Apr 12, 2021
If a booth stacked with free knickknacks to take home is Exhibit A that trade shows are bouncing back, then PMSI Promos President Marty Bear’s hotel closet is a close second. When there is a rainbow of suits ready to be trotted out over the course of three days, all will be right with the events word.
Bear, the seemingly ubiquitous jack-of-all-sales, is currently signed up for 14 face-to-face events in 2021. He hopes to increase the number to 25 due to an expected rush on meetings late this year.
“In the past 30 days, we have seen a sharp increase of over 35% in new quotes,” he said.
That… more
Apr 08, 2021
Two shows in major metropolises surpassed expectations, demonstrating that the need to reconnect is a powerful propeller for an industry looking to rebound. It is striking that both JIS Miami and the Dallas March Market welcomed participation that exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Here, we look at how the marketing, planning and execution of safe events proved persuasive to large crowds.
JIS Miami
Calling it a “liberating experience,” exhibitors and attendees welcomed the March 2021 Jewelers International Showcase at Miami Beach Convention Center. One of the first in-person trade shows of the… more
Apr 07, 2021
Always a great opportunity to celebrate the importance of face-to-face gatherings big and small, Global Meetings Industry Day takes on added significance this year. Just as last year’s all-virtual celebration was a reflection of the pandemic’s beginnings, planned meetings this Thursday, April 8, offer a preview of the future.
Created by the Meetings Mean Business Coalition in 2016, GMID 2021 “represents a milestone in the safe return of major in-person events and for the people, communities and cities who rely on them,” according to Coalition representatives. Events will occur on three… more
Apr 01, 2021
With myriad U.S. convention centers launching health and safety programs as COVID vaccination rollouts pick up steam across the country, venues are starting to welcome scaled-back trade shows and events. The Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta is such a host venue. Buoyed by its extensive Galleria Safety First Reopening Guidelines, it recently hosted a trio of successful in-person trade shows that enabled buyers and exhibitors to get back to business.
Atlanta Shoe Market
In “normal” times, the Atlanta Shoe Market is a biannual three-day footwear event that typically attracts 2,200 attendees… more
Mar 31, 2021
The Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association have agreed in principle to pool resources to form one mammoth global trade association. The organizations will finish the year working independently before joining forces on Jan. 1, 2022.
Among the implications of the move is that the association’s vast annual conventions and expos will fall under one roof.
PMA’s Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Anaheim, Calif., drew 15,648 attendees in 2019 and went virtual in 2020 when it could not meet in Dallas. It is scheduled to return in-person Oct. 28-30… more
Mar 31, 2021
Bob Priest-Heck, CEO of Freeman, knows — or should we say “nose?” — what triggers his mind back to a memorable business trip to China. All it takes is the simple waft of a traditional custard dessert to send him away. “If you can smell something, it will bring back a memory,” he explained. That natural human reaction is why there will always be a place for in-person meetings. Virtual experiences, while important, aren’t able to pass the smell test — at least not yet. (It’s worth noting that it took Priest-Heck years to find those same pastries outside of China to recreate that experience.) … more
Mar 30, 2021
Michael Hart, best known as the editor-in-chief for Tradeshow Week, died on March 12 at age 67, after a valiant, but tragic battle with cancer.
"I am very sorry to hear of Michael's passing," said Rachel Wimberly, TSNN President and Tarsus, US, EVP of Business Development. "Michael was a passionate advocate of the trade show industry overall. He also was a meticulous editor, who I learned a tremendous amount from during our time working together at Tradeshow Week magazine."
Michael attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., graduating from Raymond College, and as a… more
Mar 30, 2021
On March 24, New York’s Javits Center hit an important milestone for the health of its community. Since opening its doors on Jan. 13 as a mass COVID-19 vaccination site, the Manhattan convention center has distributed more than 250,000 vaccines at the record rate of more than 14,000 per day.
Considered the largest vaccination center in the U.S., according to Javits officials, the site is a massive effort carried out in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health and the New York National Guard. Hundreds of medical, military and civilian teams have worked in tandem to establish… more
Mar 29, 2021
There is more than one way to run a virtual event. Likewise, there are significant different objectives. Finding the right technological partner is crucial to securing the desired outcome. Here, we look at how two vastly different organizations — Connect and The Mars Society —have much to be proud of despite their paths.
Connect Cyber
Connect is a business-to-business operation geared to develop business relationships between meeting planners and hosts ranging from CVBs to hotels, convention centers and other venues. Unlike many companies, Connect kept its flagship conference in-person in… more
Mar 25, 2021
The San Diego Convention Center and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas are lending a hand to help the humanitarian crisis at the southwest U.S. border by providing temporary housing for unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum. The creation of such emergency intake sites is designed to shift the minors — most of whom herald from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — more quickly out of U.S. Border Patrol custody while helping to alleviate overcrowding at border holding facilities.
San Diego Convention Center
On March 22, the City and County of San Diego announced… 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.