New Business Deals: Tarsus Group and Convention Data Services Secure and Extend Strategic Partnerships
December 5, 2022
Major players in the meetings, trade show and events industry have been quietly securing new business deals and renewing existing partnerships as they set their sights on a strong and prosperous future for their respective businesses and premium event experiences for the audiences they serve. Take a look!
Tarsus Group
London, U.K.-based B2B events and media company Tarsus Group (Tarsus) and Fern Exposition Services, LLC (Fern), a leading national marketing support and trade show services provider, recently formed a multi-year partnership.
Under the terms of the agreement, Fern will provide trade show services for more than a dozen Tarsus events produced annually through 2025 in North America, including the biannual fashion wholesale event, OFFPRICE Show, and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) event portfolios. The agreement also includes an option to add future events during the term of the agreement.
“We look forward to partnering with Fern and having them provide our exhibitors and key event stakeholders the customer-focused and personalized service which Fern is known for,” said Brian Howell, vice president of operations for Tarsus. “After a comprehensive RFP and presentation process, the entire Tarsus team agreed that Fern offered solutions that would not only meet our expectations in the areas of service, creativity and pricing, but would also hopefully exceed them.”
Focused on the fashion wholesale market, Tarsus’ OFFPRICE Show runs biannually in Las Vegas, with the next edition set for Feb. 11-14 at The Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas. A4M’s Annual World Congress – Longevity Fest 2022, set for Dec. 9-11, will also take place at The Venetian.
“We are pleased and excited with Tarsus’ decision and confidence in Fern, led by Senior National Sales Manager Angi Van Berg, to enter into an agreement where we service several of their flagship events,” said Aaron Bludworth, Fern president and CEO. “We have long regarded Tarsus as a world-class organization, and we look forward to helping them grow their business while creating exceptional trade show experiences for their exhibitors for many years to come.”
Convention Data Services
Leading event registration, business intelligence and lead management partner Convention Data Services (CDS), a Freeman Company, has renewed several business partnerships over the past several months.
The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) has extended its partnership with CDS for five more years through 2027. CDS will provide full-service registration, integrations, lead management and contact center services for the ASCRS Annual Meeting, the largest U.S. meeting for anterior segment surgeons, practice management staff and ophthalmic technicians and nurses, as well as self-service registration for their smaller meetings.
IPC International, Inc. (IPC), a non-profit organization representing all facets of the electronics industry, renewed its partnership with CDS for five years from 2025–2029. CDS will provide full-service registration, integrations, lead management, sessions and access control and contact center services, as well as self-service registration for IPC’s smaller events.
“It is a pleasure working with CDS, whose people and culture are some of the best in the business,” said Kim DiCianni, IPC director of tradeshows and events. “CDS works as a true partner, not only as they come up with solutions when we ask for something new or some added functionality, but also as they continue to evolve and innovate their products and services, making CDS the best registration vendor in the industry.”
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, extended its partnership with CDS for five years from 2023–2028. CDS will provide full service registration, lead management, integrations, data analytics and contact center services for PMMI’s PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows, which include PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, PACK EXPO East, EXPO PACK Mexico and EXPO PACK Guadalajara.
“PMMI is such an important and prestigious player in the industry, and we are excited to continue the partnership for another five years,” said David Lawton, CDS chief sales officer. “Since we first began working with PMMI in 2015, our team has remained committed to executing innovative, seamless solutions that can now serve both their domestic and international portfolio of shows.”
Have an event-related business deal to share? Reach out to lpsavas@tsnn.com.
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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.
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