Jun 01, 2014
The paint and coatings industries, as well as hospitality design, all are experiencing good times right now, which translated to busy showfloors at two recent events - the American Coatings Show and HD Expo. The American Coatings Show found success with its move to Atlanta this year, with the show breaking attendee and exhibitor records when it was held April 7-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The fourth edition of the American Coatings Show attracted more than 8,700 attendees and 480 exhibitors from 70 countries. The 2014 event generated an increase of 16 percent in attendance,… more
Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum Scores Record-breaking Crowd in D.C. alt
May 30, 2014
The ballroom at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., was filled with the who’s who of the association and for-profit trade show world; all gathered together to take part in the record-breaking 13th edition of the Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum held May 27-28. Sam Lippman, who is president and founder of Lippman Connects and runs the event, said that the 216 registered attendees were a record, as well as the number of sponsors this year and supporting publications. “The 13th time is not the curse, it’s the charm!,” Lippman said. “The speakers… more
Archery Show Will Head to Louisville for 2016, 2019 and 2024  alt
May 28, 2014
The Archery Trade Association has targeted Louisville again for its annual event – ATA Trade Show – in 2016, 2019 and 2024 at the Kentucky Exposition Center after visiting the city in 2013. The event is expected to draw 10,000 attendees with an estimated $17 million economic impact over the multi-year deal. “Louisville is a vibrant, accessible city that’s well suited to handle our national and international companies and their staff,” said Jay McAninch, ATA president and CEO.  He added, “The Kentucky Exposition Center offers abundant floor space and,… more
Fee Hikes and Exclusives Scrapped in San Diego after Industry Backlash alt
May 27, 2014
Less than a week after the San Diego Convention Center Corporation sent a letter to all of its clients announcing the implementation of not only fee hikes for shows coming into the center after July 1, but also exclusive contracts for security and event staffing, the changes were put on hold after swift industry backlash. Steven Johnson, vice president of public affairs for SDCCC, said they had extensive feedback from their clients expressing concern after the letter was sent. “The decision to suspend the changes was a result of the strong reaction from our clients and our desire to be… more
Sweets and Snacks Expo Brought WOW Factor to Attendees alt
May 25, 2014
Walking into the Sweets and Snacks Expo at McCormick Place, the smell of candy and popcorn was almost as powerful as the bright colors of the 650 booths seen covering 165,000 plus square foot of exhibit space.    And the 16,000 attendees clearly were enjoying the expo and samples of candy and snacks that were plentiful during the show that was held May 20-22. “We have seen a strong jump in attendance in our show, both with exhibitors and attendees,” said Theresa Anthony, senior director of the National Confectioners Association Expo. She added, “We have also… more
Pri-Med Appoints Melinda Lindquist as Director of Continuing Medical Education and Accreditation alt
May 25, 2014
 Pri-Med, the leading provider of professional medical education to a community of more than 260,000 clinicians, named Melinda Lindquist as director of continuing medical education (CME) and accreditation for pmiCME. pmiCME is the accreditation division of DBC Pri-Med, LLC.  In her new role, Lindquist will help lead Pri-Med’s collaborations with medical schools and associations nationwide to build CME curriculums that are tailored specifically to improve patient outcomes. “We are thrilled to welcome Melinda to our team as we continue to build out the next phase of… more
Pharma EXPO Debut Continues to Grow to Meet Industry Demand alt
May 25, 2014
PMMI has tapped into the fast-growing $1 trillion medicines market with the planned launch of Pharma EXPO coming up in November collocated with PACK EXPO International in Chicago. Already 85 percent sold out months before its opening, the exhibition is co-produced by PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the world’s largest not-for-profit association leading scientific, technical and regulatory advancement throughout the pharmaceutical lifecycle. To date, more than 160 solutions providers… more
Frost Miller Group Provides Marketing Support for American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases alt
May 25, 2014
Frost Miller Group recently began working on several graphic design projects for American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). AASLD, which serves all professionals dedicated to preventing and curing liver disease, quickly put FMG to work on a number of graphic design projects including tradeshow displays, direct mail, and print and web advertisements. “Our role with AASLD is to develop marketing materials that help drive association membership and promote its foundation’s fellowships and research awards,” said Kevin Miller, president of FMG. The FMG team is… more
CEIR’s Brian Casey Unveils Trade Show Industry Trends alt
May 24, 2014
At the recent Shepard Exhibition Services’ three-day client event, Sandbox, which recently was held in Atlanta, Brian Casey, the president and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, presented trade show industry trends occurring now and into the future on the final day. Casey began his session by talking through the latest CEIR Index Report numbers, which tracks the overall health of the trade show industry by looking at 14 different industry sectors. The good news is; the industry still is growing, albeit at a slow and steady pace. Casey then broke down the trends into… more
Commercial Real Estate Show RECon Continues to Climb Out of Recession alt
May 21, 2014
Focused and busy would be one way to describe the vibe at RECon 2014, a trade show and conference for retail real estate that took place May 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Spanning approximately 1 million square feet, it featured about 1,100 exhibitors and brought together 33,500 industry professionals who were ready to capitalize on the improving real estate market. While square footage remained the same as last year, attendance and exhibitor count saw a slight uptick. “During the recession, the bottom fell out, and since then, it’s been a steady climb for us that… 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.