News
Jul 10, 2017
Instead of nine different credentials for workers to use in order to move around in the San Diego Convention Center, the venue now will have just one credential - the ESCA Exhibition Industry Worker Identification System WIS Badge.
“We are pleased to announce that the San Diego Convention Center is now the 17th U.S. venue to implement the ESCA Worker Identification System (WIS),” said Mitt Arnaudet, WIS National Administrator and ESCA Member Services Director.
He added, “We are in discussions with many other facilities and will be announcing the 18th venue later this month.”
ESCA is the… more
Jul 06, 2017
Blackstone, through funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire International Market Centers (“IMC”), an owner and operator of showroom space for the furnishings, home decor and gift industries, from Bain Capital Private Equity, LP and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.
Fireside Investments also is expected to partner with Blackstone in the acquisition. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
At the IMC venues, there are several trade shows, including the High Point… more
Jul 06, 2017
By Elizabeth Johnson
If your event has a blog, you’re engaged in content marketing. A social media channel? Yes, content marketing again. An e-newsletter? You guessed it – content marketing. Whether show planners call it “content marketing” or not, many are using content marketing tactics to promote their events.
Content marketing can build brand awareness, maintain connections and engagements with audiences between events and provide support to help attendees “make the case” to their supervisors for participating in an event.
Over time, well-executed content marketing can push… more
Jul 05, 2017
The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched an improved and mobile-friendly website, visitdetroit.com.
With an attractive, redesigned interface that combines meetdetroit.com, visitdetroit.com and the Visit Detroit blog, the new website provides users with a more comprehensive and streamlined online experience.
“The new and improved visitdetroit.com offers the best possible online experience for leisure travelers and convention attendees,” explained Larry Alexander, DMCVB president and CEO.
He added, “Enhanced functionality, planning tools and… more
Jun 29, 2017
LIGHTFAIR International boasted its largest show and Philadelphia registration numbers at its most recent event, held May 7-11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference registered 27,939 attendees from 81 countries spanning 277,600 net square feet of expo space, with registration exceeding its 2016 event and increasing 7.4 percent, compared with its 2013 Philadelphia show.
“LFI 2017 was by every measure a study in superlatives with the trade show and conference eclipsing all predecessors in staging, scope… more
Jun 27, 2017
A recently released independent global study demonstrates that CMOs, brand managers and event planners across the world are putting more emphasis on in-person brand experiences.
This is according to the 2017 Freeman Global Brand Experience Study, conducted by Freeman and SSI, provider of data solutions and technology for consumer and B-to-B survey research, which polled nearly 1,000 marketing professionals across North America, Asia and Western Europe in roles focused on both B-to-B and B-to-C segments.
The results confirmed that brand experiences matter to marketers, who trust well-designed… more
Jun 27, 2017
UFI - The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry has named Artexis Easyfairs as winner of the 2017 UFI Education Award.
The theme for this year’s UFI Education Award was employee retention. Retaining talented individuals and helping them to continue to develop their skills is an important area of focus for all Human Resource departments.
This year’s award was designed to recognize those companies that have developed an effective HR strategy that aims to recognize talented employees, and encourage them to continue to develop their skills whilst remaining engaged as key members of the… more
Jun 27, 2017
The Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau is leveraging immersive virtual reality technology to attract more business and leisure visitors to the Derby City by launching its first-ever 360-degree VR video series.
Featuring one-of-a-kind augmented reality graphics and a unique take on the 360-degree viewing experience, three films comprise the series:
Uniquely Fresh: Louisville’s Culinary Scene – Showcases Louisville’s farm-to-table culinary scene and features 10 local culinary experiences including 8UP; Crescent Hill Craft House; Harvest; Jack Fry’s; Mike Linnigs… more
Jun 26, 2017
In the ever-evolving journey to take the trade show industry in a more sustainable direction, certain stakeholders appear to be getting creative by experimenting with fun and unique ways to cut down on the massive amounts of waste most events typically produce, including food waste.
Case in point: the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and its exclusive food and beverage provider, Centerplate, which hosted a “Zero Waste Lunch” on May 10 at WasteExpo 2017, held May 8-11 at the New Orleans-based facility.
Created in partnership with the convention center, Centerplate, GES, Salvage Supperclub… more
Jun 23, 2017
Licensing professionals have come to expect a plethora of cutting-edge show features when they converge at the annual Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, including a bustling expo floor, keynotes, presentations, celebrity appearances, educational sessions and invite-only entertainment showcases.
But for the second year in a row, the world’s largest licensing event offered something even more compelling to help attendees and exhibitors make more meaningful, face-to-face business connections: matchmaking technology.
Conducted at its most recent event, held May 23-25 at the Mandalay Bay Convention… 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.