New Business Contracts: eventPower, Albany Capital Center, Xperiential Group and More Ink New Deals, Extend Partnerships

March 2, 2021

This year has gotten off to a roaring start, with event-related organizations far and wide forming new partnerships, signing new deals and renewing long-standing business relationships in preparation for brighter horizons. Here’s what’s been going on so far during the first quarter of the trade show industry:

eventPower

Cloud-based software and conference management services provider eventPower has welcomed more than 60 new virtual clients, thanks to its Virtual Event Experience platform, which enabled the company to grow its business and staff as well as host more than 50 virtual events in 2020.

They include:

American Hospital Association
American Meteorological Society
American Society of Military Comptrollers
American Translators Association
Association of American Law Schools
Association of Midwest Academic Anesthesia Chairs
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
California Cupa Forums
California Life Sciences Association
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning
Endocrine Society
Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference
Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply
Hatching Results
Hearth, Barbecue & Patio Association
Maxar
National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (Civica Management)
National Investor Relations Institute
Society for Radiologists in Ultrasound
TMG
TechNet Cyber Conference
The University of South Florida
Windsor

“We transformed our business model to produce virtual events by developing a software solution that supports networking opportunities, education content and a virtual exhibit hall — all the necessary components that surround an in-person event,” said Laurie Powell, eventPower vice president of business development. “We are extremely happy and appreciative to continue our partnerships with many new and long-standing clients.”

Albany Capital Center

The Albany Convention Center Authority has renewed its venue management contract with ASM Global for an additional five years. ASM Global simultaneously renewed its contract with catering, banquet and hospitality company Mazzone Hospitality as the venue’s exclusive food and beverage provider.

“ASM proved its ability to market the Albany Capital Center, bring new business to Albany, and in so doing, significantly increase the economic benefits to the Capital Region from events held at the [facility],” said ACCA Board Chair Michele Vennard.

Unlike many convention venues nationwide, the ACC has remained open amid the pandemic. By following stringent health and safety standards via ASM’s VenueShield program, the facility has hosted an array of events ranging from socially distanced and in-person sporting events to hybrid and virtual.

Xperiential Group

Merger and acquisition advisory services firm Xperiential Group, which specializes in events, media, tech and intellectual property, has teamed up with Chris Meyer Global.

As a trade show and association industry veteran who has worked with many of the world’s largest and most successful trade shows, B2B media brands and associations, CEO Chris Meyer will build relationships with executive management teams and support the Xperiential Group team through the merger and acquisition process for clients.

“This partnership with Chris reflects our strategy to attract the most accomplished professionals to serve our prestigious and growing client base,” said Waco Hoover, managing partner of Xperiential Group.

Previously, Meyer served as vice president of global sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for more than two decades.

Centerplate

Convention center hospitality partner Centerplate will continue serving as the Birmingham (Alabama) Jefferson Convention Complex and Legacy Arena’s exclusive food and beverage provider. The renewed contract, recently approved by the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center Authority’s board of directors, will extend through 2032 for all catering, food and beverage services.

As part of the agreement, Centerplate will also service the new Protective Stadium under the terms of a 12-year contract to line up with the convention center and arena.

“We are thrilled to continue working closely with the City of Birmingham, the BJCC, the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau and others to redefine the guest experience for all those who come to visit this thriving city center,” said Centerplate CEO Steve Pangburn.

Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group

Restaurant and foodservice trade show producer Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group is expanding its partnership with education provider EventEd (formerly TechBytes) to develop educational content for its 2021 conferences.

EventEd specializes in the development, implementation, coordination and management of thought leadership and networking experiences for the global foodservice, hospitality and retail industries by working in conjunction with industry-leading organizations, such as the International Food & Beverage Technology Association.

“Restaurant owners/operators, foodservice professionals, chefs, managers and more have relied on the education content at our events to gain important insight on marketing and social media, HR/labor, technology, operations and finance/leasing/development,” said Tom Loughran, vice president for the Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group.

EventEd will create five complimentary summits to serve the needs of independents, small to mid-sized chains, contract foodservice, retail and technology, as well as produce digital forums for restaurant and foodservice professionals.

Convention Data Services

Event registration, business intelligence and lead management provider Convention Data Services (a Freeman company) has been scooping up new business.

In February, microwave technology show management company, Horizon House, selected CDS to provide registration, lead management, session tracking and a contact center for IEEE’s International Microwave Symposium for the next five years. CDS will help implement attendee acquisition programs to grow the IMS audience as well as implement touchless registration on-site solutions.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers recently tapped CDS and cloud-based, data analytics technology provider, TurnoutNow, to provide registration, housing, lead management, beacon tracking, and data analytics for the 2021 and 2023 editions of Utility Expo.

CompuSystems

Event registration, data analytics and lead management services and solutions provider CompuSystems has renewed and extended multi-year contracts with a bevy of association clients to service their annual shows. They include:

Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW)
The American Association of Cancer Research (AACR Annual Meeting)
The American College of Surgeons (ACS Quality and Safety Conference virtual event)
The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA Illinois & Wisconsin Landscape Show)
American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR Annual Meeting)
Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC Supplier’s Day)
American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE Convention and Engineered Plumbing Expo Annual Meeting)
American Urological Association (AUA World Congress of Endourology Meeting)
National Rural Water Association (WaterPro annual conference)
United Fresh Produce Association (UFPA Annual Meeting)
American Foundry Society (AFS Metalcasting Congress & Cast Expo)
Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (InfoComm annual conference)

“We are excited and pleased to announce these renewals,” said CompuSystems President Chris Williams. “This is a testament to the high level of service we’ve been providing our valued customers [and] our team is excited for the opportunity to continue delivering first-class services to make their events the best they can be.”

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Partner Voices

Women at the Helm: Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!” These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas. Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities. Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC. What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space. What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here. Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen. This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.