News
Dec 04, 2023
As a trade show and events industry newcomer and fresh employee of Hanley Wood, Elizabeth George remembers having to look up what “drayage” meant on the internet after sitting in an afternoon meeting with members of the former organizer’s operations team.
“Safe to say, over the past years I’ve learned and experienced a lot of what our events industry has to offer, and while it’s hard work, I love it,” George says.
Throughout the past nine years of her career, George has had a chance to experience many different sides of the industry, working on teams managing digital sponsorships,… more
Dec 01, 2023
What’s trending in corporate event production in 2023? Sustainability, engagement with technology and tighter timelines, according to Lauren Hendricks, PRG senior vice president business development, corporate and events, who joined the full-service production company in 2019.
This year, PRG has produced and supported hundreds of events — from the Essence Festival and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to Post Malone in Times Square and the Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo (view pictures and details from these events here).
Back story
Founded in 1983 by Jere Harris, PRG… more
Nov 29, 2023
U.S. trade show and event-related organizations, including CVBs and venues, have been picking up the hiring pace this fall.
San Francisco Travel Association
San Francisco Travel Association tapped 35-year convention and tourism industry veteran Scott Beck as its new president and CEO. He succeeds Joe D’Alessandro, who will retire in December after nearly 18 years leading San Francisco’s official destination marketing organization.
Beck brings a wealth of knowledge and proven expertise in attracting events, meetings and international and domestic visitors to destinations to his new role.… more
Nov 28, 2023
Freeman, a global events company, has revealed its CEO succession plan. Janet Dell, currently serving as the company’s president and COO, is set to step into the role of CEO, effective July 1, 2024, succeeding Bob Priest-Heck, who will retire after a remarkable 15-year tenure. He will continue as a member of Freeman’s board of directors.
Dell, who joined Freeman in 2018, has held various key positions within the company and currently oversees the execution of its long-term strategy on a global scale. Her leadership during the pandemic notably involved rehiring 95% of furloughed employees,… more
Nov 28, 2023
Global Diversity Alliance (GDA), a new global LGBTQ+ community association committed to fostering a world that celebrates and embraces diversity in all its forms, released its whitepaper, “Banning the Boycott – How to Do Business in Times of Discrimination (BTB).”
The new resource, a comprehensive guide for meeting planners, hospitality and destination professionals to build more inclusive and diverse events for all stakeholders, offers pathways to navigate through the challenges of planning events in destinations with discriminatory legislation. The resource-rich, data-driven document also… more
Nov 27, 2023
Las Vegas welcomed a groundbreaking addition to its bustling entertainment landscape with the official opening of the Sphere on Sept. 29, kicking off with a performance by the iconic band U2. Sphere is a next-generation, immersive state-of-the-art entertainment medium and venue, as well as the world’s largest spherical structure, according to officials from live media and entertainment company Sphere Entertainment.
Sitting 336 feet tall and 516 feet wide, the eye-catching orb features a wraparound exterior spanning 580,000 square feet that can be programmed to create dynamic and massive LED… more
Nov 22, 2023
What do you need to know before you attend Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition? After chatting with IAEE Vice President, Marketing and Communications Nicole Bowman and scrutinizing the full schedule of programming, TSNN put together this list of new and notable networking and education events to help you plan.
Scheduled for Dec. 5-7 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (KBHCCD), Expo! Expo!, which was held in Louisville, Ky. in 2022, is on pace to draw 2,000 event professionals to Dallas, the hometown headquarters of the association.
The KBHCCD, which is set to… more
Nov 21, 2023
While audience participation is a critical aspect of any effective and engaging virtual meeting or event, it’s important for event managers to properly vet and prepare guest speakers for panels or live Q&As to protect their event’s integrity and brand image. To help solve this challenge, virtual events company GlobalMeet recently launched Centerstage, a platform for virtually handling and screening guest speakers during digital events, such as investor meetings, town halls, internal HR meetings and more.
With this new feature, pre-selected speakers or audience members can be promoted to… more
Nov 21, 2023
Two industry veterans — Robyn Duda and Marco Giberti — have teamed up to launch RacquetX, a B2B conference with a B2C component for all racquet sports under one roof. Debuting March 24–26, 2024, in Miami during the middle weekend of the Miami Open, RacquetX is hoping to capitalize on the recent boom in racquet sports including tennis, pickleball, padel, squash, table tennis and more.
“Tennis has experienced a 33% boom in participation since 2020,” said Duda. “Pickleball is taking North America by storm with the number of people playing growing by 59% over three years, reaching a total of 8.… more
Nov 21, 2023
Two public companies in the trade show industry, Viad and Emerald, reported financial results for the third quarter that ended September 30, 2023. Here are two key highlights:
Emerald reported revenues of $72.5 million for Q3 2023, an increase of $10.1 million, or 16.2% over Q3 2022, primarily due to growth in events that staged in both Q3 2023 and Q3 2022, new launches and acquisitions.
Total Q3 revenue for GES, a division of Viad, was $179.0 million, a decrease of 18.3% from the Q3 2022, primarily due to the timing of major non-annual shows and the sale of ON Services, which impacted year… 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.