Industry News
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Nov 26, 2024
Apple’s AirTag tracking devices have been around since mid-2021, but meeting professionals may be more interested than ever in the button-like units, with a new feature the company announced on November 11 called Share Item Location.
The new feature allows users to share the real-time coordinates of lost or misplaced items with third parties.
Apple is rolling out partnerships with 18 airlines to allow the system to more quickly locate missing luggage. However, meeting professionals might also consider an AirTag for exhibits and boxes of critical event materials that get shipped around the… more
Nov 07, 2024
In recent weeks, several event technology companies announced alliances with industry organizations and solutions providers to enhance the event and planning experience for event participants and organizing professionals, respectively.
PCMA and Gevme Unveil Enhanced Spark AI Platform for Events
PCMA and event technology solutions provider Gevme rolled out new enhancements to Spark, a generative AI tool built by event professionals for event professionals. Introduced to the global business events community nearly 17 months ago, Spark now boasts more than 9,000 users. The tool offers the… more
Oct 07, 2024
A host of event technology companies have been forming strategic partnerships and adding new services to help trade show organizers and exhibitors streamline their events and elevate ROI.
RainFocus Acquires WebEvents Global
Event marketing platform RainFocus has acquired WebEvents Global, an established event technology and data analytics firm. The acquisition will allow RainFocus to extend its leading event marketing position through WebEvents Global’s strong client relationships with leading enterprise technology organizations and long-standing industry expertise, according to… more
Oct 02, 2024
CompuSystems, a registration and lead-retrieval provider for a number of the largest U.S. trade show organizers, is back online after taking its systems offline in response to a network disruption, impacting major trade shows like SEMA, AAPEX, and PRI. These show organizers alerted their exhibitors and attendees about the outage via their websites.
CompuSystems acknowledged the disruption on its website: “We have identified a network disruption that is affecting some of our systems.”
We reached out to CompuSystems with several questions about when the disruption started, what shows are… more
Sep 18, 2024
If you watched the Olympics closing ceremony in mid-August, you might have noticed some unique lighting displays happening in the crowd. That was the work of wireless lighting technology company PixMob, which distributed high-powered X4 LED wristbands to each of the event’s 70,000 fans and athletes. PixMob’s Moving Visual Transmitter technology essentially transforms audiences into interactive canvases, allowing for the projection of moving graphics onto crowds.
At the closing ceremony, PixMob’s Moving Visual Technology cast animated effects illustrating the long history of the Olympics,… more
Sep 04, 2024
At events, capturing memorable moments is more important than ever. In a recent interview for Tech Talk, CEN’s Danica Tormohlen sat down with Jonathan Jow, director of strategy for BoothEasy, to delve into how the company is elevating event experiences with its instant photo and video services.
For event organizers looking to not only raise the bar on the attendee experience but also create FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) on social channels, photo and videos services like BoothEasy offer a compelling blend of technology and creativity to make every moment count.
At the recent DMC Network… more
Aug 27, 2024
Sponsored by Fern Expo
A Look at Technology Advancements Reshaping Event Management
By Jim Kelley, VP Marketing and Industry Relations, Fern Expo
Trade shows and conventions are no longer merely events. They’re gathering places for like-minded people who want to make meaningful connections and be a part of memorable experiences.
From enhancing attendee engagement to streamlining event processes, event organizers are finding that technology—whether behind the scenes or attendee-facing—plays a powerful role in keeping their events relevant and ensuring that both attendees and… more
Aug 12, 2024
In the fast-paced, increasingly complex and competitive business world, making professional connections at trade shows and events can often feel overwhelming and impersonal for many attendees and exhibitors. MatchPoint, a new AI-powered matchmaking mobile app, was created to address this challenge by seamlessly connecting attendees and vendors with like-minded professionals to make networking at events more curated, effective, and impactful.
The app’s patent-pending machine learning algorithm, bolstered by a sophisticated large language model (LLM), optimizes networking by matching users… more
Aug 08, 2024
Imagine using a robot to mark the exhibition hall before your event moves in. While some trade and consumer shows are already using the tech to automate and streamline move-in, others may not be aware that it’s even a possibility, if their contractor or venue is not partnering with a supplier like August Robotics.
For the last five years, August Robotics has provided high-efficiency, guided robots to simplify event setup. As of Aug. 6, the company has marked 9.7 million square meters in 1,402 exhibition halls, saving more than 35,875 hours, according to August Robotics Chief Product Officer… more
Jul 24, 2024
Trade show exhibitors now have an AI-powered solution to help them solve the common challenge of forgetting or losing vital lead information gathered during trade shows, conferences, and other business events. Enter Backtrack, a retroactive audio recording mobile app created specifically for exhibitor booths by parent company Yac, developer of an asynchronous voice messaging platform for remote teams.
Designed to transform the way exhibiting professionals capture and recall crucial business interactions, the new app helps users accurately summarize and pull-out action items from… 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.