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
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.