News
Dec 17, 2019
‘Tis the season for giving, and several event organizations have been doing their part to bring a little holiday cheer to women and children in need this season.
The Toy Foundation Brings Joy to Underprivileged Kids
What child doesn’t want a new toy at Christmas? Earlier this month, The Toy Foundation, the charitable arm of The Toy Association, teamed up with volunteers from Michigan-based toy companies and nonprofits Delivering Good and Variety – The Children’s Charity of Detroit to provide 350 children with toys and fun at a special event held at the Southfield Parks and Recreation Center… more
Dec 17, 2019
There’s a whole new component coming to face-to-face events, with “face” being the key factor. Facial recognition for on-site check-in is slowly gaining traction, with more registration suppliers adding the technology to their portfolios.
Launched at IAEE’s Expo! Expo! in Las Vegas in Dec. 2019, registration and housing provider Streampoint Solutions’ FaceReg promises to reduce wait times for on-site check-in.
Dharmesh Dayabhai, Streampoint Solutions’ co-founder, says that the time from face detection to badge print is around 3-5 seconds. “The time savings is due to not trying to locate… more
Dec 17, 2019
What year-end slow down? There's no rest for the trade show industry as new hires, promotions and appointments are still in full swing this holiday season. Take a look at the latest people moves.
Sally Shankland announced she is stepping down from her position as president and CEO of Emerald Expositions Events for personal reasons last week, and will transition to executive director and senior advisor in 2020. Her replacement for the time being will be Brian Field, currently Emerald’s current chief operating officer, who will serve as the company’s interim president and CEO effective Jan. 1… more
Dec 16, 2019
Ask anyone involved in the green events movement if they’re finding it challenging to move the needle forward on sustainability and you’ll probably see a row of hands, including those of Ryan Harvey, sustainability manager at Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. A former educator, Harvey understands the perfect balance of relaying key facts while making them interesting and easily digestible, a skill he brought with him when he stepped into his role at the OCC almost three years ago.
TSNN sat down with Harvey to get his thoughts on the sustainability movement and what it’s like to… more
Dec 15, 2019
After a relatively slower mergers and acquisitions market in 2019 overall, the last quarter of the year saw several transactions recently close. Questex recently acquired the Live Experience assets, including Live Design, Club Industry and World Tea Expo.
The acquired portfolio aligns with Questex’s focus on the Experience Economy and will join the Company’s other assets focused on the Hospitality industry, according to company officials. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“The Experience Economy is here. Companies driven by ‘experiences’ have a competitive advantage with business… more
Dec 12, 2019
The exhibition industry continued to grow, albeit modestly, during the third quarter of 2019, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s quarterly exhibition index report. The CEIR Total Index, which measures exhibition industry performance, posted a year-over-year gain of 0.6 percent even though it underperformed the overall economy as reflected in the inflation-adjusted GDP.
While the trade show industry’s moderate third quarter performance proved to be weaker than the first two quarters of the year, it showed a slight improvement over the same quarter in 2018 when the… more
Dec 11, 2019
This year, the trade showfloor at Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition, which took place Dec. 3-5 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, featured plenty of new and innovative event technology and tech partnerships to keep attendees buzzing. Here are a few event tech providers that generated lots of on-site excitement.
CadmiumCD Upgrades Exhibitor and Sponsorship Management Software
CadmiumCD announced the launch of upgrades to its Expo Harvester software, which now features registration badge allocation, improved administrative functionality and more robust financial… more
Dec 11, 2019
At the first light of dawn on the third day of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ Expo! Expo! last week in Las Vegas, 158 people took part in the inaugural Terence Donnelly (T-Dawg) Memorial 5K Run/1 Mile Walk.
Donnelly, who passed away earlier this year, was a long-time member of IAEE and worked for Experient for many years.
More than $5,000 from the run/walk was raised to support the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Foundation.
“The support shown by Expo! Expo! attendees speaks not only to the remarkable person Terence was and to his legacy, both… more
Dec 10, 2019
Networking, education, hugs from friends and Froot Loops-sprinkled doughnuts were all part of the experience at Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition, which took place Dec. 3-5 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The annual “show for shows” attracted more than 2,300 trade show professionals from 32 countries and featured a sold-out, 41,700-square-foot showfloor with 270 exhibitors.
The event kicked off on Tuesday with the opening general session and the CEM Class of 2019 presentation, which recognized 300 graduates of the CEM Learning Program. \
Attendees then got a… more
Dec 10, 2019
Last week, International Association for Exhibitions and Events announced the results of the election determining its 2020 Board of Directors at Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Las Vegas.
The 2020 board will be led by Robert (Bob) McLean, executive vice president of Promotional Products Association International. He’s worked at the association since 2008 and has served in his current role since fall 2011. As chairperson, he will focus on the continuation of IAEE’s advocacy efforts, including its work with the Exhibitions Mean Business campaign.
“The business-to-business… 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.