Oct 23, 2018
Several associations recently signed new contracts with suppliers to the trade show industry for housing, registration, lead management and publications. Convention Data Services (CDS) was selected by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) to provide registration, lead management and integrations for Museums Advocacy Day, as well as the Annual Meeting & Museum Expo for three years through 2021. AAM’s mission is to champion museums and nurture excellence. Museums Advocacy Day brings together advocates who make the case for museums. The Annual Meeting & Museum Expo is the world’s… more
Oct 23, 2018
Billed as the incentive travel, meetings and events industry’s largest trade show in the U.S., IMEX America 2018broke its own records for success last week. Held Oct. 16-18 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, this was the show’s eighth consecutive year in Las Vegas.    According to IMEX Group, the show boasted the following statistics: 13,000 estimated participants 6,000 attendees 3,300 hosted buyers More than 3,500 exhibitors More than 150 countries represented 70,000 estimated appointments Economic impact of $19.1 million  Smart Monday, the MPI-powered day of education… more
Oct 22, 2018
After two years of extensive research and listening to its exhibitors, the NAB Show has launched a ground-breaking new program designed to support and improve the exhibitor experience by creating a more transparent and sustainable model for its exhibitor services. Developed in response to exhibitor complaints about the cost and unpredictability of exhibiting expenses, the NAB Show Cares program comprises a series of comprehensive initiatives that address a range of services exhibiting companies described as significant challenges, including material handling, electrical and hanging signs and… more
Oct 18, 2018
The NACS Show has broken its attendance and expo records once again. Held Oct. 7-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the annual four-day event for the U.S. convenience store industry attracted 25,159 industry stakeholders from 72 countries, topping 25,000 for the first time ever and beating last year’s attendance record of 24,940. According to The Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing, which owns and runs the show, a large part of this growth in participation was due to a strong surge in buyers – retailers, convenience distributors and registrations from NACS Show partner the… more
Oct 17, 2018
The trade show mergers and acquisitions market shows no sign of slowing down any time soon, with two more buys recently taking place; Emerald Expositions bought ST Media Group International and Hospitality Media Group’s portfolio of shows that includes BDNY (Boutique Design New York) and Access Intelligence scooped up P3C Media’s event portfolio. Now in its ninth year, BDNY is a leading trade show and conference for boutique hospitality design professionals, primarily serving the eastern United States, Canada and Europe. BDNY was ranked No. 145 on the 2017 TSNN Top Trade Show list and… more
Oct 17, 2018
Steady growth is the meetings and event industry’s “new normal” according to the American Express Meetings & Events (M&E)2019 Global Meetings and Events Forecast, released on Oct. 15 at IMEX America. For the fourth consecutive year, the events industry has achieved consistent growth in both spend and attendees. In 2019, global meetings activity is expected to continue to grow, accompanied by small increases in budget allocation for meetings and events. This matches data from CWT Meetings & Events’ 2019 Meetings & Events Future Trends report, released earlier this month.  “… more
Oct 16, 2018
Today is opening day for IMEX America 2018, the country’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. Held annually at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, IMEX America runs Oct. 16-18. Smart Monday, the MPI-powered free educational day immediately prior to the main IMEX activities, broke attendance records yesterday, and keeping in line with the industry predictions for an event size increase, IMEX America’s showfloor will be its largest yet with more than 3,500 exhibitors representing 150 countries.  Twenty-eight percent of returning exhibitors opted for… more
Oct 12, 2018
Vision Expo West celebrated its 30thanniversary by achieving a nearly double-digit increase in attendance compared to the year before.  Held Sept. 26-29 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, the annual eyecare and eyewear conference and exhibition attracted 12,579 ophthalmic professionals from across the globe, a sizable increase compared to 2017, when 11,790 attended the event. The show’s attendance increased in nearly every category, particularly in Opticians and Optometrists, as well as in Independent OD and MD practices, multidisciplinary practices, chains/superstores and laboratories,… more
Oct 11, 2018
The 16th edition of Tarsus Group’s biennial trade show, Labelexpo Americas, was the largest in its history. A total of 487 exhibitors were spread across the biggest floorspace yet, at 203,642 square feet, with almost 30 percent of exhibitors new to this year’s show. During the course of the three-day show, which took place Sept. 25-27 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago, an increase in attendees to 16,413 from 86 countries passed through its doors. The Latin America region was especially strongly represented, with a 95-percent increase on its 2016 show attendee total.… more
Oct 09, 2018
More than two million pets and other live animals are transported by air every year in the U.S. While the U.S. Department of Transportation offers guidelines, each airline establishes its own company policy for the proper handling of the animals they transport. In April 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Safe Air Travel for Animals Act. Many airlines responded to this law by implementing restrictions on accepting pets as cargo. United Airlines is currently the only domestic airline that will cargo-transport brachycephalic, aka flat-faced, short-nosed dogs such as bulldogs and pugs who are… 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.