022
January 20, 2014
With this year’s show tracking well in Atlanta, the organizers of FABTECH, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, finishing and welding event, are sticking with success by signing up to bring the show back to the city in 2018 and 2022.
The Society of Manufacturing Engineer’s FABTECH was last held in Atlanta in 2010, drawing 22,000 attendees from 50 countries, and this year’s event, scheduled Nov. 11-13 at Georgia’s World Congress Center, is expected to draw expect to draw 27,000 attendees and 1,400 exhibitors.
The group signed up for two more years at a meeting held during the International Association of Exhibitions and Events in December in Houston.
“When FABTECH’s attendees return this year, nearly $1.5 billion in new attractions, transportation options and retail developments will have opened in Atlanta,” said William Pate, president and CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB).
He added, “We’re excited to offer so many new experiences for attendees since their last visit.”
Some of that new development includes the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, College Football Hall of Fame and Atlanta Streetcar, which all will have opened since the group last was in town in 2010.
The 2013 show in Chicago broke several records, with 40,667 attendees visiting 1,573 exhibitors to see live equipment demonstrations, compare products side-by-side to find cost-saving solutions at product displays spread across a 650,000 square foot showfloor at McCormick Place.
That was an 11 percent increase in attendance, a 19 percent increase in exhibitors and a 25 percent jump in square footage, compared with the previous event in Chicago in 2011.
FABTECH is co-sponsored by the American Welding Society (AWS), Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International (FMA), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), and Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI).
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.
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