Feb 09, 2016
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s (the Centre) 10th anniversary year in 2015 turned out to be a banner one for international high-profile events at the venue. These included; the Global Food Safety Conference 2015; 18th Human Genome Meeting 2015; 26th and 27th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits; and the 128th International Olympic Committee Session, to name a few. These contributed to the Centre’s 2015 total of 1,230 events which attracted close to 1.8 million delegates. Since its opening, the Centre has hosted 11,199 events, welcomed close to 19.4 million delegates and contributed over RM6… more
Feb 09, 2016
Reed Exhibitions Greater China made its mark in China with successful completion of the nation’s first-ever marketing certification program for exhibition industry professionals. The Reed Exhibitions Greater China (RXGC) Marketing Certification Program, launched in March 2015, was designed with the specific aim to educate and certify marketers. It supports Reed’s vision to build a strong marketing and digital DNA within the company by developing a pool of marketing talents, and provides recognition for knowledge and skills that are critical to employees’ marketing success. Throughout 2015,… more
Feb 09, 2016
VNU Exhibitions has announced its acquisition of Aquarama and Pet Asia from UBM Exhibition Singapore Pte Ltd. Aquarama is a trade show covering fish, invertebrates, plants and related accessories. Pet Asia was launched in 2007 as a collocated event to extend the show coverage to other pet supplies and services. VNU will be the exhibition organiser of both Pet Asia and Aquarama, beginning with the 2016 edition. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Aquarama has been held in Singapore biennially since 1989. As an immediate effect of the acquisition, Aquarama will become an annual… more
Feb 09, 2016
During a specially convened session of the Executive Committee (Committee) Jan. 27, the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) voted unanimously to appoint Stuart Bailey, managing director of Diversified Communications Hong Kong, as the chairman of the association for the remainder of the current term which runs until June 2016.  Bailey replaces Javed Khan, Mega-Expo, who resigned his position on health grounds earlier this month. The committee wishes to sincerely thank Javed for all of the time and effort that he gave in discharging his duties as chairman.… more
Feb 08, 2016
Music blasting from loudspeakers that pumped up the standing-room only crowd who cheered on the more than 20 contestants of the Bricklayer 500 World Championship, in which 800 bricks are placed in an hour flat, was just one of the many exciting opportunities offered to attendees of World of Concrete. The show, which ran Feb. 2-5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and is owned by Informa Exhibitions, was a huge hit overall, drawing its largest attendance in seven years, according to Tom Cindric, vice president at Informa.   The unaudited attendance numbers were tracking an 8-10-percent… more
Feb 04, 2016
MC² (“MC-squared”), an exhibit, event and environment design and production agency, has acquired Brand Promotions, an experiential marketing and brand activation company.  The addition of Brand Promotions expands MC²’s growth opportunities within its existing trade show and events portfolio by offering expanded experiential marketing tours capabilities, according to  MC²  officials.  “We’re delighted to welcome Brand Promotions to the MC² family. They are a proven leader and creative force in the experiential marketing space. They are a great, hard-working team who share… more
Feb 03, 2016
Private equity firm Sentinel Capital Partners bought Marketplace Events, which organizes home and garden shows in the United States and Canada. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We are very excited about our investment in Marketplace Events," said Michael Fabian, a partner at Sentinel. "We seek to invest in niche market leaders, and Marketplace Events is the clear leader in the North American home and garden show industry.” He added, “Moreover, the business was extremely resilient during the 2008 economic downturn and should benefit from positive tailwinds in the home remodeling and… more
Feb 03, 2016
Dallas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts broke ground on its 30-story, 853,000-square-foot hotel and luxury apartment complex today in downtown Louisville adjacent to the Kentucky International Convention Center. “The Omni is a game-changer for Louisville’s hospitality industry increasing our convention business potential in a competitive marketplace. Louisville currently hosts 12.7 million visitors each year,” said Karen Williams, president and CEO of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau. He added, “A hotel project of this scope will help support further tourism growth.” The Omni… more
Feb 02, 2016
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s Global Barometer Survey, which takes the pulse of the trade show industry worldwide, indicated that North America and Europe, with the exception of Russia, are predicting positive revenue results in 2016. On the other hand, in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, the situations remain generally positive, but with a certain level of uncertainty.  In Central and South America half of the surveyed companies are expecting decreases of turnover, but an improvement is expected in Brazil for the second half of 2016. “Despite limited… more
Feb 01, 2016
The trade show industry had a strong kick off for 2016, with shows posting big exhibitor and attendee numbers that focused on not only what the newest gourmet food trends might be, but also the latest in musical instruments and everything that someone interested in shooting and hunting might need. The 2016 Winter Fancy Food Show, owned by the Specialty Food Association and held Jan. 17-19 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, drew 1,500 exhibitors from across the U.S. and 28 countries to exhibit space that covered 215,000 square feet, enough to fill more than four football fields with food.… 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.