News
Feb 29, 2024
Event producers and suppliers across the country have been inking new business agreements and forming partnerships to improve their offerings and grow market share. Here’s our monthly roundup on trade show industry deals and partnerships.
CloserStill Media
Business events, exhibitions and conferences producer CloserStill Media has acquired a majority stake in the Trailblazer Summits event group in Hamburg, Germany. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Why it matters: Now set to become one of Germany’s largest independent event operators, the group produces a series of two-day, content-… more
Feb 28, 2024
Taking place each February, Black History Month is an ideal time to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black trade show and event industry professionals and renew our commitment to continue fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
We want to recognize and highlight Black industry leaders and share their experiences. This week, we are featuring Julie Coker, president and CEO of San Diego Tourism, Emile Davis, managing director, business development for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Al Hutchison, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore. Find out how their… more
Feb 27, 2024
The U.S. trade show industry is continuing its steady pace of hiring and promoting, with event-related companies boosting and appointing staff as business forecasts signal a positive outlook for the year ahead. Here’s our monthly recap of new hires and promotions.
Connect
Matt Johnson has been promoted to managing director of meetings, events, travel and tourism industry leader Connect, which was acquired by Informa in 2023 and is now part of Informa Connect. A part of the Connect team for nearly 19 years, he is responsible for spearheading new initiatives to best serve customers through… more
Feb 26, 2024
Pink is out, red is in. If that’s too bold, neutral “quiet luxury colors” are still going strong. Those were just some of the fashion trends featured at the apparel-focused trade shows MAGIC, Project and Sourcing at MAGIC that took place Feb. 13-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Days before the shows opened, Informa Markets Fashion, which owns and operates the events, announced the group’s brand transition to MMGNET Group and the launch of MMGNET (pronounced “magnet”), the new insights and resources-powered parent brand designed to support the wider fashion industry and connect the… more
Feb 23, 2024
B2B event producer, publisher and digital media business for the advanced manufacturing industry, Informa Markets Engineering, is launching a new event dedicated to showcasing the latest technologies, innovations and thought leadership for moving sustainable manufacturing processes forward.
Set for Feb. 4-5, 2025, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., Sustainable Manufacturing Expo will focus on the technologies and innovations that are mitigating carbon footprint, increasing energy conservation and driving operational efficiencies and productivity in manufacturing, from… more
Feb 22, 2024
Taking place each February, Black History Month is an ideal time to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black people in the trade show industry and events and renew our commitment to continue fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
We want to recognize and highlight Black industry leaders and share their experiences. This week, we are featuring Milton Montague, senior director, Americas innovation and development for RX, and Rochelle Richardson, senior vice president, expositions and events for AVIXA. Here, we discover what they’re most proud of when it comes to how their… more
Feb 21, 2024
What’s the latest at UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry? On Feb. 14, we checked in with UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf and UFI North America Regional Director Martha Donato to get the inside scoop on UFI’s Global CEO Summit, held Jan. 31–Feb. 2 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the UFI Global Barometer, a biannual report that was released in January (our take on the data and a link to the full report is here).
Here are 11 takeaways from our conversation. Listen or watch the full interview here.
Recap of the UFI Global CEO Summit
The vibe: “I think it's fair to say that there… more
Feb 20, 2024
For the second time in its history, EXHIBITORLIVE will be held in a city other than Las Vegas. Last year’s event was held in April in Louisville, Ky. while this year’s event is set for Feb. 25-28 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.
It’s the first show under the leadership of David DuBois, CEO, president and publisher of Exhibitor Group, who took over the reigns on Oct. 1, 2023, after serving as president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) for 11 years.
“I am pleased to report that our attendance will surpass the 2023… more
Feb 20, 2024
An event design and management company and a major trade show producer recently announced two executive promotions.
Clarion Events North America
Greg Topalian is being elevated from CEO to chairman of Clarion Events North America.
In his new role, Topalian will focus on acquisitions and business development and provide high-level strategic planning for Clarion globally while actively supporting North America presidents Liz Irving, president of Clarion Events North America, and Kelly Comboni, president of Quartz Network, Consero and LeftField Media, who will run the day-to-day strategy and… more
Feb 15, 2024
Viad Corp., parent of Global Experience Specialists (GES) and Spiro, said it is moving into 2024 with momentum after revenues for the company’s experiential marketing and exhibition management services surged in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, helped by increasing demand for in-person events by corporate clients and exhibiting companies.
On Feb. 8, the company posted revenue of $291.7 million for the last three months of 2023, up 17.6% from the prior-year period. Viad’s full-year 2023 revenues increased 9.9% YOY, from $1.1 billion in 2022 to $1.2 billion in 2023, according to the company’s… 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.