Oct 14, 2020
While the live U.S. trade show industry remains on pause, some event producers are doing what they can to support the challenged industries their shows represent by becoming community resources in the virtual space. Case in point: Questex, which has created online programming for its Nightclub & Bar Show and VIBE Conference audiences via Evolve, a free, six-month-long virtual event and engagement series designed to help restaurant and bar owners, operators, investors and suppliers achieve success into 2021 and beyond.
Geared to help exhibitors, sponsors and suppliers reconnect until the… more
Oct 13, 2020
Tarsus Group made two recent acquisitions – the remaining 50 percent of China-based Hubei Tarsus Hope’s portfolio of medical events it was in a joint venture on and buying the entirety of the Masters of Pediatric Dermatology (MOPD) event.
Hubei Hope Exhibition was the first acquisition made in 2008 by Tarsus in China as a 50/50 joint venture that included several B2B exhibitions - Chengdu Dental Show and the biannual Zhengzhou Medical and Dental Show - across the fast-growing regions of Central and Western China.
“China is one of the world’s largest exhibition markets and is of great… more
Oct 12, 2020
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, and SISO, the Society for Independent Show Organizers, are calling on global policymakers and governments to follow a “testing before quarantine” approach for business-related travel and activities. This approach, both organizations say — which would include activating the potentials of rapid antigen COVID-19 tests — would enable businesses to move forward out of a severe global recession.
A statement signed by UFI President Mary Larkin (president of Diversified Communications, USA) and SISO Chair Doug Emslie (group chief executive,… more
Oct 09, 2020
A new commercial and architectural lighting trade show and conference will launch at Dallas Market Center in fall 2021. Designed for lighting designers and specifiers, interior designers and architects, the inaugural ArchLIGHT Summit will take place Sept. 21-22 at Dallas Trade Mart. This on-campus venue is already home to the permanent marketplace for the semi-annual Lightovation, the largest residential lighting show in North America, scheduled to run Jan. 7-10, 2021.
“Listening to thought leaders for design and the built environment, we recognized that there is an opportunity to fill a… more
Oct 06, 2020
Cincinnati-based Fern and its sister company, NexxtShow, have eliminated service cancellation charges as part of an ongoing series of changes to the traditional exhibition services provider model. This change helps to simplify the relationship between Fern/NexxtShow and the exhibitor while easing the exhibitor's decision to commit to show participation, according to Fern CEO Aaron Bludworth.
As of Oct. 1, any exhibitor order placed with Fern or NexxtShow through their OneView exhibitor portal will be refunded 100 percent, should the exhibitor cancel services prior to seven days before show… more
Oct 02, 2020
As the pandemic stretched into its seventh month here in the U.S. and even longer globally, the industry here continued to take small steps forward to slowly getting trade shows and events back on track.
Globally, shows opened successfully in several countries – including China, Malaysia and Germany, to name a few, while Germany also deemed trade shows ‘essential travel’.
Here in the U.S., a few more cities opened for events, albeit at limited capacity. At the same time, there were substantial efforts to implore the U.S. Congress to not leave town for elections until they passed the next… more
Sep 30, 2020
Louisville Tourism, the marketing agency charged with promoting the Kentucky city as a travel destination, has unveiled hospitality industry initiatives designed to address racial imbalances inside and outside the organization while promoting its reputation as an inclusive and welcoming destination. Launched on Sept. 23, the same day that charges against one police officer involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor were announced, the new initiatives come as Louisville finds itself in the spotlight while the nation reckons with its history of racial disparities.
“As we process the grief and… more
Sep 30, 2020
Seeing a need to help artisans and craftspeople operating sole proprietorships and family businesses connect with buyers once again in a live retail environment, Fairfax, Va.-based event management firm Spargo is taking action. After a popular local craft festival, Sugarloaf, filed for bankruptcy in June, Spargo sprung into action, launching a series of Capital Craft Fairs.
“Witnessing the loss of Sugarloaf events, a local tradition for more than four decades, hit a nerve and at the same time presented an opportunity that we were poised to pursue”, said Susan Bracken, president and CEO of… more
Sep 29, 2020
Dallas Market Center has signed a multi-year development and management agreement with Dubai Global Connect, the new 10-million-square-foot wholesale marketplace in Dubai opening in 2023. The deal was signed with the Dubai Global Connect ownership team, comprising the Investment Corporation of Dubai in partnership with Dubai South, an emerging master-planned district.
Currently under construction, Dubai Global Connect will be the first permanent B2B marketplace for consumer goods in the Middle East, open year round to qualified retail buyers and designers, manufacturers and industry… more
Sep 28, 2020
Event Leadership Institute (ELI) and McVeigh Global Meetings and Events have partnered to launch the Business Owner Mentorship Program, providing coaching and consulting to event professionals who’ve been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
“Event business owners, agencies and third-party suppliers went from a banner year in 2019 to a full ground stop of work in March,” said Howard Givner, founder of ELI and a former event agency owner. “Now they’re scrambling for survival and resources to help them chart a path to come out of this crisis.”
The new program came out of an ELI-led initiative… 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.