News

Feb 06, 2014
Builders are building again was the sentiment at the new Design and Construction Week launched this year by collocating the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show (IBS) and the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). The two shows took over the Las Vegas Convention Center Feb. 4-6. After a devastating downturn, the construction industry is starting to come back, and it’s on a roll. The trend is directly translating into a turnaround trade show. “Finally, for the first time in five years,… more
Feb 05, 2014
The recessionary times are firmly in the rearview mirror in Las Vegas, with the most business travelers in the past five years having attended meetings and conventions in the city. According to the 2013 year-end Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority’s Executive Summary, Las Vegas welcomed nearly 40 million visitors in 2013 and reached a five-year high in two key indicators for the meetings and convention industry: • The meetings and convention industry reached a five-year high, with 5.1 million delegates attending a convention, trade show or meeting in 2013, reflecting a… more
Feb 04, 2014
Bringing together two in-demand sectors, the IRCE Focus: Web Design + Mobile Commerce event will run for the first time Feb. 10-12 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando. Craig Dooley, senior vice president of IR Event Group, which also oversees the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition, said the decision was made last year to bring two separate events serving Web design and mobile commerce together to form the new one. “We wanted to create a stronger, more compelling event for attendees,” he added. Attendees to the event can take advantage of both conference tracks, as well… more
Feb 04, 2014
The past month has been a flurry of activity with companies either beefing up their ranks or promoting from within. AMC, Inc.’s President and CEO Jeffrey L. Portman has gained another post as the company board’s vice chairperson, effective immediately. Portman has led AMC, Inc. and AmericasMart Atlanta through a period of growth unprecedented in the companies’ 54-year history, commencing with the rebranding of the former Atlanta Market Center as AmericasMart Atlanta in 1996, and continuing with expansion of its U.S. market share and global business base. FreemanXP, an… more
Feb 04, 2014
H.H. Backer Associates will cancel its pet industry-themed trade show – Total Pet Expo Spring - scheduled April 9-11 at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Convention Center. “We simply could not get enough exhibitor support this year to allow us to produce a quality spring trade show that people have come to expect,” said Colette Fairchild, the show’s director.  H.H. Backer’s flagship event, Backer’s Total Pet Expo Fall, which is on tap Sept. 19-21 in Chicago, will continue as an annual event, she added. Exhibitors that have contracted for the spring show… more
Feb 03, 2014
Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense for President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush and author of the newly-published book “Duty: Memoirs of A Secretary at War”, will be the keynote speaker at the 2014 AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) Annual Convention and Trade Show on tap March 19 - 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.  “AAHOA prides itself on providing information to our members as well as to our industry that is timely and relevant,” said Mehul Patel, AAHOA chairman.  “The appearance by Robert Gates… more
Feb 03, 2014
The estimated economic impact of U.S. Travel Association’s IPW, formerly known as International Pow Wow, is four times that of the Super Bowl. Bringing 6,000 travel buyers, suppliers and media to a host city for three days filled with upwards of 90,000 one-on-one business appointments, the three-day event packs an economic wallop that extends far into the future. A comparison of the economic impact of the 2013 IPW event held  in Las Vegas with a similar study of the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis shows that, while the Super Bowl attracted more attendees and visitors, the… more
Feb 03, 2014
Already in several cities worldwide, the Consumer Electronic Association’s International CES Unveiled event series will expand to three more - Shanghai, Warsaw and Sao Paulo. The CES Unveiled event series brings innovative technology companies, top media, buyers, analysts and key industry influencers together to showcase new products and tech trends leading up to the 2015 CES. The series currently goes to Paris, New York and Las Vegas. Each Unveiled event will be tailored to the local audience and will debut regional and global research, provide CES news and showcase curated products… more
Feb 03, 2014
For people who love the game of football and always wanted to meet some of the best players face-to-face, Cleveland’s International Exposition (I-X) Center and the Pro Football Hall of Fame are giving them the opportunity with the launch of the venue’s latest consumer event – the Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan Fest. Scheduled May 3-4, the event will enable attendees to interact with 100 Hall of Famers, including such football legends as Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath, Warren Moon, Anthony Munoz, Rod Woodson, Lynn Swann and Earl Campbell, to name a few. “As a Pro Football… more
Feb 02, 2014
Already partnered with a few other shows to cross-promote attendance and other marketing, Advanstar Communications’ Licensing Expo partnered with one of the company’s other shows, MAGIC Market Week, on a similar initiative. MAGIC Market Week biannually connects more than 5,000 fashion brands with more than 65,000 visitors, across 1 million square feet of exhibit space. Licensing Expo, which represents the $230 billion licensing and brand extension market, draws more than 5,000 fashion, character, entertainment, art and consumer brands from 420 exhibitors and more than 15,000… 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.