
Jun 06, 2016
Meeting and convention-goers holding events in Cleveland just received a nice boost, with a new 600-room Hilton opening adjacent to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
To celebrate the opening, Hilton Worldwide executives, Hilton Cleveland Downtown management and employees, city and county officials, community representatives and invited guests gathered last week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception.
“The opening of Hilton Cleveland Downtown signifies not only a historic occasion for the city of Cleveland, but for Hilton Hotels & Resorts,” said Shawn McAteer, vice… more

Jun 06, 2016
Driven by strong industry sectors including building, construction, food and transportation, as well as overall growth in trade show industry revenues, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research Index report indicated that the industry continued its growth streak in Q1 this year, with a 2.6-percent increase, compared with the same quarter last year.
The results were positive, despite a sluggish macroeconomy, and marked the 23rd consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.
“The exhibition industry is off to a good start in 2016,” said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for… more

Jun 06, 2016
More than 220 attendees, which included top-level association and for-profit executives from companies worldwide, gathered June 1 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., along with 37 sponsors, eight media representatives and seven meeting and trade show industry associations, to network and learn about the latest trends.
Sam Lippman, president and founder of Lippman Connects, which produces the event, said that this year’s ECEF had not only a record number of sponsors, but also a record number of new sponsors.
In addition, the event was celebrating its 15th anniversary, which was highlighted… more

Jun 04, 2016
What began as an experiment in the 1950s to see how American Rental Association (ARA) members and rental store owners would respond has now become the largest equipment rental trade show in the world.
It all started in January 1956, when 29 rental operators gathered in a Kansas City, Mo., restaurant for their first Annual Meeting. January was chosen because it was the slow season for rental business, and members
could more easily be away from their stores.
The following year, the meeting expanded to include a trade show with eight exhibitors and about 100 attendees in an Omaha, Neb.,… more

Jun 04, 2016
For any trade show company considering taking a show overseas, one of the first people that comes to mind time after time is Cherif Moujabber, who has been involved in the industry for more than 30 years.
Moujabber is Creative Expos and Conferences' founder and joined the trade show business of Horizon House (a Dedham, Mass.-based company) by organizing communications equipment shows in the U.S., Brazil and Egypt for 5 years.
In 1981, he joined Cahners Expo Group (now known as Reed Exhibitions, an Anglo-Dutch company), where he was successively posted in Boston, Los Angeles, Stamford,… more

Jun 01, 2016
UBM continues to expand its portfolio in the U.S. with the acquisition of Content Marketing Institute, which produces the annual Cleveland, Ohio-based event – Content Marketing World.
In addition, CMI holds the annual Intelligent Content Conference, as well as has media channels and marketing services that support and inform the content marketing community.
“The CMI business is complementary to UBM’s existing technology business and we see excellent opportunities to help CMI grow to its full potential, to cross promote to technology marketing professionals and to provide additional insight as… more

May 29, 2016
The first-ever Global Exhibitions Day, which will take place June 8, will bring together the global exhibition industry to raise awareness about the value of exhibitions, celebrate the professionals working in the industry and make a new generation of leaders aware of the opportunities the exhibition industry has to offer.
Launched by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, together with association partners from all around the world, Global Exhibitions Day is a combination of efforts from across the exhibition industry.
UFI is coordinating all global efforts from a GED… more

May 25, 2016
By Elizabeth Johnson
If you’ve lost sleep worrying about filling your hotel room block and avoiding attrition charges, you’re not alone. It’s a major concern for many meeting and event planners. According to the Event Room Demand Study (jointly released by the American Society of Association Executives, Center for Exhibition Industry Research, Destination & Travel Foundation, Meeting Professionals International and Professional Convention Management Association Education Foundation), an average of 34.1 percent of rooms are booked outside of the block. For some events, that number is as… more

May 23, 2016
Video gamers likely are rejoicing today, with the Entertainment Software Association, producers of the annual E3 Expo for the video gaming industry, unveiling a new event – E3 Live - that will be open to the public.
On tap June 14-16 at L.A. Live, the same time as E3 Expo next door at the Los Angeles Convention Center, video gamers will have the opportunity to enjoy video games, music, competitions and video game swag from some of the biggest names in the industry.
"The biggest event in video games is bringing gamers to the next level. We are excited to introduce E3 Live, an… more

May 23, 2016
The Cobo Center’s green efforts are paying off, with the Detroit-based venue snagging the Sustainable Brands conference next year, which previously was held in San Diego.
“Sustainable Brands has been committed to reducing and managing the environmental impact of our flagship conference for years now and we are excited to be bringing our community to Cobo Center in May 2017,” said David Fiss, executive producer of Live Events at Sustainable Brands.
He added, “In 2013, we were the first event organizer in North America to achieve conformity to the ISO 20121 Standard requiring event organizers… more
Partner Voices

MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.