IBTM World Announces 2018 Tech Watch Award Winners
November 30, 2018
The winners of the IBTM World 2018 Tech Watch Awards were announced at the IBTM World event in Barcelona this week. Zenus and Fielddrive were the joint recipients of the Tech Watch Award, while Kubify took home the inaugural “People’s Choice” award for its Learning Toolbox.
A panel of well-known industry experts selected Zenus and Fielddrive for their pioneering and impactful work in bringing facial recognition software to the events industry.
“Zenus is the creator of the software and Fielddrive has been a significant implementor of the product by exploring and measuring the onsite best cases for use,” said Corbin Ball, chair of the IBTM World Tech Watch Award.
He continued, “Together, they make a strong team, developing facial recognition for the events industry. They exemplify the goal of the IBTM World Tech Watch Award – to showcase important innovation to advance this industry.”
Zenus offers high-end security facial recognition for event registrations, enabling a fast and easy check-in, while Fielddrive provides on-site technology services for conferences, trade shows and events. Due to the interlinked nature of the two companies and their solutions, Zenus and Fielddrive were judged as a single entry.
“Our efforts with Zenus on full integration of facial recognition technology, together with Fielddrive’s kiosks, full-color badge-printing and global deployment, has set a new standard in the meetings industry,” said Danny Stevens, founder and CEO of Fielddrive.
He continued, “Fielddrive has gone to great lengths to innovate onsite attendee management and this latest international accolade is a great reward to our team and our clients. At Fielddrive, we’re convinced that the latest great experience is the next expectation. We’re proud to be leading the way.”
The Tech Watch People’s Choice Award, won this year by Netherlands-based e-poster company Kubify, was introduced to recognize the finalist that received the highest number of online votes from members of the MICE industry. Voters could select from any of the nine companies shortlisted for the Tech Watch Award.
Kubify offers Learning Toolbox, an interactive e-poster system for scientific meetings. Attendees use an app to search posters by subject/keyword, interact with the poster, post comments, ask questions and rate/cast a vote for the best poster.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have won the Tech Watch People’s Choice award,” said Tamsin Treasure-Jones, co-founder of Kubify.
She continued, “We’d like to thank the users of our platform and IBTM attendees for voting for us, and IBTM for giving us the opportunity to exhibit. It’s been an incredible experience, we’ve made lots of fantastic contacts and had some valuable discussions. We are looking forward to coming back next year.”
The panel of judges was formed of high-profile professionals from the events and technology industries including Michelle Bruno, president of Bruno Group Signature Events; Dahlia El Gazzar, founder of DAHLIA+ Inc; Ruud Janssen, founder of TNOC.org and co-founder EMG; Pádraic Gilligan, managing partner at SoolNua; Paul Hussey, director of The Conference Doctor and Julius Solaris, founder and editor of Event MB.
“The IBTM World Tech Watch Award is an essential accolade in our dedication to showcasing the latest technology and innovations,” said Shane Hannam, IBTM World portfolio director.
He added, “It’s what our customers want to see and is a core reason they attend IBTM World. Congratulations to our fantastic winners, Zenus, Fielddrive, and Kubify.”
For more information on the IBTM Tech Watch Awards and recipients, go HERE.
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Partner Voices
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates.
Water Stewardship Efforts
MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship.
In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step.
MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas.
MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.
From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts.
Caring for One Another
MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include:
Unserved perishable prepared foods from events
Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens
Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses
The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion
To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.
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