Sep 18, 2014
U.K.-based UBM confirmed that it is in talks to acquire Advanstar Communications that “may, or may not, lead to a transaction.” The statement was made after Reuters reported that UBM was in advanced stages to buy Advanstar for a $900 million pricetag. Representatives for Advanstar declined to comment. Advanstar serves the fashion, licensing, life sciences and powersports industries with its portfolio of 54 trade shows, 100 conferences, 30 publications, and nearly 200 electronic products and Web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. It runs the two largest… more
Sep 18, 2014
The 25th edition of Tarsus Group’s Labelexpo Americas, held Sept. 9-11 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., was the busiest one yet, with 16,029 attendees flocking to the showfloor to see the latest innovations in the labels and labeling industry. This year’s attendance figure broke records and was up 12 percent, compared with the 2012 edition of the biennial event. The showfloor also saw an increase of 10,000 net square feet this year to 195,000, and the number of exhibitors also increased to from 413 in 2012 to 441 at this year’s event. On the second day of the… more
Sep 17, 2014
Global Experience Specialists has continued to expand its offerings by acquiring Blitz Communications, an audio visual (AV) services provider for the live events industry in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Blitz Communications has offices in London and Manchester, U.K. and is the in-house AV service provider at five major U.K. conference and exhibition venues – ExCeL London, Earls Court, Olympia, Manchester Central, and the NEC. “The addition of Blitz Communications allows us to provide a full suite of AV services across the U.K., Europe and the Middle East,” said Steve Moster… more
Sep 17, 2014
The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) delivered on its theme, “come together, leave inspired” to more than114,000 attendees during the course of their show, which took place Sept. 8-13 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Pre-registration numbers were at 98,169 attendees and by the close of the show registration was at 114,147 attendees, representing 112 countries. Those numbers are a 13.9 percent increase, compared with IMTS 2012. IMTS covered more than 1.3 million net square feet of exhibit space and hosted 2,035 exhibiting companies. Peter Eelman, vice president of exhibitions… more
Sep 16, 2014
Still two months away, and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Attraction Expo 2014 already has a sold out its showfloor at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. Nearly 1,000 exhibitors from approximately 40 countries will showcase their latest products and services for more than 17,000 attraction industry buyers on the 500,000 net square foot showfloor when the show runs Nov. 18-21. The IAAPA Attractions Expo trade showfloor is the global industry's largest marketplace, where owners, CEOs, and managers of amusement parks, water parks, family entertainment… more
Sep 16, 2014
TSNN is excited to unveil this year’s shows that are in the running to be named TSNN’s “Best of Show” for 2014. It’s pretty simple – Please fill out the form located HERE. One vote per e-mail is allowed. WE encourage the shows to use social media, their own inner networks and any other means available to get out the vote! The overall winner will be announced onstage  at the 2014 TSNN Awards, which is on tap Nov, 14-16 in Cleveland, during the gala celebration. Here are the five nominees and what they were chosen: NY International Carpet Show: Why a TSNN Finalist? Because of … more
Sep 16, 2014
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) entered into a reciprocity agreement with the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA) during the recent IEIA Open Seminar in Hyderabad, India. The agreement demonstrates IAEE's and IEIA's commitment to the international exhibitions and events industry, and it provides additional global opportunities for IAEE and IEIA members to connect to develop new exhibitions and face-to-face events.  "I am excited about entering into this agreement with our friends and colleagues at IEIA to offer a new benefit and… more
Sep 15, 2014
The National Retail Federation’s annual show for the industry – Retail’s BIG Show – definitely takes after its moniker; The show IS big, in fact this year’s, which was held in January at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, broke all-time attendance records with 30,000 people, an uptick from 27,500 last year. There also were 555 exhibiting companies, up from 494 last year, and 205,000 net square feet, up from 168,000 net sq. ft. last year. But, even the though show is growing, Susan Newman, NRF’s senior vice president of conferences, and Mark Bogdansky, NRF’s vice president… more
Sep 12, 2014
More than 110 C-level trade show organizers and suppliers gathered Sept. 11 in Chicago at the Center for Exhibition Industry Research Predict Conference to not only hear about how the overall U.S. economy is faring right now and into the future, but also about the health of the trade show industry and the sectors it serves. Senior Analyst for CNBC and Financial Industry Expert Ron Insana hosted the event and first sat down with Access Intelligence CEO Don Pazour, who encouraged the audience to support CEIR and the research the organization does for the trade show industry. First up to present… more
Sep 11, 2014
The trade show industry grew by 1 percent in the second quarter of 2014, marking the sixteenth quarter of consecutive growth, according to the CEIR Index Report released today in a room filled with C-level executives at the CEIR Predict Conference in Chicago. All four metrics tracked by the index posted year-on-year gains, with the strongest performance in Real Revenues, which rose 1.4 percent. The growth of the exhibition industry lagged behind GDP during the second quarter of 2014, a reversal of the previous two quarters.  "Overall, the second-quarter results show a meager gain of 1.0… 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.