News
Jun 20, 2023
Nearly 100 industry leaders from 24 states — including representatives from leading show organizers, exhibiting organizations, venues and destinations — gathered on June 1 on Capitol Hill for Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) Legislative Action Day. View the full list of attendees here.
During more than 100 meetings, Legislative Action Day attendees advocated for ECA’s federal public policy priorities and the vital role that the business events industry plays in helping to spur economic growth, support job creation and empower small businesses across the country.
Watch or listen to… more
Jun 19, 2023
International Market Centers (IMC) — the Blackstone company that owns and operates more than 20 million square feet of event and showroom space and produces live events in Atlanta, High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and New York City — has rebranded as ANDMORE as part of the company’s vision to transform into an omnichannel wholesale marketmaker.
With more than $991 billion of assets under management, Blackstone touts itself as the world’s largest alternative asset managers with 12,000 real estate assets and more than 230 portfolio companies, including Cvent, which was acquired for $4.6 billion in… more
Jun 16, 2023
As event organizers look to further boost revenue during an economic downturn, they are increasingly relying on pre-scheduled meetings to create more valuable and impactful interactions at gatherings, according to the recently released B2B Relationships Report by DAHLIA+Agency and AI-powered event platform Grip. The two entities collaborated on the research in an effort to understand the reasons for the surge in demand for pre-scheduled meetings, including the event software to power them.
The report examines the findings from its survey and one-to-one interviews and defines a new four-step… more
Jun 15, 2023
The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show recently welcomed tens of thousands of foodservice industry buyers, suppliers and manufacturers to Chicago’s McCormick Place to explore and celebrate the latest innovations, trends and solutions in food and beverage. Held May 20-23, the show brought together nearly 55,000 foodservice professionals from the U.S. and across the globe, reporting an 8% growth in total registrants compared to 2022, a large uptick in international participation and a massive surge in new exhibiting companies.
Serving as the ultimate sourcing… more
Jun 15, 2023
Sponsored article by Personify
As part of a $19 million investment in their event management solutions, A2Z Events has launched the A2Z Events Hub. This one-stop location is a dynamic portal for each event’s exhibitors, attendees, and speakers. The hub is designed for today’s post-pandemic audiences with features to drive adoption, increase revenue and lessen the burden on event managers.
Solving Exhibitor & Sponsors’ Biggest Pain Points
With exhibitors and sponsors driving a large portion of events revenue, the self-service portal is tailored to them with an easy-to-use interface and… more
Jun 15, 2023
The Board of Directors of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has elected RX CEO Hugh Jones to serve as UFI’s president for the term spanning 2024- 2025, and he will assume the leading volunteer role at the 91st UFI Global Congress in Cologne, Germany, in November 2024.
“It is an absolute honor to have been nominated and elected by my peers to this role,” Jones told TSNN. “UFI sets the tone and the standards for all of us; fundamentally, UFI reminds us that together we are stronger. RX has similar issues to many in the industry as we navigate a post-COVID world, and I… more
Jun 14, 2023
Sponsored Article by Meet Ribbon
Following our roundtable on "The Future of Market Centers", we’ve extended the conversation to cover how brands are “Launching at Trade Shows Differently”. A forward thinking group of insiders identified the “new normal” with a focus on the fashion industry. They covered it all: pre and post show essentials, where trade shows are headed, tech influencing the buying process and how the entire trade show ecosystem is getting creative and thinking about things differently.
Please find highlights below and watch the full roundtable here.
This roundtable was… more
Jun 13, 2023
The 2023 TSNN Awards, which will be held Oct. 28-29 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, has opened nominations for its trade show Innovation Awards, as well as Outstanding Show Pros awards. The highly coveted TSNN Awards recognize the teams and trade shows that stand out above the crowd for their transformation, creativity and leadership.
As the trade show industry continues to rebound, 2023 marks the first year since the pandemic that trade shows are fully back without travel restrictions, mask requirements or heightened health and safety concerns. It’s been a banner year for a number of… more
Jun 12, 2023
Who doesn’t love a sweet treat at a business meeting or conference, especially after a long day of educational sessions and back-to-back engagements with clients or colleagues? Besides being pleasing to the palate, desserts, whether served at a sit-down meal or at an interactive buffet station, help create a fun and relaxed environment for attendees to mingle and network, breaking the ice, encouraging conversation and contributing to a positive and memorable event experience. And by offering a variety of sweet dishes or bites, event organizers can cater to different preferences and dietary… more
Jun 09, 2023
In an effort to uncover the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the business events industry, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) are partnering with Gevme, a leading event technology provider, to launch Project Spark. Under this initiative, the AI model will be tested for various practical applications within the scope of business events to understand its impact on workforce productivity.
“AI in the business events industry is just beginning, but we cannot define its future without… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites.
Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation.
Reinvented Luxury Experiences
The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes.
New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May.
Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.
A “New Wave for Mandalay Bay
A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay.
Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options.
From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.