News

Aug 07, 2019
Facility leadership and showfloor trade partners of Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia have signed a five-year extension and amendment of its 10-year labor agreement. The contract builds on the competitive work rules and expanded exhibitor rights initially put in place in 2014.    Known as the Customer Satisfaction Agreement, the extended labor agreement, which went into effect Aug. 1, allows exhibitors to setup and teardown their own booths without limitations on booth size. This marks a significant shift from the facility’s previous practice, which limited exhibitors to… more
Aug 06, 2019
Summer may be the season for out-of-office notifications and slower days, but not so in the trade show industry. Catch up on the latest flurry of hires and promotions the last month, from shows to destination marketing organizations. National Shooting Sports Foundation has appointed Kenneth G. Andres as senior director of sales. He joined the organization in late June with a wealth of experience in trade shows, including senior management roles with American Sportfishing Association and Freeman. Andres will replace trade show veteran Dave Jeannette, who will retire on Sept. 1 after 26 shows… more
Aug 06, 2019
Socio has added two new products to its event management platform and has raised $6 million in Series A funding.  Like the Socio Event App, Socio Lead Retrieval and Socio Live Display focus primarily on the in-event experience. According to Socio officials, these new offerings align with Co-founder and CEO Yarkin Sakucoglu’s vision of Socio becoming “the only software event organizers need throughout the lifecycle of their events.” “The average B2B company spends around 22 percent of its marketing budget on events,” said Sakucoglu. “When done right, events are the most powerful source of… more
Aug 05, 2019
If there’s a trend taking over the apparel industry, it’s sustainability. That was made clear at Functional Fabric Fair and Texworld USA, two apparel sourcing trade shows held simultaneously July 22-24 at Javits Center in New York City. The shows included more sustainable educational content and showfloor resources for attendees, as well as on-site practices and exhibitor sustainability requirements. Functional Fabric Fair Doubles Eco-Friendly Exhibitors Functional Fabric Fair powered by Performance Days is organized by Reed Exhibitions and presents apparel industry professionals with the… more
Jul 31, 2019
International Association of Exhibitions and Events and exhibitions organizer Informa Markets have partnered on a voluntary workforce development training program that will enable Informa employees to receive a Certificate in Exhibition Management.  “We are excited to offer our extensive knowledge in exhibition management with a global leader like Informa Markets,” said David DuBois, president and CEO of IAEE. “This is the first-ever agreement IAEE has entered into with another company to extend knowledge in core competencies of exhibition management.” Built on the U.S. Department of Labor’… more
Jul 31, 2019
Global trade show and events organizer Reed Exhibitions has made two major leadership changes.  Effective January 1, Fernando Fischer, who is the current president of Reed Exhibitions Brazil, will be moving to the U.S. to take on the role of president of Reed Exhibitions US (RXUS). In his new role, Fischer will report to Herve Sedky, president of Reed Exhibitions Americas. Fernando has served as CEO of RX Brazil for the past three years, during which time he dramatically improved customer value, financial performance and employee engagement, according to Reed Exhibitions officials. During… more
Jul 30, 2019
Freeman has achieved the Level 2 APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meetings Standard Certification from the Events Industry Council. This certification pertains to the evaluation and selection of exhibits for environmentally sustainable meetings, events, trade shows and conferences for suppliers (general service contractor/venue). The APEX/ASTM Standard is awarded to companies that exceed industry standards when it comes to helping customers execute sustainable events. BPA iCompli Sustainability Assurance is the official certification provider, having worked with EIC to develop… more
Jul 30, 2019
The trade show industry lost one if its own July 20, Terence Donnelly, a long-time executive at Experient and a good friend to many. “Terence was full of positivity, always had a smile on his face, a kind word to everyone around him and a warm hug whenever you saw him,” said TSNN President Rachel Wimberly. “There are no words to describe this loss, and TSNN sends thoughts to his wife, two sons, family, friends and colleagues.” Terence was a passionate moderator for TSNN-supported #Expochat as well, leading vibrant discussions on hot-button topics in the trade show industry. Below is… more
Jul 30, 2019
Event technology software provider Ungerboeck has partnered with TIBCO Software to launch Ungerboeck Connect, a new online tool that allows Ungerboeck customers to build integrations with other software systems quickly and easily. With TIBCO Cloud Integration, users can bring all their data streams together and seamlessly connect the important applications they already use from a user-friendly integration Platform-as-a-Service (iPaaS). “For most of our customers, Ungerboeck is the core CRM, event management, registration and financial system,” said Manish Chandak, president and CEO of… more
Jul 29, 2019
ILEA Live 2019 will bring together event professionals in Minneapolis, Aug. 8-10. The International Live Events Association’s annual educational conference is focused on business strategies, leadership, inspiration and trends. The goal for the conference is to provide a forum where attendees can strengthen their creative output, sharpen their business strategies and find inspiration along what ILEA officials refer to as “the event horizon.” For meeting and trade show professionals, that means taking the opportunity to learn how event planning and production works in other industries, 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.