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
Mar 27, 2025
A contractor, an AI tech company, and an event website creation platform recently launched new solutions and upgrades to elevate the event planning and onsite experience for show organizers and attendees, respectively.
Freeman Launches Generative AI Tool to Elevate Attendee Education
Global events company Freeman launched Key Takeaways, powered by Snapsight (a Freeman technology partner), a new web-based tool designed to help event organizers increase session impact and enhance attendee learning. Leveraging generative AI, Key Takeaways connects to event audio feeds to transcribe a speaker… more
Mar 26, 2025
Cost and budgeting are the No. 1 concern for exhibitors when it comes to their trade show program, according to a new survey by The Exhibitor Advocate, a non-profit dedicated to trade show exhibitor success.
With post-pandemic costs fluctuating––sometimes even skyrocketing––from year to year, how can exhibit marketers get ahead of inflationary price jumps and budget appropriately to support their trade show programs? And how can show organizers help their exhibitors through these challenges to keep them coming back to their events year after year?
To address these challenges, the… more
Mar 25, 2025
When the American Fence Association (AFA) gathered for its annual convention and trade show in February at the Salt Palace Convention Center, FENCETECH increased the number of its exhibitors from 310 in 2024 to 343 in 2025, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 10.6%. Of those,103 exhibitors were new.
After posting record attendance of 7,517 in Nashville last year, the rotating event attracted 5,128 fence industry professionals to Salt Lake City from February 24 to 28. Major sponsors included companies like Ameristar Fence & Security Products, D&D Technologies USA, Master Halco,… more
Mar 24, 2025
Did you know that incorporating wellness into events can significantly improve attendee satisfaction and net promoter scores without necessarily increasing budgets? By weaving tailored wellness experiences into events, planners can not only create more engaging and impactful event experiences that drive engagement, elevate attendee wellbeing, and foster a greater sense of community but also address the growing demand for wellness in professional settings. After all, when attendees feel physically and mentally balanced, they are more engaged, focused, and open to new ideas.
Possibly no… more
Mar 21, 2025
Heather Larson’s journey into the hospitality, tourism, and events industries began at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she developed a strong passion for service, relationships, and travel. After graduating and falling in love with Chicago’s stately old grand hotels, she began her career honing her skills at iconic Windy City properties including The Allegro (formerly The Bismarck), The Whitehall, The Drake, and the Fairmont Hotel.
“I started working in hotel sales, where I quickly realized that I thrived in the fast-paced, people-driven nature of the industry,” Larson recalled… more
Mar 20, 2025
This month, several event marketing agencies and DMCs have announced major mergers and acquisitions as they seek to increase their market share, expand their global reach, strengthen their capabilities, and broaden their client services.
Freeman Acquires Tag Digital
Global event company Freeman has acquired UK-based full-service digital marketing agency Tag Digital, specializing in innovative solutions for event organizers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Asia-Pacific (APAC)[TD1] , and North America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Tag will combine its services with… more
Mar 19, 2025
With ITB trade shows in Berlin, Shanghai, Singapore, and Mumbai, Messe Berlin is expanding its portfolio of B2B tourism events with the launch of ITB Americas, debuting Nov. 10-12, 2026, in Guadalajara, Mexico. Messe Berlin announced the news on March 5 at a press conference at ITB Berlin and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mexican ambassador in Berlin and representatives of the State of Jalisco.
ITB Americas claims it will be the only travel trade show that covers North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, as well as all segments of the travel industry––from… more
Mar 18, 2025
Emerald Holding, Inc., a public, live events company that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, reported $398.8 million in revenue for 2024, a 4.2% increase compared with 2023, driven by organic growth and acquisitions while shedding unprofitable events, according to its Q4 2024 and full year results on March 14.
Hervé Sedky, Emerald’s president and CEO, said, “2024 was a transformative year for Emerald––one where we took decisive actions to strategically optimize our portfolio of live B2B events with precision and purpose. Each step has laid the groundwork for a stronger, more… more
Mar 17, 2025
The International Housewares Association (IHA) held the 125th edition of its tentpole annual event, the Inspired Home Show (IHS), March 2-4. As it has since its inception, the housewares trade show—the largest of its kind in North America—took place in Chicago, at McCormick Place.
“We’ve enjoyed a long history in Chicago,” IHA's president and CEO Derek Miller said of IHS, which was rebranded from the International Home + Housewares Show in 2019. “As of now, we’ve got dates protected at McCormick Place through 2030,” he told TSNN, noting that the show has grown along with Chicago’s venue… 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.