Feb 05, 2019
Full-service sourcing, housing and event management company Connections Housing has acquired Par Avion, a full-service convention housing and travel company based in Lawndale, Calif.   Both Connections Housing and Par Avion are women-owned business and are respected leaders in housing and travel services with mutual emphasis on executing superior and seamless events.    The announcement comes from company executives Nancy Hallberg and Kris Sieradzki, Connections Housing, and Toby Brenner, Par Avion.  “Both companies have been in business for 30-plus years with the paramount goal of… more
Feb 01, 2019
Nominations are open for five available positions on the ASAE and ASAE Foundation Board of Directors. The organization is seeking diverse leadership as defined by race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, appearance, geographic location and professional level. The board positions include secretary-treasurer and four at-large directors, with all directors serving on the ASAE Board and two of the four selected also serving on the ASAE Foundation Board. “Participation as a member of the ASAE Board is not only valuable for your professional growth, but… more
Photo by Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash
Jan 31, 2019
It’s late; you’ve skipped dinner, again; and the hotel mini bar beckons. What will it be: overpriced potato chips, M&Ms, or maybe both? With a little advance planning, you could have prevented the strike of nighttime hunger — and perhaps a multitude of health issues down the road. While more research is needed on humans to determine whether calories eaten are night are more likely to cause weight gain than the same number of calories consumed during the day (as one study conducted on mice by Northwestern University suggested), there’s no question that making poor eating choices at night… more
Jan 31, 2019
In an effort to shed a light on “conscious fashion,” WWDMAGIC will partner with animal rights organization PeTA and animal-friendly outerwear brand Coalition LA at the fashion trade show’s upcoming winter marketplace, set for Feb. 5-7 at Las Vegas Convention Center. The PeTA x Coalition LA-branded partnership will be featured in events throughout the event to bring awareness about the cruelty-free options available to the fashion community, according to Kelly Helfman, president of WWDMAGIC. “WWDMAGIC is a very commercial, high-profile fashion event in the B2B industry, and we have brands of… more
Charlie McCurdy
Jan 29, 2019
To say that last year was a monumental one for Informa Exhibitions, which is led by CEO Charlie McCurdy, would be quite an understatement. 2018 marked the largest mergers and acquisitions deal in history, with Informa buying fellow U.K.-based exhibition company, UBM, for a whopping $5.2 billion. Now that the deal has been closed for several months, TSNN sat down with McCurdy to talk through what’s next and some overall exhibition market trends. The Informa/UBM deal was completed in June, and McCurdy said there was an accelerated plan put in place immediately to integrate the two… more
Atlanta Super Bowl LII video
Jan 28, 2019
NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jared Goff will go head to head at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this Sunday, Feb. 3, for Super Bowl LII. Yet the Atlanta CVB is drawing on more stars to help promote the big game, launching a celebrity-packed video welcoming visitors to the city to mark the first the first time it’s hosted the Super Bowl since 2000. “Atlanta is a city that celebrates diversity, and we’re thrilled to work with many of the people who make this city special as we welcome visitors for this landmark event,” said William Pate, president and CEO, Atlanta CVB. “We are excited to… more
Ed Nichols
Jan 24, 2019
The year started off with a flurry of new hires, making for a busy and exciting January. Here are all the industry professionals who have been making some big career moves recently. Ed Nichols is now vice president of events for Hannover Fairs USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Hannover, Germany’s Deutsche Messe – one of the world’s largest and most active organizers of capital goods trade fairs. He will manage the commercial vehicle show portfolio, which currently includes the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. Previously, Nichols was vice president of events for Endeavour Business Media.… more
Jan 23, 2019
With the U.S. government shutdown still in effect — and stretched longer than any other in history — many association meeting planners and trade show organizers are concerned about how this might impact their events. Destination DC has been actively campaigning to let the world know that the city is open for business and ready to welcome both events and leisure travelers. The “DC is Open” campaign was first launched during a previous shutdown in October 2013, and has been redeployed to help visitors navigate the city. While the Smithsonian museums, National Zoo, National Gallery of Art and… more
Jan 22, 2019
Trade wars and a turbulent global economic outlook. Global opportunities, changing business models and disruption. The need for show organizers to remain flexible as well as pragmatic in running and planning their businesses going forward. These are just some of the pressing industry issues that will be addressed at the 2019 UFI European Conference, set for May 15-17 at the Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham, U.K.  Produced by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the annual event for exhibition professionals will focus on what organizers in Europe and beyond will be… more
Jan 21, 2019
Event planners looking for a Pacific Northwest hotel able to accommodate all their meeting guests might want to take a look at the Hyatt Regency Seattle. The new 45-story downtown property, which is now the largest hotel in the region, opened its doors late last year, on Dec. 10.  Located just two blocks from the Washington State Convention Center and adjacent to The Summit, the planned convention center expansion building slated to open Spring 2022, Hyatt Regency Seattle offers more than 103,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space.  “Progress is all around us,” said Hyatt… 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.