News
Dec 20, 2024
Just in time for the holidays, a trade show production company and an event technology provider announced a new platform and upgrades, respectively, to streamline and improve the event experience for organizers, attendees, and exhibitors alike.
Shepard Introduces ExhibitorPro to Simplify and Streamline the Exhibiting Experience
Event production provider Shepard is working to redefine the exhibitor experience with its launch of ExhibitorPro, a new online exhibitor platform designed to simplify planning and improve how exhibitors manage and engage with their events.
Created to eliminate… more
Dec 19, 2024
What is the current state of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the events industry? To find out, TSNN’s Danica Tormohlen interviewed John McGovern, CEO and owner for Grimes McGovern & Associates, an advisory firm that specializes in media mergers. McGovern was a speaker on this topic at a session at the recent UFI Global Congress in Cologne, Germany, and we sat down with McGovern after his session to do a deeper dive into private equity investment in the events and trade show industry.
Related: 91ST UFI GLOBAL CONGRESS DRAWS 600 TO COLOGNE, GERMANY
In a revealing discussion, we… more
Dec 18, 2024
New York Vet 2024, held Nov. 7–8 at the Javits Center, drew 2,300 veterinary professionals, compared with 1,800 in 2023—a 21% increase in attendance year over year. With 52% of delegates attending for the first time, the trade show floor featured 200 suppliers and continuing-education (CE) content across its eight theaters.
We were on site to attend the show and meet with exhibitors, attendees, and the show team, including CloserStill Media President North America Yancy Weinrich, NY Vet Event Director Joseph Kowalsky, CloserStill Media Group Sales Director Lauren Filicia, and CloserStill… more
Dec 17, 2024
At the Novo theater at L.A. Live on Monday, Dec. 16, TSNN, the industry’s long-running trade show media brand, hosted the 14th Annual TSNN Awards, a joint awards program that was co-located with IAEE for the first time in 2024.
Thousands of industry professionals were in attendance as the event was held during the first hour of the opening reception of IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Expo! Expo!
As part of a three-year partnership, both organizations planned and executed the star-studded event—complete with a living red carpet, awards presentation from the main stage at the Novo,… more
Dec 16, 2024
As Q4 comes to a close, a leading event organizer, an industry collaborative, and a supplier are finishing up 2024 with much to celebrate as they announce strategic acquisitions and growth-fueled investments.
CompuSystems Agrees to Acquire EventsPass
Event registration, lead retrieval, and data analytics provider CompuSystems has agreed to acquire EventsPass, a SaaS platform that offers advanced ticketing and registration solutions for B2C and B2B events. Announced on December 11, the acquisition strengthens CompuSystems’s portfolio, further positioning the company as a one-stop… more
Dec 12, 2024
Moss, a producer of premium graphics, complex structures, and custom installations for branded experiences based outside of Chicago, has acquired Stretch Shapes, a Eugene, Ore.-based supplier of fabric-based products used to create immersive environments for set designers and live event producers.
Back story: Led by founder Niko Mantele, the 15-year-old company has executed projects at notable live events such as Coachella, Formula One, and PGA Tournaments. With a team of more than 40 professionals, the reusable stretch fabric structure company serves clients, such as Live Nation, BaAM,… more
Dec 12, 2024
As the trade show industry moves into the holiday season, a plethora of associations and suppliers announced good tidings in the form of leadership appointments and executive promotions in November. Here’s our roundup on trade show moves last month.
TSNN’s take on the biggest move in November: The Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) welcomed Jenn Heinold as senior vice president, expositions, Americas. She is responsible for leading the strategy and operations for AVIXA’s exposition and conference portfolio in the Americas, including InfoComm and InfoComm América… more
Dec 11, 2024
As we close out 2024 and prepare to welcome 2025, we want to take a moment to reflect on and highlight the news and thought leadership articles that captured the attention of you, our readers, throughout an incredibly busy year. From insightful analyses of the U.S. trade show industry’s recovery, emerging economic trends and their implications, to event trends and business moves of some of the most talented professionals shaping the industry landscape, our most-read articles offer a glimpse into the topics that resonated most with trade show industry professionals this year. Here are 10 of… more
Dec 10, 2024
The latest research from The Exhibitor Advocate and EVOLIO Marketing paints a sobering picture of the current state of the event industry.
The report, The State of the Event Industry: From the Perspective of Exhibit and Event Marketers, highlights critical challenges facing exhibitors, organizers, and service suppliers. Rising costs and strained exhibitor-organizer relationships threaten revenue and the long-term sustainability of the industry, according to the research.
Key Findings Event Organizers Need to Know
1. Cost Concerns Are Skyrocketing
88% of exhibit marketers list budget… more
Dec 09, 2024
The U.S. B2B exhibition industry is gaining momentum after a minor slowdown in Q2 2024, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)’s Q3 Total Index report, which evaluates industry performance across four key metrics: attendance, net square footage, exhibitors, and real revenues.
Released on December 4, the report highlights mixed results, with increases in exhibition net square footage and recovering exhibitor participation contrasting with lagging revenues and attendance amid a favorable economic outlook hindered by high prices and political uncertainty.
Key… 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.