News
Oct 22, 2021
Event technology is continuing to evolve at record speed, with new tools and platforms significantly improving the experience for organizers and attendees. Here are some of the most recent developments.
Hubilo
Virtual event platform Hubilo has secured $125 million in Series B funding from Alkeon Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Balderton Capital, bringing the company’s total funding to $153 million. The new investment will allow Hubilo to expand its global footprint, build out new functionalities and deliver on its product vision for the future of events.
“The potential ahead of… more
Oct 21, 2021
New York City’s Javits Center may be located in one of the busiest cities in the world, but it’s as green as it gets at this newly expanded facility. The center just unveiled an innovative 200,000-square-foot rooftop that features a glass-enclosed pavilion, an outdoor terrace and a one-acre working farm that is expected to generate up to 40,000 pounds of produce each year for the center’s banquet operations. The farm, along with other enhancements, builds upon the center’s other sustainability success stories, including an existing 6.75-acre green roof that serves as a habitat for area… more
Oct 20, 2021
The Biden Administration has set Nov. 8 as the official date the U.S. will reopen its borders to fully vaccinated international visitors arriving by air, land and sea. The news was met with enthusiastic praise from officials throughout the tourism, trade show and event industries.
The original announcement in September of the intention to lift the travel ban in November for international visitors flying into the country was followed with an announcement last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the Canada and Mexico borders would also reopen to international arrivals by land… more
Oct 19, 2021
Like many of her colleagues in the industry, Michelle Mason “stumbled” into the associations field more than 20 years ago via a temporary staff assistant role at the Chemical Manufacturers Association (now the American Chemistry Council).
“I really didn’t know much about the industry but as I began to learn on the job, I realized that this is a very diverse sector, it focuses on community and serving people, and associations really have a huge societal impact and improve our quality of life,” she said. “That’s when I knew I was destined to be a life-long association professional.”
Fast-… more
Oct 18, 2021
As the industry returns to face-to-face events, rest assured there will be no shortage of spectacular spaces in which to convene. With the array of new and expanded convention centers that have opened this year and are on track to debut in the near future, this seems to be one of the most prolific periods of new construction the industry has seen.
Here are four upcoming convention centers to keep on the radar, all of which are making dynamic architectural and design statements.
The Summit, Seattle
The home of the Space Needle knows a thing or two about bringing awe-inspiring icons to its… more
Oct 18, 2021
Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky and Tarsus Group CEO Douglas Emslie will be celebrated for their incredible advocacy, support and achievements in the trade show industry at the 2021 TSNN Awards Dec. 1-2 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Sedky has been named the 2021 TSNN Awards Industry Icon Award honoree, given to an individual in the trade show industry who has displayed exemplary leadership.
Emslie will be celebrated at the awards with the inaugural Humanitarian Award for the incredible effort he put forth during a fundraiser he spearheaded to raise more than $42,000 for… more
Oct 15, 2021
Regional government representatives from Southeast Asia, trade association leaders and major global exhibition organizers joined together Oct. 5-7 at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore for the Joint Leadership Summit (JLS), aimed at paving the way for the return of in-person exhibitions in the region.
Supported by Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and co-organized by Singapore Association for Convention & Exhibition Organizers & Suppliers (SACEOS), Association of Event Organizers (AEO), Society for Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition… more
Oct 15, 2021
While some exhibition companies are doubling down on fine-tuning their existing events and waiting for 2022 to re-launch their in-person experiences, some are seeing this challenging period in our industry’s history as the perfect time to debut brand-new trade shows for underserved markets. Case in point: U.K.-based Raccoon Events, which will be kicking off three large-scale running expos for the U.S. consumer market next year— The Run Show USA Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles—modeled after its award-winning National Running Show in the U.K.
TSNN sat down with CEO Mike Seaman to hear why the… more
Oct 14, 2021
Ensuring the health and safety of attendees, exhibitors and employees working at host venues has become a paramount priority as the industry returns to in-person events. An increasing number of organizers are opting to implement COVID-19 vaccine mandates or negative test requirements in addition to several other health and safety measures. With these trends, the need for streamlined ways to verify proof of health status electronically is on the rise.
The following four health-screening solutions are designed to ease the verification process for everyone involved and, in some cases, provide… more
Oct 13, 2021
Taffy Event Strategies, a female-owned, full-service trade show and event planning firm based in Arlington, Va., appointed well-known industry veteran Jennifer Heinold to the newly created position of chief operating officer.
In collaboration with Taffy President Jennifer Hoff, Heinold will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company and ensure that the needs and expectations of current and future clients are met and exceeded by building growth strategies for shows and leading new product development.
Heinold brings a wealth of experience in serving diverse communities; connecting… 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.