News
Jun 07, 2016
Convention and visitors bureau veteran David Whitaker was named by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Choose Chicago Board Chair Desiree Rogers as the new president and CEO of the Windy City’s bureau.
"David Whitaker is a tourism champion with the vision and leadership required to steer Chicago's visitor industry to new heights," Mayor Emanuel said.
He added, "Over the past five years, Chicago's tourism industry has strengthened our city's economy and provided more than 15,000 jobs. With more than 25 years in the industry, David Whitaker has the experience and expertise to build on this… more
Jun 07, 2016
The inaugural edition of WTM Connect Asia was held from 18th to 20th May 2016 at Straits Quay Convention Centre in Penang, Malaysia, and featured 50 exhibitors and more than 70 hosted buyers from 25 countries.
Organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, WTM Connect Asia also received support from the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Penang Global Tourism. More than 1,800 meetings were held on 19th and 20th May between hosted buyers and suppliers.
Charlie Cracknell, Senior Exhibition Director for Reed Travel Exhibitions commented, “We have been delighted with the feedback from… more
Jun 07, 2016
Messe Düsseldorf, organiser of ProWein, a leading trade fair for wine and spirits worldwide, announced plans to launch ProWine Asia in Hong Kong in 2017. The annual event will alternate between Singapore and Hong Kong.
In 2013, ProWein was first introduced in Asia as ProWine China, held in Shanghai, and co-organised with China International Exhibitions Ltd, a member of Allworld Exhibitions. ProWine Asia was launched in Singapore in April 2016, with initial plans for it to be a biennial event. However, the organiser has now changed its approach and ProWine Asia will be held annually –… more
Jun 07, 2016
UBM India, a UBM Asia company, held its 4th edition of Concrete Show India from 19th to 21st May 2016, at Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) in Mumbai.
The three-day event featured more than 150 Indian and global suppliers and manufacturers from a wide variety of categories including concrete & construction, construction equipments, IT systems and construction chemicals.
Speaking at the opening of the Concrete Show India 2016, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India commented, “Concrete Show India 2016, provides an unrivalled business opportunity for commercial &… more
Jun 07, 2016
According to International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), there were more than 12,000 regularly occurring association events in 2015, 571 more compared to 2014.
The top two ranked countries in 2015 are the same as in 2014: the USA (925 meetings) and Germany (667 meetings), the U.K. moved up one place to third, having 582 meetings. In Asia, Japan (7th worldwide) ranked first in the region with 355 meetings in 2015, while China (8th worldwide) held 333 meetings.
In terms of city rankings, Berlin placed first worldwide with 195 meetings. Singapore, ranked first in Asia, was 7th… more
Jun 06, 2016
More than 220 attendees, which included top-level association and for-profit executives from companies worldwide, gathered June 1 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., along with 37 sponsors, eight media representatives and seven meeting and trade show industry associations, to network and learn about the latest trends.
Sam Lippman, president and founder of Lippman Connects, which produces the event, said that this year’s ECEF had not only a record number of sponsors, but also a record number of new sponsors.
In addition, the event was celebrating its 15th anniversary, which was highlighted… more
Jun 06, 2016
Driven by strong industry sectors including building, construction, food and transportation, as well as overall growth in trade show industry revenues, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research Index report indicated that the industry continued its growth streak in Q1 this year, with a 2.6-percent increase, compared with the same quarter last year.
The results were positive, despite a sluggish macroeconomy, and marked the 23rd consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.
“The exhibition industry is off to a good start in 2016,” said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for… more
Jun 06, 2016
Meeting and convention-goers holding events in Cleveland just received a nice boost, with a new 600-room Hilton opening adjacent to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
To celebrate the opening, Hilton Worldwide executives, Hilton Cleveland Downtown management and employees, city and county officials, community representatives and invited guests gathered last week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception.
“The opening of Hilton Cleveland Downtown signifies not only a historic occasion for the city of Cleveland, but for Hilton Hotels & Resorts,” said Shawn McAteer, vice… more
Jun 04, 2016
What began as an experiment in the 1950s to see how American Rental Association (ARA) members and rental store owners would respond has now become the largest equipment rental trade show in the world.
It all started in January 1956, when 29 rental operators gathered in a Kansas City, Mo., restaurant for their first Annual Meeting. January was chosen because it was the slow season for rental business, and members
could more easily be away from their stores.
The following year, the meeting expanded to include a trade show with eight exhibitors and about 100 attendees in an Omaha, Neb.,… more
Jun 04, 2016
For any trade show company considering taking a show overseas, one of the first people that comes to mind time after time is Cherif Moujabber, who has been involved in the industry for more than 30 years.
Moujabber is Creative Expos and Conferences' founder and joined the trade show business of Horizon House (a Dedham, Mass.-based company) by organizing communications equipment shows in the U.S., Brazil and Egypt for 5 years.
In 1981, he joined Cahners Expo Group (now known as Reed Exhibitions, an Anglo-Dutch company), where he was successively posted in Boston, Los Angeles, Stamford,… 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.