Jun 01, 2021
As the industry continues its gradual progress toward a full recovery, event organizations, destinations and venues are inking new deals and extending existing relationships as they gear up for an acceleration in business. Take a look:
Centerplate
Nashville’s Convention Center Authority has agreed to extend its eight-year agreement with Centerplate, the exclusive food and beverage partner for the Music City Center. The new, multi-year agreement will still encompass hospitality, catering and culinary services in at the convention center highlighting local Nashville purveyors and diverse… more
Jun 01, 2021
Like much of the events industry, Denzil Rankine, executive chairman of AMR International, will have his eyes on World of Concrete, which will be the largest trade show to operate in-person since the pandemic. But he has a bit of a narrow focus — a minor point that he admits is his new pet peeve.
“I truly hope Freeman and GES have not been paid to print signs, ‘See you next year,’” he said during a webinar TSNN hosted covering the topics in “Reinventing Live,” a book Rankine co-authored with Marco Giberti, founder and CEO of Vesuvio Ventures.
Click here to watch a replay of the webinar.… more
May 27, 2021
The growth of the Chinese trade show market is imminent and could mean big things for the global exhibitions industry. That is among the key takeaways from the comprehensive Global Industry Performance Review, which is now available for order.
With the pandemic on its heels as countries re-emerge, the United States and China appear to be in the best shape economically. The result is the industries already on the rebound have resumed plans for in-person trade shows and conferences, which is music to the ears of destinations announcing the resumption of large-scale gatherings at convention… more
May 26, 2021
Value fashion buyers looking to add premium products to their store shelves will be excited about the new elevated price point segment debuting at the upcoming OFFPRICE Show. Set for Aug. 7-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, alongside MAGIC Las Vegas during Las Vegas Fashion Week, the new EVOLVE Marketplace is designed to meet the needs of savvy retailers seeking elevated styles and urban trends at competitive prices.
EVOLVE will feature higher margins on quality apparel including engineered goods, in-season collections, on-trend items and readily available inventory from a curated… more
May 25, 2021
Event and hospitality companies are gearing up for a digital financial future by accepting cryptocurrency as a customer payment option.
Defined as “a digital currency that can be used to buy goods and services, but uses an online ledger with strong cryptography to secure online transactions,” cryptocurrency is more than a speculative investment trend. Mainstream adoption is already here, with major companies including PayPal, Visa and Mastercard jumping on the crypto train.
As hotels, resorts and event-related companies continually seek out opportunities to better serve the needs of their… more
May 17, 2021
Two major events dedicated to health and science professionals have indicated they will require attendees to provide proof of vaccination to enter. The decisions, made by organizers of HIMSS21 Health and Safety Hub and HLTH 2021, are among the first large events to declare that in-person participants will need to be fully immunized as the country emerges from the pandemic.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that vaccinated individuals did not need to wear a mask in most instances in which they are surrounded by others who have received their shots. The… more
May 17, 2021
It’s safe to say that most of us in the trade show and meetings industry know someone whose job was affected by the pandemic. After all, the events industry was one of the first to shut down when COVID-19 took hold in the U.S., and will be one of the last to fully reopen. The need for immediate action is great; according to recent travel, hospitality and trade show industry reports, 65% of all lost American jobs came from the travel and hospitality industries, with 2020 seeing an almost 80% decline in exhibitions.
To help get the industry back to business and restore those lost jobs, the… more
May 12, 2021
The exhibitions industry is racing to help those in need by running for a good cause. Set for June 8-9 for a 4 p.m. start in the U.K. (11 a.m. EDT), the Event Industry Backyard Ultra will feature marathon enthusiast and Tarsus Group CEO Douglas Emslie, who will be running a 5K race every hour for a straight 24 hours in an effort to raise funds for two industry charities and a global charity supporting India, while being livestreamed across multiple platforms.
Please sign up to watch and donate here: https://app.swapcard.com/event/24hour5krun
Participating in what BBC Sport describes as “… more
May 12, 2021
Global Exhibitions Day, set for June 2, offers an opportunity for the industry to remark about its uncanny resiliency and value, perhaps never more demonstrated than in the past year and a half.
Worth an estimated $551 billion, according to a joint press release sent by Clarion Events and UFI, the global association of the exhibitions industry, trade shows and exhibitions are poised to stage a grand comeback at a time when economies across the world need them most. While in most parts of the world, vaccination news is encouraging and travel restrictions are being lifted, economic recovery is… more
May 10, 2021
Optimism about the events industry is transforming from anecdotal to data-driven. A new report from Freeman, which has been tracking attendees’ temperatures about returning to face-to-face gatherings for the better part of a year, shows the strongest signs yet that the great recovery may happen sooner than later.
While virtual aspects of shows won’t disappear with COVID-19, the eighth iteration of Freeman’s research since the pandemic began shows the highest willingness yet to attend live events. Key findings include:
85% of attendees and 86% of exhibitors are expecting to return to in-… 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.