Sep 01, 2015
Once a year, National Retail Federation staff members and key stakeholders gather together and brainstorm on how they can not only solve challenges they have with their trade shows – Retail’s BIG Show and Shop.org Annual Summit, but also talk about how to make them a more personal experience for attendees.
They call the sessions “Blue Sky Meetings”, according to Eric Olsen, NRF’s vice president of education strategies, at which they discuss “anything under the blue sky you could think of” in regards to improving the shows.
“We get an agenda beforehand, so that we’re prepared on what the goals… more
Sep 01, 2015
The Professional Convention Management Association Nominating Committee, chaired by Johnnie White, 2014 past Chair of the Board, met Aug. 20 in Chicago and reviewed, in detail, a number of nominee applications for the 2016 open board officers and directions positions.
After careful due diligence and deliberation, the committee offers the following slate of candidates for leadership positions on the 2016 PCMA Board of Directors.
According to the PCMA Bylaws, this official announcement of the proposed slate is to be sent to the membership by Oct. 1.
The nominating process, according to… more
Sep 01, 2015
U.K.-based Clarion Events, with more than 200 events in 35 countries, has become a majority partner in Kennesaw, Ga.-based Urban Expositions, which has a portfolio of 37 events serving nine industry sectors.
"We are thrilled to partner with such a well-established, international event organizer as Clarion," said Doug Miller, president and CEO, Urban Expositions.
He added, "We look forward to working closely with the Clarion team to start a whole new chapter for our respective companies. Clarion's forward-thinking leadership, proven experience and extensive resources will allow us to build… more
Sep 01, 2015
After a big increase in the first quarter of this year, the performance of the business-to-business trade show industry, as measured by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Total Index, remained relatively strong during the second quarter of 2015, posting a year-on-year gain of 3.8 percent.
This growth is the second highest rate since the second quarter of 2007 and also marked the 20th consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.
"The second-quarter results are very promising,” said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates.
He added… more
Aug 31, 2015
Trade show organizers KCI Corporation and Messe Düsseldorf North America have announced a partnership on two new events that will be held next year in Houston.
They already team up on the Valve World Americas Expo & Conference, also held in Houston.
The first new event is a new pump event called Pump Summit Americas, which will take place June 13-14, 2016, at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
The two-day conference and exhibition is powered by Pump Engineer, Pumpen Aktuell and Empowering Pumps.
“We are excited to introduce a new pump event to North America. Pump Summit… more
Aug 27, 2015
Trade Show News Network is excited to announce the five finalists for our TSNN “Best of Show” awards. We asked the shows to simply tell us why they felt their show was ‘best’, and the ones below exemplified innovation in the trade show industry.
Now, they need all of YOU to vote for which one you think deserves to be named the overall BEST show. The overall winner will be announced at the TSNN Awards in Atlanta Nov. 7.
The TSNN Awards honors the top 50 fastest-growing shows in the U.S. during a three-day weekend celebration.
The deadline to vote is Oct. 1.
Below are the amazing shows… more
Aug 26, 2015
Urban Expositions has acquired Womenswear in Nevada (WWIN) trade show from Specialty Trade Shows, Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The ownership transition began immediately following the Aug. 17-20 edition of the semi-annual womenswear apparel trade show held at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas.
"We've known Roland Timney and the Specialty Trade Show team for many years and have long admired their customer service focus and management style," said Doug Miller, president and CEO, Urban Expositions.
He added, "The opportunity to continue working with Roland and Chad in this new… more
Aug 26, 2015
Attendees and exhibitors to this year’s IMEX America, on tap Oct. 13-15 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, will experience a show that’s even greener than last year’s.
A new charity recycling initiative, becoming part of the Green Team and attending relevant education sessions will help attendees to reduce waste and increase their awareness of corporate social responsibility.
This follows the results of the MeetGreen® Sustainability Report for IMEX America 2014, which showed a 31 percent reduction on total waste from the previous year.
The use of locally sourced foods… more
Aug 25, 2015
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd will launch a new initiative this year to facilitate nonwovens fabric suppliers’ expansion into China, where imports of such products jumped 128 percent from 2000 to 2013.
The German exhibition company’s Asia Pacific branch will launch the China International Nonwovens Expo & Forum (CINE – supported by Techtextil) from Oct. 14-16, adding one more event to its comprehensive textile portfolio, and complementing the biennial Cinte Techtextil China trade fair.
The three-day event, which will be held in Shanghai Mart, combines a trade expo and industry forum.… more
Aug 25, 2015
The one-day event, held at the Le Royal Meridien Shanghai, will bring hundreds of travel agents and cruise industry leaders together in a day filled with insight from top cruise executives and distribution partners, and networking among attendees, according to show organizers.
"We are so pleased to launch CruiseWorld China," said Bob Sullivan, president of the travel group, Northstar Travel Media.
He added, "This is an exclusive event in China where travel agents and industry executives can meet to discuss the most important issues affecting today's travel landscape."
Among the confirmed… 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.