Oct 22, 2024
Since September, several leading venues announced or completed major expansion and remodel projects while others upped the ante with high-level environmental and inclusivity certifications.
Off-Strip Las Vegas Hotel Completes Convention Renovation and More
The Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas recently completed of the first phase of its multi-year property-wide transformation. Since Dreamscape Cos. took over the resort’s operations in late 2023, the off-Strip hotel has undergone extensive Phase One renovations, including the addition of eight new food and beverage destinations, the… more
Oct 08, 2024
Dreamforce made headlines last month after the now-viral moment when comedian John Mulaney roasted Salesforce’s “imminently replaceable” workforce for wearing “fleece vests” and embodying all of the other corporate tech bro stereotypes.
“The fact that there are 45,000 ‘trailblazers’ here couldn’t devalue the title any more,” Mulaney added during his 45-minute set, throwing in that the Salesforce workers filling the audience around him looked “like a group who looked at the self-checkout counters at CVS and thought, ‘This is the future.’”
The reality is that hiring a comedian for an event… more
Sep 24, 2024
Creativity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of convention centers, known for their cavernous, utilitarian spaces. But these meeting meccas have long promoted public artwork. In the last decade especially, convention center designs have aimed to be more than just functional and now strive to inspire and reflect cultural values. Their expansive lobbies, atriums, and outdoor plazas also make prime locations for large-scale works. Below, we highlight a few standout pieces and collections from convention centers around North America, from British Columbia to Miami.… more
Sep 19, 2024
Sponsored by VISIT DENVER
Maybe your next meeting just needs a few meeting areas. Maybe it needs a large,
open room. Maybe it doesn’t need a room at all, but a space with open air and
sunshine. Whatever you need, you’ll find it at the newly expanded Colorado
Convention Center! Say hello to more than 130,000 square feet of new space to
meet, greet, and network, now open and available for booking your next event.
It all starts with Colorado’s newest and largest ballroom, the Bluebird Ballroom.
How do you describe it? Endless configurations, 19 different divisions, and
column-free.… more
Sep 19, 2024
What do trade show organizers need to know about Atlantic City, NJ?
We spent 48 hours at the Jersey Shore to discover some of the old and the new of what Atlantic City has to offer.
Getting there: While there is an airport in Atlantic City, there are many more direct flight options into Philadelphia International Airport, which is about 65 miles away or a one-hour drive with light traffic.
Where we stayed: Nobu Hotel Atlantic City, located in Caesars Atlantic City, opened in March 2024. The latest hotel addition to the Caesars Entertainment portfolio in Atlantic City, Nobu Hotel blends… more
Sep 13, 2024
New convention facility offerings, fresh and extended partnerships, and philanthropic activities comprise the latest developments for several North American convention centers as summer turns to fall. Take a look:
Anaheim Convention Center Opens New Marshaling Yard
The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) recently opened the Claudina Marshaling Yard, located on 6 acres of on-grade asphalt within 2 miles of the facility on the corner of Anaheim Boulevard and Claudina Way.
Serving as a staging ground for the coordination of deliveries and shipments, the new yard provides optimal space for… more
Aug 28, 2024
Following its initial announcement on November 7 of last year, premium live experiences company Legends has completed the acquisition of live events and venue management company ASM Global. Announced on August 23, the finalized deal combines two leading premium live events companies while expanding Legends’ services portfolio and geographic reach across five continents.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and ASM Global will continue to operate under its name for the time being.
With this acquisition, ASM Global’s venue strategy and management capabilities are poised to… more
Aug 27, 2024
After 25 years of operating as a non-union hotel-resort and convention center, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, which encompasses The Venetian and The Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip, have established a tentative agreement with Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 on a new four-year contract covering more than 4,000 employees in the resorts’ food, beverage, housekeeping, bar, lounge, and bell departments.
Reached in the early hours of August 20, the milestone contract contains standard union protections that the Culinary Union has negotiated and won over its 89-year… more
Aug 06, 2024
Two major convention centers established and expanded agreements with service providers while a Midwestern destination previewed its expanded outdoor offerings for meeting and convention groups alike.
ASM Global Tapped to Operate Reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center, Extended Its Contract to Manage Detroit’s Huntington Place
Full-service venue management company ASM Global has been awarded the contract by the City of Cincinnati to launch and operate the reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC), which recently closed its doors for renovation on July 1.
Currently undergoing a $… more
Aug 02, 2024
With 5% to 16.5% of attendees having symptoms associated with sensory processing challenges and 1 in 45 adults in the U.S. with autism, more venues and destinations are committed to making sure autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors feel welcome and supported while attending meetings and events.
The Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) is the latest venue to receive Certified Autism Center (CAC) designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a global organization that provide professional autism and neurodiversity training and… 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.