Mar 22, 2021
As the event and tourism industry begins its slow journey toward post-pandemic normalcy, it has become clear that hybrid events – those with both socially distanced in-person and virtual components – will be a vital part of the return of live meetings and conventions. Thus, many hospitality communities across the nation are doing their part to adapt to this new reality, including CVBs.
Case in point: Fort Worth, Texas and its tourism bureau, Visit Fort Worth, which successfully hosted its 8th Annual Meeting & Breakfast in hybrid format on February 5. Held at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel,… more
Mar 19, 2021
After two years in the making, the Women in Exhibitions Network North America Chapter recently launched. Fittingly, the inaugural event was virtual — on Zoom — and held on March 8, International Women’s Day.
The group is a safe place for women to discuss lessons learned over decades in the industry and see a path forward for more leadership positions. It’s widely known, and often bemoaned, that women are underrepresented in leading roles despite their prevalence in the events industry.
Three legends in the field — Nancy Walsh, president of North America, Informa; Mary Larkin, president,… more
Mar 18, 2021
This is a sponsored article by CampfireSocial
Earlier this month marked the launch of revolutionary social network and e-commerce platform CampfireSocial™, which lets brands own the voice of their industry through first-of-its-kind white-labeled technology.
Founded by tech entrepreneur Erica Bishaf, a 20+ year veteran in market intelligence, strategy, and trade shows, CampfireSocial provides advanced data and analytics to an organization via a personalized interface made up of traditional media, social media and e-commerce. Organizations can send mass communications and push messages to… more
Mar 18, 2021
As the events industry readies to turn the page on the COVID-19 dark times with a seemingly speedy recovery, a final chapter recording the final ugly numbers from 2020 is coming together.
The U.S. Travel Association released a report on Wednesday indicating the U.S. economy lost out on $1.1 trillion dollars from travel. Along those same lines, the data shows travel-supported jobs fell by 5.6 million in 2020 (16.7 million to 11.1 million) while the industry’s footprint shrunk by 42%. As proof that the pandemic disproportionately hurt the travel and hospitality world, 65% of all lost American… more
Mar 17, 2021
Consumer show producer Marketplace Events is growing its Texas footprint with the launch of two annual home and garden shows in Houston. Set to debut Feb. 11-13 and Oct. 21-23, 2022 at NRG Park, the new Houston Home + Garden Shows will join MPE’s three Austin and two San Antonio home improvement events as the company continues a multi-year effort to become the preeminent home show producer in the Lone Star State.
“As we begin to see light at the end of a dark COVID tunnel, the time is now for our industry to look forward to what can be gained, not backward to what was lost,” said Tom… more
Mar 16, 2021
Global exhibitions organizer Informa Markets has expanded its luxury lifestyle portfolio in South Florida with the recent launch of South Florida Ventures, a regionally-focused market serving luxury industries including art, beauty, boating and yachting. The Feb. 23 announcement follows Informa’s management agreement with the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association to expand its boating and yachting portfolio in Florida.
The launch signifies the integration of the array of luxury lifestyle brands based out of Informa’s Fort Lauderdale and newly opened Miami offices, under a single… more
Mar 11, 2021
It was Christmas in March for Mary Liz Curtain, co-owner of the distinctive Leon & Lulu marketplace in Clawson, Michigan. She walked around AmericasMart in Atlanta confidently, safely and productively during its Spring Market, held March 1-5.
“I will do my Christmas shopping in March going forward,” Curtain proclaimed after a triumphant return to the Markets after a 14-month absence.
Designer Nellie Howard Ossi of Jacksonville, Florida, one-upped that review with this Instagram post: “We came, we saw, we bought!”
If this sounds like comments you’d expect to in a normal, non-pandemic… more
Mar 11, 2021
U.K-based Tarsus Group has made two key appointments in its senior ranks with the current CFO, Dan O’Brien, being named as COO.
In this newly created role, O’Brien will oversee the company’s business operations and core group functions.
Mark Pennington, who currently is the Group’s director of finance, has been appointed to the role of CFO as part of the senior management restructure.
O’Brien and Pennington will both take up their new roles on March 31.
Having joined Tarsus Group in 2011 as CFO, O’Brien has been an integral part of the senior management team working closely with group… more
Mar 09, 2021
As the exhibition industry sets its sights on recovery, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events is doing what it can to increase its international and local educational resources that its chapters can offer members. To help do just that, IAEE has for a fifth-straight year partnered with full-service exhibitions services contractor Fern to offer a free specialized education program targeting top-of-mind topics most relevant to each chapter’s membership base.
“It is important to us to provide the best and most pertinent education programming to our members, especially as our… more
Mar 08, 2021
While a faculty member at East Carolina University, Dr. Alleah Crawford taught courses in event management. She joined the Association for Women in Events as a board member to build connections for her students.
The association may no longer exist, and Crawford is now professor and associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University in Alabama, but the work done by both remains of utmost importance to an industry trying to match its talk about diversity and inclusion with action.
Specifically, there remains a need to elevate women to leadership… 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.