Fresh Experiences and Enhanced Education on Tap for IAEE’s Expo! Expo!
November 19, 2019
As evidenced by its jam-packed schedule, this year’s Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition will have plenty in store for attendees to see, do and experience. Set for Dec. 3-5 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, the annual “show for shows” for trade show professionals will once again feature a bustling expo alongside cutting-edge education, networking opportunities and special events over three action-packed days.
This year, the event is expected to draw in more than 2,400 exhibition professionals and 275 exhibiting companies to a sold-out, 42,000-square-foot trade showfloor. More than 100 educational sessions will focus on key targeted areas designed to help show organizers take their skills to the next level including leadership, strategy, design, marketing, management and technology.
For those attending Expo! Expo! this year, here are some not-to-miss activities to add to your busy agenda:
Education and Networking
- Designed to provide a fresh take on networking and learning experiences at the show, the new IAEE Hangout will house a wide range of interesting educational opportunities and activations, including:
- Education sessions at the GES Main Stage
- Summit Club Lounge, an invitation-only VIP lounge offering internet access, snacks and a quiet, comfortable place for relaxing or networking
- Art of the Show Winners Gallery
- Enhanced CEM Discovery Lounge
- Marriott Trends Zone: The Future of Meetings & Events
- Charging stations
- Tech Bar, an interactive spot offering tech support, education and best practices
- ZenSpace Meeting Pods
- BUZZ Sessions, short, focused and informal discussions featuring crowdsourced content and led by industry thought leaders
- Wellness Area with massages
Expo
- International Pavilion & Theatre Presentations
- Tech StartUp Pavilion & Pitch Competition
- Exhibitor press conferences
- SMART Sessions
- Brews and Views Pub series, featuring interviews with industry icons, thought leaders and podcasts from the showfloor
- AV Experience with AVIXA and SmartSource
Special Events
- Opening party sponsored by Mandalay Bay/MGM Events
- Exclusive performance by Blue Man Group at the end of the Opening General Session
- Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause at House of Blues benefitting Three Square
- Terence Donnelly Memorial 5K Run/1 Mile Walk hosted by Experient
- Lego activation and networking area – all Legos will be donated to the Las Vegas chapter of The Children’s Heart Foundation post-event
- Closing party at Drai’s on the Las Vegas Strip
To lessen its environmental impact, the event will be using recyclable and reusable materials throughout the expo, will provide attendees with reusable water bottles and eliminate plastic water bottles in all areas except for the stages. The Gift of Service trips to Three Square food bank will also be available for attendees wanting to give back to those in need during the event.
To learn more about the action-packed schedule at Expo! Expo!, go here.
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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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