May 12, 2012
Go to enough trade shows and you’ll notice that every event seems to have its own personality, flavor and attitude. Some shows are innovative and visually appealing, some lively and fun, while others more focused and serious.
LIGHTFAIR International, the world’s largest annual trade show and conference for the architectural and commercial lighting industry, could be described as all of the above.
Held May 7-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 23rd annual LFI attracted more than a projected 20,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors spanning 200,000-plus net square feet… more

May 10, 2012
A week ago, the trade show industry was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Gary Sain, president and CEO of Visit Orlando.
Below are the memorial and other arrangements to honor Gary.
Visitation will take place from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 301 N.E. Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804; 407-898-8111.
Additional visitation will take place at 10 a.m., immediately prior to the Celebration of Life and Funeral Service set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Northland, A Church Distributed, located at 530 Dog Track Road, Longwood, FL 32759; 407-949-… more

May 09, 2012
Mary Pat Heftman, executive vice president for the National Restaurant Association’s NRA Show 2012, remembers the exact day - July, 26, 2011 - she was told the event was going to have to move off of its traditional late-May show dates at Chicago’s McCormick Place for what was then supposed to be the G8 Summit (now NATO Summit) coming to town.
“We were 80-percent sold out,” Heftman said. “We saw 8-percent attrition (of exhibitors) at that point.”
The show’s dates were moved to May 5-8, but with a lot of hard work by the NRA show staff, the numbers… more
May 08, 2012
To honor the ‘unsung heroes’ of the trade show industry, The Expo Group has launched the Exhibit Manager of the Year Awards.
Nominations will be accepted through June 8 and the top exhibit managers will be feted at the TSEA-EACA Red Diamond Congress Gala July 11.
Demonstrating value, marketplace engagement and multi-channel initiatives are among the criteria that will be subjectively judged by an independent panel of industry notables.
“I personally am eager to hear about the accomplishments of the exhibit managers nominated,” said Ray Pekowski, president and CEO of… more
May 07, 2012
The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre recently scored four awards in the national Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) Awards for a second consecutive year.
The Centre’s wins were across a broad range of categories including in-house AV services, banquet and catering, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility and Education.
The venue’s CEO Ton van Amerongen said he “was tremendously proud of the awards which were testament to the skill and professionalism of the Centre’s staff.”
He added, “Our team is the fabric of the Centre and it is their… more
May 07, 2012
In a first-time collaboration between Germany’s Messe Duesseldorf and Indonesia-based PT. Wahana Kemalaniaga Makmur, INDOPRINT, INDOPACK and INDOPLAS 2012 in Jakarta scored record participation, according to organizers.
Visitors mainly attended from Indonesia, Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia and 249 exhibitors from 19 nations presented their latest product developments, applications and solutions for the printing, packaging and plastics industries.
Exhibiting for the first time were companies from Italy, Japan, Turkey and the U.S. National groups and pavilions from Austria,… more
May 07, 2012
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ Asian Attractions Expo 2013 will head back to Singapore June 4-7 at the Marina Bay Sands.
After holding the show in Singapore in 2011, Malaysia the year before and it’s on tap in Hong Kong this year, exhibition organizers decided to take the show back to Singapore next year.
“We are excited to bring Asian Attractions Expo back to Singapore in 2013,” said Andrew Lee, IAAPA’s vice president of Asia-Pacific Operations.
He added, “Marina Bay Sands provides the ideal convention facilities, and… more

May 03, 2012
In the wake of the economic downturn, one might assume that the environmental movement in meetings, events and trade shows would have slowed or even come to a halt as the industry turned the bulk of its attention to financial survival.
But surprisingly, if anything, the green movement has continued its forward momentum despite the recession, with no sign of stopping. So what’s the main driver? Many shows, companies and organizations have realized that going green just makes smart business sense.
“The environmental movement in our industry has increased and become more mainstream… more
May 01, 2012
Billed as “The World’s Biggest Trade Fair for Lighting and Building Services Technology” Messe Frankfurt’s biannual Light+Building drew a whopping 196,000 attendees in late April to the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre.
Attendance at the 2012 event was up 7 percent, compared with the 2010 show, which drew 183,111 attendees.
The increase in attendees came nearly as much from abroad as they did from inside German, with 44 percent coming from overseas, according to Messe Frankfurt show officials.
“Light+Building is the world’s biggest trade fair for… more
May 01, 2012
Tarsus Group’s Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2011 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States.
Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage. The full list can be found at http://www.tsnn.com/datasite-us
It likely comes as no surprise that the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG scored the top spot on the 2011 list, with a massive 2.4 million net square foot showfloor at the… 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.