News
Feb 13, 2018
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) opened a new regional office in Shanghai, expanding and enhancing the association's programs and services in the Asia-Pacific region.
The opening of the new Shanghai office is IAAPA's first Mainland China Representative Office, and its second office in the Asia-Pacific region.
"China has been experiencing tremendous growth in the attractions industry and we are excited to open a regional office in Shanghai. This will allow us to further support our local participants and connect them with our global participants,"… more
Feb 13, 2018
Exhibition research consultancy, Explori has opened a regional headquarters in Hong Kong as the company prepares for significant growth in the region throughout 2018 and beyond.
The business will be led by new appointment, Joann Chan, as associate director of Research, Asia Pacific.
Chan joins Explori from leading research agency YouGov. She is a multi-lingual research professional with years of experience in project management and delivery of international research projects.
She previously has held senior roles with TNS and Ipsos.
"I’m delighted to be joining Explori at such an exciting… more
Feb 13, 2018
Hong Kong-listed Pico Far East announced its annual results, for the year ended Oct. 31, 2017.
The company reported total revenues of US$510 million, down by 4 percent year-on-year. The company attributed the decline to the end of two non-recurring mega projects in the previous year.
The company’s net profit fell 6.3 percent during the year, down to US$36 million. Diluted earnings per share for the year were HK$0.2286 (US$0.029).
More than 80 percent of Pico’s revenues were generated from its exhibition & event marketing services, amounting to US$409 million.
This represents year-on-… more
Feb 13, 2018
It’s no secret that January is a big month for major U.S. trade shows around the country, and this year was no exception.
Held Jan. 14-16 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, NRF 2018, aka Retail’s BIG Show, helped kick off the year on the right foot by growing its participation and showfloor presence.
Owned and run by the National Retail Federation, the three-day trade show and conference for retail professionals welcomed 36,500 attendees and 719 exhibiting companies representing a wide range of categories including merchandising, operations, information technology, customer… more
Feb 09, 2018
Hubilo, a company that provides eponymous event software that enables organizers to create, promote, engage and analyze their events and event attendees, has launched a new event networking platform meant to optimize the way people connect and interact at events.
Hubilo is India’s first all-in-one event management software provider and since its inception in 2014 has powered prominent events including the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 and The Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017.
The new community platform, released in January, can be easily integrated with any event website or app. It… more
Feb 08, 2018
Viacom, owner of MTV, VH-1, Nickelodeon and BET, to name a few, has acquired VidCon, host of the world’s largest multi-day conference for the global online community.
The move will accelerate its participation and investment in next-generation platforms and expand its focus on live events, according to Viacom officials.
VidCon will remain a stand-alone entity and retain its senior leadership team.
“VidCon has become the foremost gathering place for the passionate online video community, and the access to talent, experts and education that VidCon provides for attendees is unparalleled,”… more
Feb 08, 2018
Washington D.C.’s largest consumer culinary show, MetroCooking DC, concluded its 12th edition with a positive boost in attendance and size.
Held Dec. 9-10 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the popular gourmand shopping event saw an attendance uptick of more than 12 percent, compared with the year before, with more than 10,000 foodies shopping, sipping and sampling from an abundance of specialty food companies, local restaurants, breweries and wineries.
The annual event also expanded its exhibitor footprint, with 218 specialty food and home entertaining exhibitors showcasing… more
Feb 07, 2018
U.K.-based Tarsus Group has launched an exclusive buyer-seller platform, Tarsus Direct, which will include an in-person summit series, white papers and thought leadership within specific communities.
The first event in Tarsus Direct’s Industry Specific Direct Connections Summit Series will focus on healthcare security with the debut of the Healthcare Security Summit Oct. 24-25 in Boston, Mass.
"Our market research indicated a strong need for original research and education in healthcare security," said David Beck, Group Publisher at Tarsus Direct, and former publisher of the… more
Feb 07, 2018
A founding group of event technology companies has joined Fuzion, Freeman’s open product ecosystem designed to make technology more accessible for event organizers.
Introduced last fall, the new platform aims to help solve industry-wide integration challenges between digital solutions by connecting data across all points of the event lifecycle, thus creating a more seamless experience for organizers and attendees.
“In putting on a successful event, organizers may find themselves working with many different technology companies,” explained Richard Maranville, executive vice president and… more
Feb 06, 2018
Hurricane Harvey may cause 2017 to go down in history as a tumultuous year for the City of Houston, but that didn’t stop the city from coming back strong while setting another record in convention sales.
For the third straight year, an unprecedented number of room nights tied to future conventions were booked in 2017, according to Visit Houston officials, whose sales team locked down 429 conventions and meetings representing 802,852 room nights, up from 765,401 room nights in 2016.
“Our city is experiencing the return on investments in our convention district,” said Dawn Ullrich, president… 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.