News

The seven-year-old Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre continues to record healthy growth in all business segments, despite headwinds from the United States and Europe. Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, KLCC hosted 1,258 events, a 15-percent increase, compared with the 1,097 held in the previous corresponding period, serving 1.37 million delegates and visitors. Here are some of the more notable events: The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 81st Annual Scientific Congressin May, which saw 1,250 delegates come together during five days, making this the largest multi-disciplinary surgical meeting… more
When the American Psychiatric Association Heart Rhythm Society recently held their annual meetings, they decided to leave a lasting impact and give back to the local host communities. The APA’s meeting was held May 5-9 at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Convention Center and the association made a pledge to make a group donation to the Philadelphia Mental Health Center at the culmination of the event. Donations were made throughout the convention, and the APA matched every dollar that was donated by attendees. The APA 2012 Meeting also featured host Edward M. Kennedy, Jr. as the… more
GES’ second-quarter revenues were up 12.2 percent to $320.1 million from $285.4 million during the same period the year before. “GES delivered second-quarter results that surpassed our prior guidance, with a revenue increase of 12 percent year-over-year and an adjusted segment EBITDA margin of 12.5 percent,” said Viad’s president and CEO Steve Moster. He added, “The upside to guidance was broad-based and fueled by industry growth, solid execution by the GES team and our efforts to position GES as the preferred global, full-service provider for live events with a comprehensive suite of… more
Kathleen Thomas, who has worked for several high-profile investment banking firms in the business-to-business exhibitions and conferences space, was named managing director at New York City-based JEGI, effective immediately. Thomas will further expand JEGI’s global leadership across the global media, information, marketing, software and tech‐enabled services sectors, according to company officials. “We are delighted to welcome Kathleen on board,” said Wilma Jordan, founder and CEO of JEGI. Jordan added, “She and Richard Mead, our long‐tenured managing director and B2B specialist, together… more
Messe Düsseldorf India concluded the 2017 edition of Medical Fair India in April and just recently published key statistics from the event. The exhibition ran from 6th to 8th April at the Pragati Exhibition Center in New Delhi. The three-day event featured 519 exhibitors. According to the organiser, a total of 13,480 trade visitors attended the fair, which represents an increase of 15% compared with the 2016 edition. The space occupied by exhibitors grew by 16% year-on-year. Medical Fair India is held alternately between New Delhi and Mumbai. The 2018 edition will be held at the Bombay… more
Aromatherapy, easier group transportation booking, language interpretation and a cloud-based event management platform were some of the meeting tools vying for the top prize at this year’s Society of Independent Show Organizer’s Event Battlefield. The competition was held during SISO’s Leadership conference, Aug. 1-4 in Philadelphia, at which just under 200 attendees voted for one of five companies. The top company was EventBots by Sciensio, which is a technology that allows attendees at an event to text any question they have about it to the EventBot tool and receive an immediate answer… more
The American Thoracic Society selected Sherpa Solutions to deploy its indoor positioning system at the ATS 2017 International Conference, which is on tap May 19-24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The system will be deployed on multiple floors in all public spaces, including meeting rooms, ballrooms, exhibit halls and poster sessions. “The Sherpa indoor positioning system is the only one of its kind. It’s like providing participants with their very own GPS, accurate to 6’, so they can accurately find their way within the venue. They can locate and meet with the people who… more
At the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo, held Feb. 8-11 in Orlando, attendees had the opportunity to try out something new - a2z, Inc.'s ChirpE Photo Booth. At the booth during the show,  not only did people have fun dressing up and sharing photos through social media, it also created a lot of buzz during and after the show. The ChirpE Photo Booth is an easy-to-use iPad-based Photo Booth with robust social media capabilities. The ChirpE Photo Booth enables event attendees to take their own picture, add a quote or testimonial and post it to their Facebook Page… more
Four show managers have been selected to receive The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year (SMOTY) award for excellence in serving their attendee and exhibitor communities. Since 2000, The Expo Group has honored unsung heroes committed innovation and service. “The Expo Group SMOTY awards program is one way we give back to the industry, and we are proud to honor people adopting new ideas and creating change,” said President and COO of The Expo Group Randy Pekowski. He added, “These honorees are not our clients, they are simply show managers doing great work that should be recognized.” 2017 The… more
In mid-April, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) concluded its Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and International ICT Expo. The concurrent fairs ran from 13th to 16th April, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), attracting more than 3,500 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions. The Electronics Fair, is positioned as the largest spring electronics event in Asia, showcasing more than 2,900 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, with new exhibitors from Singapore and Spain. New at this edition is a Tech Hall with four themed zones, Connected Home… 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.