Apr 07, 2014
Change is a constant factor for the information technology trade show Interop that took place March 31-April 4 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Few things change faster than IT. Staying relevant, competing with proprietary vendor events and creating a sense of community have been at the top of the priority list for the show’s organizer UBM Tech, with some of the most successful methods being surprisingly old school. “Interop is designed to meet the IT professionals’ needs. Their roles are tricky right now too because things are changing so rapidly with cloud computing,… more
Apr 07, 2014
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Guangdong Toy Association (GDTA) have signed a Letter of Intent to join forces in organizing the Guangzhou International Toy and Hobby Fair and the Guangzhou International Stroller and Baby Product Fair starting in 2015.   Stephan Buurma, managing director of Messe Frankfurt Asia Holding Ltd and a member of the Extended Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, said: “Messe Frankfurt is committed to providing diversified quality trade fairs in different markets and have already achieved huge success and recognition with over 30 trade shows in… more
Apr 06, 2014
Messe München International is moving ISPO BEIJING to a time slot one month earlier than usual in 2015, pushing it closer to Salt Lake City, Utah-based Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. ISPO BEIJING now will be held Jan. 28-31 at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing, and Outdoor Retailer is on tap Jan. 20-24. This one-time change for the Beijeing-based show was necessary because of the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated during the usual date range for ISPO BEIJING. In 2015, the Chinese New Year celebrations start Feb. 19 and traditionally last for 15 days, which… more
Apr 06, 2014
Last November, when Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of the Philippines, beyond the loss of life and overall destruction, the country also dealt with a perception challenge in the aftermath. Even though the typhoon, as well as a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck a month earlier, had both caused considerable damage, the capital city – Manila – and the other areas where conventions and meetings typically were held were virtually untouched. In stepped two people - Liz Jackson and Susan Sarfati of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and IMEX tradeshows -… more
Apr 04, 2014
Last week, when 175 for-profit show organizers got together for the Society of Independent Show Organizers’ CEO Summit at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas there was a definite buzz during the event that plenty of companies were looking to buy and sell. Often in the center of many of those possible deals is The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc.’s managing director, Richard Mead, who has his pulse on exactly what’s happening in the trade show industry M&A market. Mead took some time out of his busy schedule to talk about JEGI’s Q1 2014 M&A Overview that tracks deals… more
Apr 03, 2014
The Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau naming a president and CEO , UBM signing on a new COO in Brazil, Nimlok hiring a digital marketing manager and Urban Expositions restructuring and making several employee shifts are just a few of the recent people news items in the trade show industry. The Commission of the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau appointed veteran hospitality industry executive Karen Williams as the head of the city’s tourism agency.  She assumes the title of president and CEO, after serving as interim following the departure of Jim Wood in… more
Apr 02, 2014
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, has moved PACK EXPO East 2015 to Feb. 16–18 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, citing the need to meet exhibitor demand. The show originally was scheduled to launch Feb. 2-4. “We expected PACK EXPO East to generate a lot of excitement from exhibitors, but the demand has gone beyond what we hoped for,” said Jim Pittas, vice president of trade shows, PMMI. He added, ““With the show just under a year away, it’s already 40 percent bigger than our original projections. The… more
Mar 31, 2014
Tradeshow organizers are sitting on top of a plethora of data these days. There is data being collected via registrations and housing systems, social media, surveys and mobile event apps. The upside to this digital world and the mountain of data that comes along with it is that shows are able to really drill down into what their attendees, exhibitors and sponsors really want from an event. The downside is that show organizers are sitting on a mountain of data and they have the responsibility of protecting that data. What can show organizers do to protect themselves from a data breach… more
Mar 31, 2014
Las Vegas boasts that events that come to town often see substantial attendance upticks, and this year’s Society of Independent Show Organizers’ CEO Summit, held March 30-April 1 at the Four Seasons Hotel, was no exception. Up 13 percent, compared with the 2013 event in Kiawah Island, S.C., the 2014 event broke attendance records, with 175 show organizers taking in a few days of networking and education. International attendance also hit a new milestone, with 21 countries represented from regions around the world, up from 15 at last year’s event. “We have the… more
Mar 28, 2014
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events selected Doug Ducate, CEM, CMP as this year's "Legend of the Industry" for the IAEE Krakoff Leadership Institute to be held Aug. 2014 and IAEE Krakoff Advanced Leadership Institute to be held Aug. 3-5 in Savannah, Ga. Each year, IAEE selects a "Legend of the Industry" whose contributions, innovation and leadership have been truly unique and remarkable. An informal setting then allows each participant face-to-face interaction with this industry leader. Ducate began his trade show industry career in 1968 at… 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.