News

Mar 17, 2023
TSNN, the top online news source for the trade show industry, launched Exhibitor News Network (ENN), a new website, e-newsletter and social channels (LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram) for exhibit management and event marketing professionals who participate in U.S. exhibition industry, valued at the $101 billion, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). Exhibitors represent 70% of the revenues generated from the trade show industry, CEIR research finds.  This new online hub for industry news, insights and original content will focus on information,… more
Mar 16, 2023
London, U.K.-based event organizer Hyve Group has been sold to media-focused equity investment firm Providence Equity Partners, based in Providence, R.I.   In a joint statement, Providence Equity Partners said it had agreed to a buyout deal paying $1.30 (£1.08) in cash for each Hyve share — a bid that gives the international event organizer an equity value of more than $386 million (£320 million) and an enterprise value of $579 million (£481 million). Hyve had previously rejected two offers from Providence worth $1.22 (£1.01) and $1.26 (£1.05) per share.  This is the third largest… more
Mar 14, 2023
Industry-leading meetings, events and hospitality technology provider Cvent Holding Corp. (“Cvent”) has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of private equity funds managed by Blackstone for approximately $4.6 billion. According to company officials, under the terms of the agreement, Cvent stockholders will receive $8.50 per share in cash, which represents a premium of 52 percent to the volume weighted average share price over the 90 days prior to Jan. 30, 2023 – the day before media reports were published of a potential transaction. As part of the transaction… more
Mar 13, 2023
The story of how Laura Purdy found a career in the exhibitions and meetings industry will be a familiar one for many event professionals: she fell into it – and never left. While in the process of building a marketing and retail management career at a prestigious commercial real estate firm in Toronto, Canada, Purdy had the chance to participate in new business development projects, including responding to RFPs for management contracts for global commercial real estate properties.   One of those projects was for The National Trade Centre (now Enercare Centre), which was under construction at… more
Mar 10, 2023
IMEX Group launched a partnership with leading event management company ExpoPlatform to be the new official event tech provider at its shows in Frankfurt and Las Vegas. Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt 2023 in May, IMEX has been working with ExpoPlatform to offer participants a new online platform enhanced with a range of features and tools carefully designed to maximize business connections and ease of use. At its core, the new platform makes it simpler for exhibitors and buyers to find and connect with each other in the run-up to the show and then to enhance those relationships face to face… more
Mar 09, 2023
Two major trade shows recently returned to Las Vegas with robust attendance and expanded footprints pushing the boundaries of pre-pandemic levels. Check them out!  World of Concrete  World of Concrete, the world’s largest trade show for the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries, held its 49th annual event at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Jan. 17-19. With 48,000 registered professionals, heavy show floor foot traffic and more than 120 countries in attendance, the event further solidified itself as the critical meeting place for industry advancement, according to… more
Mar 09, 2023
In the largest post-pandemic exhibition acquisition deal by far, Informa has bought Tarsus Group from private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners for $940 million. The acquisition was funded with cash and $210m of new Informa shares. "We have long admired the Tarsus business which, like Informa, has been built around major brands in attractive, specialist B2B markets in the growing regions of Asia, China, the Middle East and the Americas,” said Informa Group CEO Stephen A. Carter. The Informa Board believes the combination is both commercially and financially compelling, with strong… more
Mar 07, 2023
The steady influx of new hires and promotions continues as trade shows move full steam ahead in 2023. Take a look at who’s landing new career opportunities or moving up the ladder at event-related organizations across the U.S. and abroad!  ASM Global  Global venue management and event strategy leader ASM Global has appointed 20-year San Francisco travel and convention veteran Leonie Patrick as the new general manager for the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.   In her new role, Patrick will work closely with ASM Global to continue attracting business to San Francisco’s… more
Mar 06, 2023
Oftentimes, the careers we imagine for ourselves as children aren’t necessarily what we end up pursuing as adults. Ask Phil Evans about his path into the culinary arts and he’ll tell you a similar story. “My parents were the driving force for me to get into the culinary industry,” Evans explains. “I actually wanted to be a schoolteacher, but I grew up in the kitchen cooking with my grandmother and then my mother, so it came to me naturally. I inevitably fell in love with cooking.”  Now, as executive chef at Sodexo Live!, Evans boasts an extensive background in fine dining, catering and… more
Mar 03, 2023
Freeman, a leading global event producer, and Sessionboard, a next-generation SaaS provider, announced a strategic partnership that provides Freeman customers with enhanced speaker and content management technology solutions.   The partnership is a testament to Freeman's mission to redefine live for a new era, whether virtual, in-person or hybrid, with a data-driven approach and the industry's largest network of experts, and Sessionboard's quest to simplify the complex workflows and disjointed communications that exist around speaker and content management. “Partnerships like… 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.