Comeback News

Has your company hosted, or are you a supplier who has helped host, a safe, well-executed trade show, meeting, convention or other event? Tweet us using the #comebackstories hashtag to @TSNN_com_us and we’ll share your role in the recovery of a lifetime.

Jun 27, 2022
More than 51,000 foodservice professionals flocked to Chicago's McCormick Place May 21-24 for the first time since 2019 to happily reconnect in person and indulge in this year's National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (National Restaurant Association Show), the premier event to learn about foodservice technology innovations, unique ingredients and emerging trends in the restaurant industry. “The 2022 show was one of the most anticipated events of the year, and after three long years, we couldn’t wait to bring the foodservice community back together to celebrate the… more
Apr 15, 2022
As the vibrant annual National Cherry Blossom Festival comes to a close this month, Washington, D.C., continues to bloom with a prosperous business events scene—expected to thrive throughout 2022—and a wealth of new developments. The nation's capital is well on the road to recovery as the industry moves out of the pandemic, and it has a positive outlook for the full return of meetings, conventions and trade shows, according to Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC (DDC). “In a good year, we host north of 20 city-wide conventions,” Ferguson said. “Last year, we had four, and… more
Mar 11, 2022
The 2022 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show(SHOT Show), owned and operated by the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF) made a strong return to Las Vegas, drawing more than 2,400 exhibitors and more than 43,000 attendees from 100 countries and featuring its largest floor plan in history. Held Jan. 18-21 at Caesars Forum and The Venetian Expo, the 44th SHOT Show brought the firearm industry together in-person again after holding it’s 2021 edition virtually. As the fifth-largest trade show in Las Vegas, the SHOT Show provides an estimated $88 million in non-gaming revenue to the… more
Feb 16, 2022
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) kicked off 2022 on an overwhelmingly positive note, with its hotly anticipated ASI Show Orlando drawing 3,000 supplier and distributor professionals who were excited to reunite and make valuable in-person connections. Held Jan. 4-6 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), ASI Show Orlando featured a busy showfloor with more than 500 booths spotlighting the top in-stock products of 2022 as well as education, a powerful panel discussion and numerous networking opportunities. The show attracted distributors from across the country, including 800… more
Feb 09, 2022
By the close of the Winter 2022 Atlanta Market, exhibiting brands were touting shattered sales records as attendees demonstrated their buying power, eagerly sourcing new brands, products and trends across the bustling event. Held Jan. 11-18 at AmericasMart Atlanta, the country’s leading gift, décor and lifestyle market proved to be a veritable epicenter of buying activity, hosting retailers and designers from all 50 states and 39 countries. “Based on the reports of record-breaking sales and growth in order size, it appears that buyers found what they were looking for [at Atlanta Market]—and… more
Jan 27, 2022
Multiple in-person business-to-business (B2B) events produced by members of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) are ushering in 2022 with optimism for the industry’s continued comeback.  The ECA, a coalition of professional, industry and labor organizations, comprises the unified voice of the face-to-face business events industry and is a driving force behind the safe reopening of B2B events.  While events are seeing scattered cancellations from exhibitors and attendees due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the latest Omicron variant, thousands of businesses remain committed… more
Jan 17, 2022
On December 9-10, 2021, leading global event agency Freeman executed the first-ever Summit for Democracy, a high-level virtual conference hosted by President Joe Biden that brought together world leaders, civil society and the private sector to discuss challenges and opportunities facing democracy throughout the world.  More than 100 heads of state from across the globe attended in a seamless virtual experience where important initiatives across three principal themes were discussed: defending against authoritarianism; addressing and fighting corruption; and advancing respect for human… more
Jan 09, 2022
From a spaceplane to a color-changing car, CES 2022 not only brought to light innovations from around the globe at its in-person and digital event, held Jan. 5-7 in Las Vegas, but is also likely to serve as a blueprint for producing large-scale trade shows this year.  The world’s most influential technology trade show welcomed over 2,300 exhibitors, including 900 startups launching innovative products in digital health, artificial intelligence, automotive, NFT and digital assets, just to name a few. Tens of thousands attended the show and, by all accounts, there was strong engagement on… more
Jan 05, 2022
The newly launched Global Business Events Barometer from the Events Industry Council (EIC) has found a significant upswing in global group demand during Q3 2021, while overall, business meetings and events activity has recovered to approximately half of pre-pandemic levels. The barometer, which was created by Oxford Economics on behalf of EIC as part of the 2021 EIC Economic Significance Study, monitors the changes within the market relative to pre-pandemic (2019) levels and explores two key areas: hotel group room nights and request for proposal (RFP) activity. The barometer indicates that… more
Jan 03, 2022
Grand Slam Events is gearing up to launch a new all-inclusive pizza industry event designed to better serve the East Coast and Southern regions of the U.S.: The Pizza Tomorrow Summit. Set to debut Nov. 9-10, 2022 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., the new trade show and conference for the growing and ever-changing pizza industry will be a full-service event bringing together pizza operators, new companies, suppliers, products and initiatives along with a cutting-edge education program.  According to show officials, attendees of the new event will be able to expect an… 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.