Apr 10, 2025
After searching for more than one year for a permanent replacement, Choose Chicago has tapped Kristen Reynolds, who has served as Discover Long Island President and CEO since 2015, as its new president and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 5. She will lead Chicago’s convention and tourism industry, which is a key driver of the city’s economy, generating $19.5 billion in leisure and business spending in 2023, according to the latest research by Choose Chicago.
The position has been vacant since Lynn Osmond stepped down on January 31, 2024. Choose Chicago Board Member Rich Gamble, who… more
Apr 09, 2025
The U.S. business-to-business (B2B) exhibition industry continues to rebound, recording the strongest quarter since the pandemic in the fourth quarter (Q4) 2024, according to the recently released Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) Index that measures exhibition performance for exhibitors, attendance, net square footage, and real revenues.
“Recent results confirm the continued recovery in trade show activity through the end of last year,” said Tourism Economics President Adam Sacks. “This year our baseline outlook remains positive, though we expect economic and policy… more
Apr 08, 2025
Three major U.S. convention centers announced event space expansions, new environmental practices, and enhanced tech capabilities recently.
OCCC to Start Expansion Project in 2026
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., will soon kick off a $560 million expansion project resulting in an additional 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom in its North-South Building. Officially named the Grand Concourse Expansion, construction will begin in 2026 and is expected to finish in 2029.
“We are excited to begin work on our Grand Concourse… more
Apr 07, 2025
Questex’s International Beauty Show (IBS New York), which takes place annually alongside the International Esthetics, Cosmetics, & Spa Conference (IECSC), made what the event provider called a “triumphant return” to New York’s Javits Center March 23-25.
This is no wonder, as the 2025 IBS New York saw an impressive boost among attendees and sponsors alike:
More than 32,000 salon owners and managers, estheticians, hairstylists, barbers, nail technicians, massage therapists, and cosmetologists attended IBS New York 2025, marking a 6% year-over-year increase.
There were 430 total… more
Apr 04, 2025
Since February, event organizers and suppliers across the country have been welcoming new leadership and increasing team headcount, as well as bidding farewell to seasoned industry veterans.
TSNN’s take on the biggest recent move: Following a successful 37-year career in the U.S. gift and home trade show industry, veteran B2B Public Relations specialist Cathy Steel has retired. She and her husband of 24 years, Alan Steel, who retired from his 12-year position as CEO of New York’s Javits Center on March 31, plan to travel extensively and enjoy time with family and friends.
Related: Alan… more
Apr 03, 2025
The Events Industry Council (EIC) unveiled its Futures Landscape Report 2025, which offers a comprehensive analysis of the factors poised to shape the global business events industry in the coming years. Released on March 10, this forward-looking report synthesizes insights from a global survey of business event stakeholders, as well as a series of think-tank workshops consisting of leaders from EIC’s more than 60 members, strategic partners, and volunteer leaders sharing their unique insights and perspectives.
Developed in collaboration with the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (… more
Apr 02, 2025
In its second Q1 deal, London-based independent event producer CloserStill Media has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Ai4, touted as the largest AI event in the U.S. Earlier this year, CloserStill Media acquired Digital Health Intelligence (DHI), adding Rewired, DHI’s flagship digital health event in the UK, to its healthcare portfolio.
JEGI CLARITY, an M&A advisory firm for the global media, marketing, information and technology industries, represented Ai4 in the transaction, but terms were not disclosed.
Related: New Business Deals: CloserStill Media and Turnmill Make Major… more
Apr 01, 2025
Food waste is a massive issue in the U.S., with 51% of food waste from retailers like convention centers and hotels ending up in landfills, contributing to methane emissions that make landfills the third-largest source of methane in the country, said Nancy St. Pierre, director of communications for Denali, an organic waste disposal and recycling services company.
To combat this growing problem, Denali is partnering with convention centers across North America to divert food waste from landfills and turn it into compost and other reusable materials. One of its latest collaborations is with… more
Mar 31, 2025
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, recently launched PACK EXPO Southeast, bringing together more than 6,700 attendees and 2,800 exhibitor personnel for 9,500 total. The inaugural event, held March 10-12 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, brought a new regional audience to connect and drive the future of packaging and processing.
The three-day event, which will run biennially, featured 504 exhibiting companies across 115,000 net square feet. The event served more than 40 vertical markets, including food and beverage, automotive, life sciences,… more
Mar 28, 2025
Raccoon Media Group, organizers of the Abilities Expo held annually in seven major cities across the U.S., is launching three Abilities International Accessibility Conferences, which will be held in Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Chicago in 2026. The two-day conference, held Thursday and Friday alongside the consumer-focused Abilities Expo (open from Friday to Sunday), will offer a comprehensive learning experience for industry professionals.
Why it matters: Designed to unite the entire community of disability care providers, service providers, and innovative product developers, this… 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.