
Nov 10, 2021
Now that meetings and conventions are trickling back to an in-person format again, the question of what event food and beverage is going to look like for the foreseeable future is likely occupying the mind of many a pandemic-weary event planner these days. To find out how the last 20 months have influenced the kinds of menus events are opting to serve or forgo, we turned to the experts—in this case, 20-year culinary veteran Jen Bargisen, senior executive chef with Sodexo Live!—to find out which F&B trends are hot and which are not in this ever-evolving health and safety landscape.
What… more

Nov 05, 2021
Ask Carina Bauer about how she got into the events industry, and she’ll tell you that while she was “born into it” thanks to her father, Ray Bloom, a serial entrepreneur in the hospitality and meetings industry who founded IMEX Group in 2002, that doesn’t mean her fate was necessarily sealed.
“I actually started my career in catering, running a chain of coffee shops and later joined IMEX by accident when I stepped in to help when one of the team fell ill a year before our first IMEX in Frankfurt,” Bauer explains.
That happy accident resulted in a complete immersion into the business… more

Oct 24, 2021
The 2021 TSNN Awards, on tap Dec. 1-2 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., will honor an incredible group of people and trade shows for leadership, innovation, courage and stepping out of the box during challenging times.
Diversified Communications’ President Mary Larkin and Mad Event Management President/Founder Martha Donato have both made extraordinary efforts to not only raise the profile of, but also support women in the trade show and events industry.
As a result, TSNN is excited to announce that they will both receive the 2021 Women’s Leadership Award.
“Alongside Martha, we… more

Oct 26, 2021
The influx of new hires and promotions continues unabated at event-related organizations far and wide as the industry prepares itself for a busier 2022. Take a look!
Skyline Displays
Skyline Displays, a leading provider of displays, exhibits and related services for trade shows and corporate events, has tapped Anthony Floreano as its new CEO. He succeeds Bill Dierberger, who is retiring after serving as president and CEO for 11 years but will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors.
Floreano brings a strong background in the event space to his leadership role, having spent… more

Oct 19, 2021
Like many of her colleagues in the industry, Michelle Mason “stumbled” into the associations field more than 20 years ago via a temporary staff assistant role at the Chemical Manufacturers Association (now the American Chemistry Council).
“I really didn’t know much about the industry but as I began to learn on the job, I realized that this is a very diverse sector, it focuses on community and serving people, and associations really have a huge societal impact and improve our quality of life,” she said. “That’s when I knew I was destined to be a life-long association professional.”
Fast-… more

Oct 18, 2021
Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky and Tarsus Group CEO Douglas Emslie will be celebrated for their incredible advocacy, support and achievements in the trade show industry at the 2021 TSNN Awards Dec. 1-2 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Sedky has been named the 2021 TSNN Awards Industry Icon Award honoree, given to an individual in the trade show industry who has displayed exemplary leadership.
Emslie will be celebrated at the awards with the inaugural Humanitarian Award for the incredible effort he put forth during a fundraiser he spearheaded to raise more than $42,000 for… more

Oct 13, 2021
Taffy Event Strategies, a female-owned, full-service trade show and event planning firm based in Arlington, Va., appointed well-known industry veteran Jennifer Heinold to the newly created position of chief operating officer.
In collaboration with Taffy President Jennifer Hoff, Heinold will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company and ensure that the needs and expectations of current and future clients are met and exceeded by building growth strategies for shows and leading new product development.
Heinold brings a wealth of experience in serving diverse communities; connecting… more

Oct 08, 2021
Joyce Leveston truly understands the transformative power of the convention industry. As a recent college graduate working as a telephone operator at the newly built San Diego Convention Center in 1989, she witnessed how the nascent venue was poised to transform what was then a sleepy military beach city into a highly desirable tourism and convention business destination. From then on she knew she was hooked.
“I will never forget how intrigued I was as I watched the venue being built from the ground up,” Leveston recollected. “I just wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and I… more
Oct 06, 2021
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) recently wrapped up another successful edition of its signature Women’s Leadership Forum, during which Tarsus Group’s Rachel Wimberly was honored with the 2021 IAEE Woman of Achievement Award.
The award recognizes an IAEE member who has led the way in advancing women through her outstanding leadership in the industry and her community.
Wimberly, who is executive vice president of business development, Tarsus U.S. for Tarsus Group, parent company of Trade Show News Network (TSNN), has been a member of IAEE for 14 years and… more

Oct 04, 2021
More new hires and promotions seem to be occurring at record pace as the trade show and destination marketing industries continue to forge ahead. Check out who’s moving in and up at event-related organizations throughout the U.S. and across the globe.
ConvExx
Las Vegas-based independent trade show and event management company ConvExx recently awarded several team members with new titles.
Jennifer Carr has been promoted to vice president, trade show and event operations, in which she will be responsible for service contractor relationships, graphics and show décor, and assisting with… more
Partner Voices

Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors.
TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders.
Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA
With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role?
Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”
These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.
Allegiant Stadium
As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward?
Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees.
What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events?
We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.
Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city.
Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.
What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization?
We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.
What are your favorite ways to recharge?
My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.
Valley of Fire
What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing?
I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.