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
Sep 19, 2018
Last week, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors gave the go-ahead for construction to begin Phase Two of the Las Vegas Convention Center District expansion.  “This is an incredibly important and exciting time, not just for the LVCVA but for the entire destination,” said Steve Hill, CEO of the LVCVA. “With today’s approval, we’re delighted to join a boom in development that’s on a scale that we haven’t seen in more than a decade.”  He continued, “We’ve been the No. 1 trade show destination in North America for 24 consecutive years, but we must continue to be… more
Jul 19, 2018
On July 16, Caesars Entertainment Corporation broke ground on its newest development: the CAESARS FORUM Las Vegas conference center. Slated to open in 2020, it will feature 550,000 square feet of flexible meeting, event and convention space. As the emcee for the ground-breaking ceremony, Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association and long-time meetings industry veteran, spoke about how when he was first starting in the industry, the meetings market was an afterthought for Las Vegas. Forty years later, the city is now the leading destination for meetings within the U.S.   … more
Apr 26, 2018
In a continuing effort to enhance its international business relationships, World Trade Center Las Vegas recently signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) at the 49thWorld Trade Center Association General Assembly in the Netherlands with host World Trade Center Leeuwarden, World Trade Center Twente and World Trade Center Denver. The agreements encourage Las Vegas to co-market with the three cities under the WTCA’s expansive brand to create access to key trade information and market research as well as facilitate business trade missions around the world.  “Following a record-breaking… more
Apr 16, 2018
Trade shows in the fashion retail sector have gone through another shift, with Liberty Fairs buying Reed Exhibitions’ Capsule shows. "Bringing the Capsule show under the Liberty Fairs Fashion Group umbrella creates an even stronger platform for all of our shows,” said Sam Ben-Avraham, founder of Liberty Fairs Fashion Group. He added, “We are always thinking about the future, about what's coming, how we create the right thing to satisfy our core audience, and also attract new eyes to what we are doing. Together, we will have more opportunities to serve the fashion space and also build our… more
Apr 12, 2018
If the recently unveiled design drawings of its expansion project are any indication, the nearly 60-year-old Las Vegas Convention Center has a vibrant new look in its future. Presented on April 10 by architects from tvsdesign to the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the drawings depict an innovatively designed, modern-looking convention center as iconic as the city itself, according to Rossi Ralenkotter, CEO of the LVCVA. “This is one of the most important days in the history of the LVCVA,” Ralenkotter said. “Southern Nevada’s economy is driven by… more
Mar 19, 2018
Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2017 TSNN Top Trade Shows list in the United States. Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage. The full, searchable list, sponsored exclusively by Expocad and the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, can be found HERE. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 show snagged the No. 1 spot and spanned more than 2.67 million net square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In… more
Feb 21, 2018
In the past few years, MAGIC, the biannual series of shows serving the fashion retail industry, has undergone one major change of ownership and is on the cusp of a possible other, as well as bought even more shows so that now there are a dozen running at the same time in Las Vegas. The most recent MAGIC, held Feb. 12-14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Convention Center, marked a further evolution in the fast-growing series of shows. In 2016, MAGIC’s parent company, UBM, bought Business Journals Inc. and took several of BJI’s shows, including STITCH, MRket and… more
Feb 20, 2018
In an effort to enhance international business relationships, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), owner and producer of the annual Consumer Electronics Show, closed out last month’s CES with an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the World Trade Center Las Vegas and the World Trade Center Trieste in Trieste, Italy. Through the agreement, Las Vegas and Trieste will co-market under the World Trade Center brand, creating access to key trade information, market research and facilitate business trade opportunities… more
Jan 25, 2018
As part of an organizational restructuring that began in January 2016, The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s CEO Rossi Ralenkotter announced the hiring of Steve Hill to fill the role of president and COO.  As part of the restructuring, the organization developed a c-suite structure for the executive office to better prepare for succession planning and create an organizational structure to better mirror and partner with the resort community. Ralenkotter also announced the promotion of Cathy Tull to CMO and Ed Finger to CFO. Previous additions to the c-suite included Barbara… 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.