ASM Global Plans Massive Virtual Job Fair to Address Labor Shortages; Ramp Up for Return of In-Person Events

February 11, 2022

As the industry continues to emerge from the pandemic and increasingly hold in-person gatherings, ASM Global, featuring the largest portfolio of convention centers, arenas, stadiums and theaters in the world, will hold an ambitious, three-day virtual job fair to hire 1,000 employees at 100 of its venues.   

The international, collaborative event, titled ASM Presents: The Next Great Opportunity, will take place online Feb. 15-17, with representation from venues in the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

Aimed at addressing the global staffing shortages that have challenged the industry, ASM leadership hopes that the unique global search will surface diverse talent, expand the company’s reach within its local communities and herald the full return to live, in-person experiences.

"The intention of the job fair is to find the world’s best talent in a far-reaching range of jobs, to ramp up for the return of live performances and other entertainment at our venues, and to secure the finest staff possible for the trade show, exhibition and convention business space,” said ASM Global CEO and President Ron Bension. “All of these categories are returning rapidly, and as the industry leader, we need to be fully prepared."

The Excitement of Live Connections

The return to live experiences is just what the world needs after coping through two years of the pandemic, according to Bension.

“There’s a thrill, an excitement that makes this business feel communal for everyone involved,” he said. “Our hope is that ASM Global Presents: The Next Great Opportunity helps ignite that excitement.”

Boosting and diversifying its team will help ASM to further deliver the “wow” experiences expected by event professionals and companies, Bension added.

“ASM’s goal is to prepare to perform at the highest level to provide the world-class experiences expected at the world’s most famous venues that comprise our portfolio,” he said.

During the bulk of the pandemic, ASM continued to up its game to go above and beyond expectations by signing new partnerships in a variety of spaces and continually innovating in areas such as technology, food, safety and content, according to Bension.

“We’re innovating 24/7, and our team is a critical part of that innovation and fundamental to ASM’s success,” he said.

The job fair will enable ASM venues around the world to fill a wide range of roles, from hourly to salaried levels, with highly skilled and diverse candidates. The positions include the areas of operations, business development, finance, food and beverage, catering, human resources, sales, marketing, booking, security, guest services, audiovisual tech and others.

ASM plans to step up special efforts to attract and incentivize new talent through the job fair, according to Bension.

“We’re using every tool in our arsenal to frame and define to potential ASM team members the uniqueness of working for one of the world’s premier entertainment companies,” he said. “These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to work in an environment unlike any other.”

With more than 325 facilities around the world, Bension said ASM is the leading venue management and services company, connecting people through the power of live experience.

The pursuit of excellence and devotion to the communities in which the company operates are two of its defining features, he added.

Interested applicants can access the interactive online ASM job fair here. Opportunities in the U.S., Canada and Latin America are scheduled for Feb. 15 and 16, and opportunities in the United Kingdom and Asia Pacific are scheduled for Feb. 16 and 17.

Participating Venues

Following is a partial list of stadiums, convention centers, theaters and arenas that host over 160 million guests annually and will be participating in the job fair:

  • Albuquerque Convention Center
  • American Bank Center
  • AO Arena, Manchester
  • Avenir Centre
  • Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre
  • Barclays Center
  • Bonus Arena
  • Bridgewater Hall
  • Brookshire Grocery Arena
  • Broward County Convention Center
  • Buenos Aries Arena
  • COX Business Convention Center
  • Destination El Paso
  • DeVos Performance Hall
  • Devos Place
  • First Direct Arena
  • Greater Columbus Convention Center
  • Kai Tak Sports Park
  • Kentucky Performing Arts Center
  • KFC Yum! Center
  • Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum
  • Las Cruses Convention Center
  • Leon’s Centre
  • Long Beach Convention Center
  • Lynn Family Stadium
  • Mechanics Bank Arena
  • Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex
  • Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center
  • NRG Stadium
  • Oakland Arena
  • Ontario Convention Center
  • OVO Arena
  • P&J Live
  • Pennsylvania Convention Center
  • Pensacola Bay Center
  • PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay
  • Plowright Theatre
  • Ring Center
  • Shreveport Convention Center
  • Sioux Falls Arena
  • Stockton Arena
  • Target Center
  • Te Pae Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre
  • The Baths Hall
  • The Oncenter
  • T-Mobile Center
  • Toyota Arena
  • Utilita Arena
  • Van Andel Arena

Photo: NRG Center, Houston 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.