Skyline Exhibits and The Hutton Group Expand Services to Benefit Event Clients

August 30, 2022

A leading exhibit builder and an event planning company recently launched new divisions in an effort to expand their business offerings and help clients boost the performance of their events.

Skyline Exhibits

Skyline Exhibits, a leading trade show exhibit company, unveiled a new live, virtual and hybrid events agency focused on synchronizing live event elements to increase reach and return on investment. Announced on Aug. 16, BrandSync is designed to help brands improve their business performance by joining with their top stakeholders to align messaging, values and direction, and by creating transformative experiences that deliver measurable impact and business results. 

“We could not be more excited to add BrandSync to the Skyline umbrella,” said Anthony Floreano, CEO of Skyline. “Our clients continue to invest in great customer experiences that move their business. With the introduction of BrandSync, we are right there with themfocused on themwhile we work diligently to produce events that make the most of their marketing investment. The BrandSync team brings deep experience and a commitment to helping brands improve business performance.” 

Complementing Skyline’s core exhibit business but operating as a separate entity, BrandSync is a full-service events agency offering strategy, creative and production services to clients managing large-scale engagements, including: 

  • Product launches 
  • Annual meetings 
  • Sales kick-off events 
  • Developer summits 
  • Consumer events 
  • Brand activations and immersion experiences 
  • Press events 
  • Entertainment events 
  • C-Suite and board meetings 

Leading the agency is an award-winning, seasoned team of key executives with experience across myriad industries, including automotive, technology, telecommunications, food and beverage, sports, financial services, oil and gas, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, including:

  • Matt Mongoven, senior vice president, brand experience and head of sales 
  • Donald Moss, executive creative director 
  • Julie Teplitzky, global director, account services 

BrandSync’s launch follows a recent Skyline survey that found that 83% of CMOs view synchronizing event spending, messaging and reach to deliver maximum impact and ROI as their top priority. 

The agency’s debut also marks Skyline’s first introduction of a new business since receiving investment from Gemspring Capital in 2020. According to Skyline Exhibits officials, the company is nearing its pre-pandemic revenue level and is focused on continued growth as events and trade shows rebound.

“We are launching into a crowded market with a value proposition anchored in our client’s world and our client’s ‘why,’” Mongoven said. “We understand the intricacies of live events and the challenges event professionals face today, we know how to create inspiring and meaningful engagement, and we understand how to make event execution simpler, easier and faster.” 

The Hutton Group

Pittsburgh-based The Hutton Group–Inspired Meetings & Events, a women-owned and operated boutique company specializing in meetings, venues and hotels, debuted a new destination management company (DMC) as an extension of its parent company.

Announced on Aug. 23, the new DMC comprises experienced destination designers offering travel and ground services, VIP experiences, dine-arounds at culinary gems, tours and outings and unique venue procurement. It can also provide curated experiences, including teambuilding and corporate social responsibility projects, custom event design, amenities and attendee appreciation, philanthropy and legacy opportunities, as well as one-of-a-kind interactive experiences. 

Designed to streamline the event planning process and bring client visions to life in Pittsburgh, the tri-state region and across the U.S., the new DMC is a first for the Pittsburgh region, according to The Hutton Group officials.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Pittsburgh region, offering everything from program design, logistics management, supplier sourcing, on-site coordination and administrative services to every client,” said Jaime Budesa, vice president of services for The Hutton Group–Inspired Meetings & Events. “Most importantly, we want to inspire new life experiences for visitors by connecting them to the local community. 

She continued, “Our focus is to expose individuals to a culture and immerse them in opportunity, all while bringing economic benefit to the people that make the city a great place to live and thrive. It is about creating memories and ensuring local businesses in that city are involved and supported in this venture.”

According to Pittsburgh client Maggie Cooper from Tri-State Capital Bank, who has been a client of The Hutton Group–Inspired Meetings & Events for several years, the company has helped her plan and execute a wide range of successful events, including company-wide virtual and in-person sales meetings, holiday parties and goodie boxes for her team.

“The [Hutton] team is always diligent and thorough throughout the planning process and can quickly pivot, ensuring every event is a success,” Cooper said. “The positive feedback we receive after each event reflects their hard work, creativity and ability to deliver.”


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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.