Connect, BizBash Get Back to Hugs, Normalcy at Las Vegas Conference

June 8, 2021
Connect, BizBash Get Back to Hugs, Normalcy at Las Vegas Conference

Hugs replaced fistbumps as the days of yesteryear reappeared during the Connect and BizBash collocated event at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.

The B2B conference geared toward matching event planners with venue personnel to spur future business, and evrent inpiration from BizBash, drew about 750 attendees in-person May 22-24, with another 1,500 event professionals participating online.

Connect and BizBash were in the unusual position of hosting a second event during the pandemic, having executed a scaled-down and delayed version of its largest annual conference last fall in Orlando. The difference between the 2020 event and May’s gathering was palpable, said Connect Vice President Patrick Higgins.

“It was back to normal,” he reported. 

Safety precautions, including implementing Fern HealthCheck powered by ShareMy.Health as a digital passport, were in place. 

“Safety, speed and efficiency are of the essence as Vegas and other event-hosting cities start admitting attendees back to these large gatherings,” explained Galen Murdock, founder and CEO of ShareMy.Health. “We’ve had more than 700 attendees, with 500 vaccine credentials managed, verified and shared with the event organizer. Plus more than 150 COVID-19 antigen tests were flawlessly executed through a telehealth video consultation — all from the privacy of the attendee’s hotel room.”

Connect, BizBash Get Back to Hugs, Normalcy at Las Vegas ConferenceHiggins said it was clear that attendees’ focus was on business and not COVID-19. “Safety was there, but it was not on the forefront,” he said.

The show, which occurred a week before Nevada lifted its pandemic restrictions, served as a reunion, not only for industry peers but also for co-workers at companies split across the country. Mike Ferreira, owner and founder of Meetings Made Easy, celebrated the moment on social media with team members Sarah Buchbinder and Yvette Dumas Campbell.

We know that this is a picture of three industry professionals but it’s so much more than that!,” he wrote on a Facebook post during the event. “This is a picture of three people that waited a year plus to see each other. The pandemic was the hardest time of our lives and for many others as well. Last nights [sic] reception was magical, we were able to network and be around our industry friends.”

BizBash President Matt Johnson was thrilled to be at the forefront of the industry's rapid recovery. "Our co-location with Connect provided the perfect opportunity for event professionals to achieve site-selection needs with event inspiration. As event professionals look to rebuild portfolios, BizBash has become even greater resource in showcasing the latest ideas, inspiration and vendors that will help the industry reimagine future experiences.”

Many of the standard Connect hallmarks were in-place, including general sessions, one-on-one appointments and networking functions. Attendees able to provide proof of vaccination were allowed to go maskless. The confidence walking into meeting rooms with bracelets marking vaccine status was noticeable.

Higgins is a strong believer that the events industry’s recovery, already in full swing, will only grow as more business travelers return to the airlines.

“Once they go on that first trip and see it’s safe, they will come back,” he said.

Connect and BizBash are counting on that for their next collaboration, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, at Tampa Convention Center. Early estimates predict that at least 3,000 corporate, association, sports and SMERF event professionals will be in attendance in Florida. The trade show, which figures to be larger than its 2019 counterpart in Louisville, is already three-quarters sold out, Higgins added.


Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!

Add new comment

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.