News

Aug 13, 2018
The disco ball spun, and the music pumped, with winners enthusiastically dancing up to the stage to accept their awards at the 2018 TSNN Awards gala celebration held Aug. 11 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown.   The overall fastest-growing award for attendance went to UBM/Informa’s CPhI North America & Informex, a show that launched in the last few years and has grown in leaps and bounds. “This is an embarrassment of riches,” said Brand Director Joseph Marks. Earlier in the evening he also had accepted the award for fastest-growing for-profit show for attendance. “Thank you,… more
Aug 10, 2018
Judges are on the lookout for the best of new and emerging technology in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry to be crowned the winner of IBTM World’s annual Tech Watch Award, known as the industry’s longest-standing technology awards.  Entries are open until Sept. 7 for companies with a new and innovative technology product or service with an application within the MICE industry. Tech industry stalwart, Corbin Ball, will chair the Awards judging panel that includes Michelle Bruno, president of Bruno Group Signature Events; Dahlia El Gazzar, founder of… more
Aug 10, 2018
The greeting card and social expression industry is about to get a brand new trade show. Starting in May of next year, the Greeting Card Association (GCA) will launch and manage its own event that will be exclusively focused on greeting cards.  “After extensive conversations with our membership and potential show management partners as well as surveying exhibitors and retailers, I am excited to announce that the GCA Executive Committee voted unanimously to launch this show, which will represent the vitality, creativity and innovation of the greeting card industry and deliver ROI to our… more
Aug 09, 2018
Detroit's Cobo Center continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability in the events industry by hosting the newly released Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) training for employees and event professionals, set for Sept. 11-12.  To be led by the Events Industry Council, this will be the first training for this certificate program to be offered in the state of Michigan.  Combining active learning and experiential elements, the SEPC program is designed to enable participants to implement their own green events.  Topics will include understanding the business value of… more
Aug 09, 2018
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released its second and third fact sheets in its 2018 Attendee ROI Playbook series, a multiple fact sheet series that identifies general attendee practices and insights on differences by specific attendee categories. Released late last month, “Fact Sheet Two: B2B Exhibitions Top-Ranked for Value in Meeting Business Information & Purchasing Decision Needs” explores the range of sources that business professionals who attend B2B exhibitions relied upon to meet their business information and purchasing decision needs in comparison to… more
Aug 07, 2018
SISO, The Society of Independent Show Organizers, the largest association of the leading for-profit trade and consumer show organizers, unveiled the nominees for its sixth annual “Event Innovation Battlefield.” The nominees this year are Conference Pulse, Everthere, Lennd, Preview and qual.ai. The competition will take place Aug. 9 in front of an audience of for-profit show organizers and suppliers in the industry as part of its annual SISO Leadership Conference, on tap this year Aug. 7-9 in Orlando. The event attracts large and small trade and consumer show organizers who are interested… more
Aug 07, 2018
The Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) opened its doors on Aug. 6 after a two-year renovation and expansion. The new build has increased KICC’s contiguous exhibit space by more than a third.  State and local government officials, along with KICC facility officials and staff, welcomed clients, local stakeholders and media to an open house that showcased the new facility and its capacity for events.  The program included comments from: David S. Beck, president and CEO of Kentucky Venues Don Parkinson, secretary of Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet William M.… more
Aug 04, 2018
At its second run as the official event app for Project Anime, the annual conference for anime convention organizers, Allcal Events made yet another splash with attendees and show organizers alike. Held July 3-4 at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles, Project Anime precedes the popular Anime Expo, held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Both events are run by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA). “Project Anime is a B2B conference that bridges Anime Event Organizers with Japanese Pop Culture Industry Professionals to connect, network and support… more
Aug 04, 2018
LIGHTFAIR International, an largest annual architectural and commercial lighting tradeshow and conference, will continue its management contract with International Market Centers (IMC) following the merger between IMC and AmericasMart Atlanta (AMC).LIGHTFAIR International is co-owned by the International Association of Lighting Designers and the Illuminating Engineering Society. The event has been co-owned, produced and managed by AMC (now part of IMC), which has managed LIGHTFAIR International since 1989.“We are thrilled to partner with IALD and IES on the successful show they have built in… more
Aug 02, 2018
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events selected Don Pazour as its 2018 Legend of the Industry. He will be honored during this year’s Krakoff Leadership Institute (KLI) Aug. 5-6 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center in Savannah, Ga. The KLI Legend of the Industry is selected from IAEE members whose contributions, innovation and leadership have been truly unique and remarkable. An informal setting then allows each KLI participant face-to-face interaction with this industry leader. Don Pazour thrives on celebrating and supporting others’ success. He… 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.