Apr 04, 2016
Destination Marketing Association International Chairman Bob Lander and President and CEO Don Welsh announced a strategic realignment of the organization in preparation for what they called “a renewed commitment to focus on member and partner needs.”
DMAI has vacated nine positions for further evaluation as it moves forward with the realignment.
Welsh stepped into the leadership post in March, after holding the top spot at Choose Chicago.
Charles Jeffers, COO and interim CEO since September 2015, will remain with the organization through the end of May 2016 to assist with a seamless… more
Apr 01, 2016
U.K.-based UBM has named Scott Schulman CEO of UBM Americas, and Simon Foster, who held the CEO position after Sally Shankland stepped down, will resume his position as CEO of UBM EMEA.
UBM Americas is one of the largest business-to-business trade show companies in the U.S. with a growing portfolio as well in Brazil and Mexico.
Schulman will focus on continuing the implementation of UBM’s ‘Events First’ strategy and the unification of the UBM Americas business, including the ongoing successful integration of the Advanstar business.
“I am delighted Scott is… more
Apr 01, 2016
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition has launched a new business leader video series to showcase authentic stories of how and why meetings matter across all professions.
The inaugural three video vignettes reflect the widespread reach of meeting face-to-face, profiling a trade association, a not-for-profit, and a corporation.
MMBC will continue to debut new videos throughout the year to highlight how meetings build trust, foster engagement and generate new business
MMBC is bringing in outside voices to propel the campaign and help validate how meetings touch every industry. Those… more
Apr 01, 2016
In the 1940s, department stores were the primary retailers of most every item for daily life, including stationery and writing instruments. Tessie Goldwater, a buyer for May’s Department Stores, regularly attended gift shows in New York and Chicago, but felt there was a need for a more specialized paper goods show.
She approached Bill Little at George Little Management (now part of Emerald Expositions), urging that stationery, custom invitations, pens and related goods be given their own event. In 1945, the first New York Stationery Show was held in the New Yorker Hotel.
While… more
Apr 01, 2016
Attendance size and quality is the essential element of any successful convention or exhibition. Rapid change due to technology is transforming the attendance marketing process.
To help event management improve their attendance marketing strategies and efforts, TSNN and the Event Marketing Institute are asking TSNN readers to participate in an industry study focused on attendance marketing benchmarks and best practices.
The individual responses will be studied in aggregate and are confidential. To thank you for participating, you will receive a complimentary summary… more
Mar 31, 2016
The 2016 World of Asphalt Show & Conference and AGG1 Academy & Expo broke a trio of records – attendance, number of exhibitors and attendees taking part in the education – when its recent show wrapped up March 22-24 in Nashville, Tenn.
Record registered attendance of more than 9,000 is 18 percent more than the record-setting 2015 shows and 38 percent growth, compared with 2013.
Attendees came from all 50 states, nine of the 10 Canadian provinces and more than 60 other countries worldwide; 30 percent were company presidents/owners, vice presidents, general managers or chief financial… more
Mar 31, 2016
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) launched a Virtual Reality Companion app that helps transport trade show delegates and would-be visitors alike to popular attractions in the No. 1 city for top trade shows in the U.S.
Now, taking a tour of the Grand Canyon, riding in a gondola at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or taking a zipline through the downtown streets is possible from anywhere in the world.
The LVCVA showcased virtual reality through Oculus Rift, a technology company that builds and distributes virtual reality head-mounted display units that allow users to have… more
Mar 30, 2016
By Elizabeth Johnson
‘Branding’ is perhaps the most commonly used, but most commonly misunderstood, word in business. Reactions to brands, such as Coca-Cola or Apple, are immediate. An organization or product with a strong brand may compel people to instantly think of its logo, or tagline or jingle. A brand, by definition is all of those things and more - it’s everything we think about a particular organization or product.
A strong event brand offers its audiences a promise on the value it will deliver. And then, it uses communications tools to deliver the message of that promise. A… more
Mar 28, 2016
While the convention and meetings industry is able to breathe a sigh of relief today in Georgia, headaches abound in North Carolina, after both states recently dealt with legislation that was deemed discriminatory to the gay community by many.
Less than two weeks after the Georgia assembly voted through House Bill 757 – the Free Exercise Protection Act, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed the bill.
The bill would have allowed churches to refuse to perform gay marriages and not hire people they felt conflicted with their religious beliefs, which prompted big-name companies, such as… more
Mar 24, 2016
Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2015 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States. Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list had a record number of submissions this year and represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage.
The full, searchable list, sponsored this year exclusively by Expocad and the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, can be found HERE.
The Consumer Technology Association’s CES 2015 show snagged the No. 1 spot and spanned more than 2.2 million net square feet at the… 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.