News

Jun 03, 2012
As I am walking up Ala Wai Boulevard to the Hawaii Convention Center, I see that the back of the Hawaii Convention Center abuts the Ala Wai Canal. It reminds me of McCormick Place in Chicago and even the San Diego Convention Center, both being on the waterfront.   As I round the corner to the front of the building I realize that is where the convention centers diverge in similarity, and the Hawaii Convention Centers stands on its own.   June Matsumoto, director of international markets and business development for the Hawaii Convention Center, takes me on a tour of the ‘sense… more
Jun 03, 2012
Following a strategic review, Gaylord Entertainment has decided to sell the Gaylord Hotels brand and the rights to manage its four convention center/hotels properties to Marriott International for $210 million. Once the sale is finalized, Gaylord will continue to own its hotel properties and other businesses and will reorganize and elect to be treated as a real estate investment trust (REIT) effective Jan. 1. By transferring day-to-day control of the hotels to Marriott, Gaylord expects to save $33 million to $40 million a year. The four properties include the Gaylord Opryland Resort and… more
May 31, 2012
Trade Show News Network will be wrapping up its collection of the 2011 TSNN Top 50 Canadian Trade Shows June 14, so if you are a Canada-based show organizer submit your show as soon as possible. Please click HERE to submit your event. The 2010 TSNN Top 50 Canadian Trade Shows can be viewed HERE. The list is culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top 50 trade shows held last year in ranked by net square footage in Canada. The top show in Canada in 2010 was the Regina Exhibition Association’s Western Canada Farm Progress Show, with a whopping 1,… more
May 29, 2012
IMEX Group’s 10th annual IMEX event, held May 22-24 in Frankfurt, snagged impressive numbers, with the show scoring a 21-percent increase in buyer appointments with exhibitors to reach a total of 64,000. Forty thousand of those appointments were individual ones, and the remaining were group appointments, according to Ray Bloom, chairman of the IMEX Group. Bloom also said that just fewer than 4,000 hosted buyers attended the show from an overall total of nearly 9,000 visitors from around the world.   Exhibitors at IMEX 2012 gave the show positive reviews. “The number of… more
May 28, 2012
Detroit’s Cobo Center $221 million renovation and expansion has marked an important milestone in stage one of Phase III of the five-year project, with the onset of construction of the three-story atrium that links the main floor of the venue with a new entrance facing the Detroit River. "Today's the day when the caterpillar officially enters its cocoon and begins its transformation into a butterfly," said Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority Board Chair Larry Alexander. He added, "When complete, this area will be the most visually dramatic and breathtaking… more
May 23, 2012
Consumer Electronic Association’s 2012 International CES was the biggest of the big, with records being broken in number of exhibitors, overall attendees and international attendees, according to an independent audit. There were a record-breaking 3,319 exhibitors that showed off their technologies at the 2012 International CES event, a 22-percent increase, compared with last year’s show. There also were a record number of international professionals – 35,734 – who attended the show from more than 150 countries, which was an increase of 13 percent, compared with last… more
May 21, 2012
ATA 2012, a trade show focusing exclusively on telemedicine, telehealth, mHealth and remote healthcare technologies, has grown even larger, expanding 20 percent in total exhibit space.   The ATA 2012 exhibit hall hosted nearly 200 vendors, showcasing thousands of telemedicine products and services, many of which were seen for the first time.   ATA 2012 was held April 29-May 1 in San Jose, Calif.   "The entire spectrum of the telemedicine industry will gather at ATA 2012," said Jonathan Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association, before the event.   He… more
May 21, 2012
The Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre held its first-ever drawing competition - “A Landmark for Success Drawing Competition 2012” – in which 16 young primary and secondary school students received prizes at an Award Presentation Ceremony for their submissions. The purpose of the drawing competition was to give local school students the chance to visit the HKCEC and, by looking at its architecture and interior design from an artistic perspective, learn more about how it contributes to Hong Kong’s economy, according to venue officials.   Millions of… more
May 21, 2012
A new feature at Messe Dueseldorf’s MEDICA 2012, International Trade Fair with Congress – World Forum for Medicine will be the MEDICA ECON FORUM, organized by the German TK health insurance (Techniker Krankenkasse). The new forum will be geared towards decision-makers’ needs in the health sector. “Cost-benefit assessments and the introduction of innovations are increasingly gaining importance,” said Joachim Schäfer, managing director of Messe Duesseldorf. He added, “By sharpening the profile of their service portfolio and increasingly concluding… more
May 21, 2012
George Little Management has partnered with ST Media Group to launch SPACE (Strategy, Product and Architecture for Consumer Environments) New York, a new show for retail interiors that will be collocated with GLM’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City. SPACE New York will feature 150 exhibitors and serve as an opportunity for visual merchandisers and store designers to discover the latest in unique and innovative design-driven products for retail environments, according to show organizers. “We are thrilled to launch this innovative new fair in New York… 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.