Oct 28, 2015
ITB Asia, the ‘Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market’, has extended its collaboration with Marina Bay Sands for another three years from 2017 to 2019. The show first signed an agreement with the integrated resort from 2014-2016, where Marina Bay Sands was announced as the official venue and official hotel. The next four editions of ITB Asia will continue to take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands from Oct. 19-21, 2016; Oct. 25-27, 2017; Oct. 17-19, 2018; and Oct. 16-18 2019. “This extension demonstrates our ongoing commitment to take ITB Asia to the next level.… more
Oct 27, 2015
Just a few weeks before doors open, more than 1,000 companies from nearly 40 countries already have reserved approximately 553,000 net square feet of exhibit space for IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015, making it the second largest trade show floor in the event's 97-year history.  Indoor space has sold out, and a limited amount of outdoor space still is available. IAAPA Attractions Expo is owned and produced by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). The exhibitors, including 140 first-timers, will showcase the latest products and innovative services in the… more
Oct 27, 2015
Robert Mesirow, vice president of business operations for CTIA – The Wireless Association, will be stepping down, after 17 years at the association. “I want to thank CTIA, its board members and all of the wireless executives I have collaborated with over the years.  Special thanks to my dedicated team,” Mesirow said. He added, “This Association has been at the forefront of every major mobile event since the inception of the wireless industry, and it’s been a great ride!” Nov. 4 is Mesirow’s last day at CTIA, and he said he will be staying in the industry as well. There was a shakeup in… more
Oct 26, 2015
The Miami-based FIME Exhibition & Congress, consistently ranked the No. 1 medical trade show in the United States, was bought by U.K.-based Informa Exhibitions as part of its Life Sciences portfolio. As tracked by the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association, FIME attracts more than 57,000 attendees to its annual event. FIME complements the Group’s existing collection of 22 exhibitions and in excess of 100 conferences across the EMEA and APAC Life Science markets. “The acquisition of FIME will generate substantial value for our customers and partners by driving further product… more
Oct 24, 2015
William T. Glasgow Sr., a 65-year veteran of the trade show industry, passed away peacefully in his home Oct. 23. “BG”, as he was known, started his career in the industry at Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago, while attending Loyola University. In 1967, he became director of sales for Hilton Catering at McCormick Place, and later returned to McCormick Place as director of sales and marketing for Greyhound Food Management. In 1975, he was hired as show manager by the Electronic Industries Association to manage its winter and summer Consumer Electronics Shows (held in Chicago and Las Vegas). He… more
Oct 24, 2015
This year was a busy one so far for the Exhibitions Mean Business advocacy effort aimed at spreading awareness about the tremendous value of face-to-face events. “The Exhibitions Mean Business Campaign is a key component in promoting the value of face-to-face events as the primary marketing medium for business growth and development,” said IAEE’s President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. He added, “When you consider the more than $70 billion that attendee and exhibitor direct and indirect spending contributed to the US GDP in 2014, along with the millions of jobs created by this… more
Oct 23, 2015
The Las Vegas Convention Center’s need for renovations and new exhibit and meeting space should have already occurred was the consensus among top trade show organizers who spoke Oct. 22 to the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee. In a candid fact-finding session, they urged the 11-member committee to think strategically about the Las Vegas future and its position not just as a U.S., but also as a global trade show destination. The session was the third of five the committee was conducting before making decisions on what would be priorities for next year. The panel of trade show… more
Oct 21, 2015
Taking a major step to expand its overseas footprint, Dallas-based Freeman, a global provider of brand experiences, has acquired New South Wales, Australia-based Staging Connections Group Limited, a global event services company.  Founded in 1986, Staging Connections is an international business with offices in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and China. With its 15 offices and 600 employees throughout ANZPAC, Staging Connections provides Freeman with an immediate presence throughout the region, according to Freeman officials. “As our clients are expanding globally, they want… more
Oct 21, 2015
Trade show organizers and venues continued to ink new deals with suppliers as summer turned into fall. The National Shooting Sports Foundation extended its relationship with CSG Creative to serve as the official marketing agency of SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show ) Show through 2019. Based in Alexandria, Va., CSG Creative specializes in marketing campaigns for trade shows and member associations. "For the last four years, CSG Creative has played a key role in the growth of the SHOT Show," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and CMO. "Those efforts have resulted… more
Oct 20, 2015
By Wendy Helfenbaum When Kathie Canning first started working at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center in the mid 1980s, it was a bit of a circus. Literally. “At that time, we were the only concert venue; we did a lot of civic events, and we did the circus every year. It was very interesting when Avon came in to do a meeting right after the elephants left,” said Canning, now the OCCC’s executive director. “Many things have changed drastically since then; it’s been quite an amazing transformation.” Today, as convention centers worldwide explode in number, size, and technology, Orlando… 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.