Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum Celebrates 15th Anniversary with Stellar Speaker Line Up
February 19, 2016
The 15th anniversary of the Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum will feature a bevy of high-profile speakers when the one-day conference is held June 1 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C.
“The ECEF 2016 program has confirmed the participation of 11 ‘A-list’ executive presenters and panelists” said Sam Lippman, president, Lippman Connect.
He added, “Because ECEF is renowned for its C-level program, I am keenly aware that expectations for the 15th Anniversary are extraordinarily high. To meet the challenge, the 2016 agenda takes an unblinking look at the looming threats and opportunities organizers need to conquer.”
ECEF attendance is limited to 200 CEOs, executive directors, presidents, and vice presidents from associations and for-profit organizers.
The event will kick off with an opening keynote by Karen Chupka, senior vice president, CES & Corporate Business Strategy Exhibitions and Events, CTA/CES, who will share the wisdom that has taken CES to the top.
A panel discussion, “Our Exhibitors Speak”, will have Randal Acker, president at EXHIBITOR Media Group and Diane Benson, Americas exhibits leader, GE Healthcare; Dominique Cook, trade show manager, Marvin Windows and Doors; and Dana L. Tilghman, senior trade show and events planner, Minitab, who will discuss what is working and what needs to change to maximize their ROI from events.
Lippman will discuss “Attendee Acquisition”, utilizing research from Exhibit Surveys and best practices from Lippman Connect’s Attendee Acquisition Roundtables on how to find, attract and retain quality attendees.
Another all-star panel discussion, “Agenda 2018: New Event Realities”, will be led by Galen Poss, Vice Chairman, dmg events, and he will invite Charles McCurdy, chairman and CEO, Informa Global Exhibitions; David Loechner, CEO, Emerald Expositions; and Deborah Sexton, president and CEO, PCMA, to share their vision of how the events business will have changed by new technologies, new competitors and the pressure to experiment and innovate.
The day will wrap up with the closing keynote, “From Mini to Mega: Growing and Protecting Your Brand” given by Frank Supovitz, president and chief experience officer, Fast Traffic Events & Entertainment, who will demonstrate that no matter your event’s age or size, protecting your brand takes more than meticulous planning and flawless execution.
The session will focus on understanding an event’s potential, leveraging opportunities for growth and being prepared to respond to threats and challenges.
Excepting one session reserved for late-breaking developments, complete information on the all the sessions is HERE.
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites.
Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation.
Reinvented Luxury Experiences
The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes.
New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May.
Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.
A “New Wave for Mandalay Bay
A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay.
Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options.
From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.
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