Mar 22, 2012
The Specialty Equipment Marketing Association, which owns the massive SEMA Show for the automotive specialty products sector, bought Performance Racing Industry, producers of the motorsports business magazine and PRI Trade Show. The transaction is set to close in late March. John Kilroy, who has 20-plus years of publishing and management experience at PRI, will serve as vice president/general manager of PRI and assume day-to-day operations for the group. "Steve Lewis launched the PRI concept a quarter-of-a-century ago, as an organization totally dedicated solely to the racing industry… more
Mar 22, 2012
Sue Deveaux has been named group vice president, Healthcare Sector for J. Spargo & Associates. Deveaux and her team will provide exposition sales and management services to some of the country's largest medical meetings, according to company officials.   "Sue's 20 years of industry experience, including her 15 years at Pri-Med, where she played a pivotal role in the growth of the organization, made her an outstanding candidate for this position," said Susan Bracken, president and COO of J. Spargo & Associates. Deveaux will work with J. Spargo’s… more
Mar 22, 2012
With its deep background in working with medical and pharma association sand trade shows, Ascend Integrated Media was a natural fit for the American Heart Association when it needed an exclusive exhibit sales representative for its Scientific Sessions 2012 Annual Meeting. The meeting is scheduled Nov. 3-7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and is expected to attract more than 22,000 attendees. “We selected Ascend to be our exclusive partner for exhibitor sales because of the expertise and tenure of their sales team,” said Laura Gossett, senior manager, exhibits for American… more
Mar 22, 2012
When the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society recently wrapped up its annual meeting Feb. 20-24 at the Sand Expo & Convention Center, show officials had a lot to celebrate, with the show breaking previous attendance records. HIMSS12 reached 37,032 attendees, surpassing the HIMSS11 attendance figure of 31,500 attendees.   The four-day event featured sessions on stage 1 and stage 2, as well as events and happenings such as ICD-10, mobile health and mHIMSS. HIMSS12 also included HIT X.0 and Leading from the Future, two conferences within a conference that were… more
Mar 19, 2012
U.K.-based Clarion Events’ recently opened U.S. division already is making its mark, with The Navy League of the United States awarding a management contract for its annual “Sea-Air-Space” Exposition to Clarion Events North America. The Navy League selected Clarion from several other companies after a six-month selection process. “Navy League made this important decision based on how we can best support our mission to advocate for the Sea Services,” said Dale Lumme, national executive director of the Navy League of the United States. He added, “Everyone… more
Mar 18, 2012
In the final months of last year and since the beginning of this year, one show after another has either shattered previous all-time attendance records or had impressive increases, compared with 2011 events in sectors as wide-ranging as meetings, golf, digital signage, natural products and crafting. Reed Exhibitions’ EIBTM, a global event for the meetings, events and incentives industry held in December in Barcelona, had record-breaking attendance, following the official results of theshow's ABC Audit – confirming it as the largest audited exhibition in the meetings sector,… more
Mar 14, 2012
The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance’s 127th annual meeting was meant to kick off March 13-17 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, but most of the event now has been canceled after a nearby electrical transformer fire knocked out power to the building on the event’s opening day. The power outage not only impacted the meeting in the city’s Back Bay neighborhood, but also more than 20,000 residences and several surrounding businesses, including the Hilton, Westin and Sheraton hotels. When the power was still out the morning of March… more
Mar 12, 2012
For nearly 20 years, Dorothy Belshaw has worked for George Little Management, most recently as vice president and show director of the New York International Gift Fair, but now she’s taken a new position as president of the International Market Centers’ Gift Division. "I am very pleased to have a true industry leader and professional join our executive team. Dorothy brings the leadership and experience to accelerate the growth of our Gift+Home show in Las Vegas,” said Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. He added, “As a recognized and proven… more
Mar 12, 2012
Nearly 11 years after a group of private equity investors led by Chicago-based Frontenac Company bought event marketing company Nth Degree from its original owners, another private equity firm, Gen Cap America, has stepped in to buy the company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gen Cap America is based in Nashville, Tenn., and specializes in acquisitions and recapitalizations of middle market businesses. “The face-to-face marketing industry continues to play an important role in the business-to-business marketing mix, enabling companies to interact with prospects and customers in… more
Mar 10, 2012
From all the smiling faces seen at EXHIBITOR Show, one might be fooled into thinking happy days are here again for the face-to-face marketing industry. Although that might be jumping the gun slightly, things are indeed looking up, according to participants at the 25th annual conference and exhibition for exhibit and corporate event marketing professionals. Held March 4-8 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, the lively event boasted its second year of growth since the downturn, with approximately 6,011 attendees and 272 exhibitors covering 59,500 square feet of exhibition space, according… more
Partner Voices
One of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip just got an upgrade. Mandalay Bay has everything that your business needs from a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, to an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're looking for a venue that's both inviting and innovative, you have to be here. New Wave Experiences Mandalay Bay continues to invest in a new wave of enhancements both in the convention space and within the resort as a whole. New restaurant openings including Orla by Michael Mina, drawing inspiration from the award-winning chef’s childhood in Egypt and with flavors and décor inspired by the spices found in markets common to coastal Mediterranean towns, as well as Caramá by Wolfgang Puck, bringing the essence of Italy and spirit of Wolfgang into one concept, are recent additions. The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas also experienced a recent remodel of all 424 rooms. Swingers, a high-end, adults-only golf and entertainment concept will debut in Fall 2024. Enhanced Technology Creating a truly effective conference venue requires careful thought into what a business needs: the right technology, capacity, and inspiration to bring ideas to the next level. As part of the resort’s refresh, Mandalay Bay implemented state-of-the-art technology upgrades, installing cutting-edge Cat6A Ethernet cabling throughout the convention center. This advancement doubles the frequency of data transmission, enabling lightning-fast speeds up to 9400% faster. The convention center now boasts 11 dynamic digital walls, spanning up to 24' x 13', strategically positioned for brand placements, sponsorships and targeted event messaging. Additionally, attendees can benefit from 20 double-sided 55" mobile flexible display units, facilitating effortless navigation to meeting rooms and events. RFID locks were installed on all meeting room doors, and over 200 motion detection cameras have been placed throughout the space. Refreshing New Design & Fine Art The newly remodeled convention space provides a bright and vibrant atmosphere that complements Mandalay Bay's tropical-inspired brand. Featuring white-washed walls and ceilings adorned with bold floral patterns in cerulean and coral tones, the space is complemented by warm walnut accent walls. In addition to the redesign of all pre-function spaces, meeting rooms and ballrooms, Mandalay Bay's 1 million square feet of exhibit space has undergone a rejuvenation, including new paint, covered pillars and relocated strobe lights. Sustainable Spectacles Mandalay Bay is committed to Focused on What Matters and creating more responsible meetings. Refillable water stations all available around the resort, cutting unnecessary plastic usage from single-use bottles. The Mandalay Bay campus’ recent upgrades represent a bold step forward in redefining the Las Vegas experience. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and unparalleled service, Mandalay Bay sets a new standard for excellence in business hospitality. Whether you're seeking cutting-edge conference facilities, world-class dining options, or simply a luxurious retreat, an unparalleled meeting experience awaits.