Giving Back

TSNN is shining a bright, well-deserved spotlight on event companies that are #GivingBack to make a positive impact in their host and home communities.

Is your company #GivingBack? Tweet us using the #GivingBack hashtag to @TSNN_com_us and we’ll feature what your company is doing to help make the world a better place!

Feb 16, 2021
An army of events industry leaders is taking a stand to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Take a look:  Reed Exhibitions On Jan. 15, global event producer Reed Exhibitions announced that it will donate $1 million over the next five years to select global charity partners that are working to improve inclusivity and diversity in their local communities by supporting social change, fighting injustice and fostering development. The charities that will benefit from the first portion of donations through the Reed Exhibitions Charity Fund include The Adus Instituto, Business Initiative for… more
Feb 05, 2021
If there’s one thing that the live events industry has continued to demonstrate over the course of its history, it’s an open-hearted willingness to help its own, particularly in times of crisis. COVID-19 has presented yet another opportunity to do just that.  Since the Las Vegas trade show industry came to a halt last March, many trade show and event workers have remained out of work and in urgent need of help, including with basics such as food. A concerned group of trade show industry companies, including the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) Las Vegas Chapter; Metro… more
Oct 29, 2020
As the second-largest convention center in the state of Georgia, the 400,000-square-foot Georgia International Convention Center — like similar venues around the country — wasn’t accustomed to facing an empty events calendar for much of 2020. To stay afloat, GICC has shifted toward hosting events to help the local community, including food and blood drives, flu shot clinics, funerals and drive-up concerts. It’s also served as a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing site and most recently, as an early voting precinct for the November election. “The City of College Park, the GICC and Gateway Arena… more
Oct 05, 2020
It goes without saying that the events industry could use more positive news right now. Here’s what several DMOs, venues and organizations are doing to help those who need it most during this challenging time. Louisville Tourism Sells Face Masks to Benefit COVID Relief Charities For the past few months, Louisville Tourism has sold Louisville-branded face masks and donated a portion of the proceeds to local COVID relief programs: One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund and the Fund for the Arts’ Black Artists Fund.   Available for $10 each, the masks come in three styles: two with the city’s… more
Aug 03, 2020
Whether supplying protective face masks to local residents, helping young students with their career plans or working to combat food insecurity, these event destinations, venues and vendors haven’t allowed the pandemic to slow their CSR efforts. VISIT Milwaukee Helps Supply Milwaukeeans With Free Face Masks  To help Milwaukee residents stay safe and healthy while complying with the new City of Milwaukee MKE Cares mask ordinance that went into effect on July 16, VISIT Milwaukee and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce have teamed up to provide Milwaukeeans with free protective… more
Jun 22, 2020
While some major convention centers transformed into temporary medical relief centers as the pandemic took hold in early spring, one large venue has made the most of its empty exhibit halls and kitchens by caring for the community’s homeless individuals. For the last 10 weeks, the San Diego Convention Center has served as a temporary regional homeless shelter for approximately 1,200 people as part of the City of San Diego-funded Operation Shelter to Home initiative, designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the city’s homelessness population. The SDCC is sheltering and feeding… more
May 29, 2020
As the fall-out from the pandemic continues, it’s heartening to see trade show and event suppliers step up to help their employees, industry and communities be strong, resilient and hopeful. Check out what these venues, vendors and CVBs are doing to support the greater good. The Venetian and Las Vegas Sands   From donating millions of pieces of PPE to healthcare workers and delivering food to local food banks to distributing 20,000 hygiene kits to Las Vegas charities while making sure its employees are cared for during the state of Nevada-mandated closure, the Las Vegas Sands has… more
May 22, 2020
So your meeting or trade show has been postponed or cancelled. You turned your misfortune into good fortune for others by donating your unused food and event supplies to local food banks and charities. You even got your team involved in the feel-good effort, which you made sure to share with your event audience via your marketing and social media channels. But as an event planner who believes in the power of corporate social responsibility to engage audiences and support those in-need in host communities, you may be asking – now what? How can you continue to support the common good with… more
May 07, 2020
In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best in humanity, including those in the events industry. Over the past several weeks, more and more destinations, event companies and venues have been jumping in to support the fight against the virus. Here are some examples of compassion in action to brighten your week:  Visit Anaheim and Partners Supporting Community From donating supplies and food to sharing messages of hope and encouragement, stakeholders within the city of Anaheim, California, have teamed up to serve as valuable resources during this time. Anaheim Convention… more
Apr 20, 2020
To bring a smile to your face during challenging times, read on to learn about event organizations, venues and companies that are setting a positive example of human compassion and charitable giving in-action. GPHA Launches Hospitality Workers Relief Fund  The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association is seeking donations to assist with purchasing gift cards for local grocery stores and pharmacies to distribute to Philadelphia hotel, Pennsylvania Convention Center and Independence Visitor’s Center hourly employees who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.  The program’s goal is to raise a minimum… more
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.