News
Aug 23, 2016
International Pizza Expo, a pizzeria business-to-business trade show owned by Emerald Expositions, will launch a new two-day trade show at the Atlantic City Convention Center that will focus on pizzerias and Italian restaurants.
“This is in no way a replacement to Pizza Expo for East Coast pizzeria operators and their staffs, but more of an opportunity to let them be a part of this regional two-day experience,” said Bill Oakley, group show director – Food Group. “Most of our eastern U.S. attendees have two days of travel in order to attend the Expo, making it difficult to attend the entire… more
Aug 23, 2016
Hainan Airlines recently filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch an historic new route connecting Las Vegas to Beijing, the first-ever nonstop flight between Las Vegas and Mainland China. The service will begin Dec. 2 and will initially operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Chinese tourists are one of the fastest-growing and largest-spending groups of international visitors to Las Vegas. With the reciprocal 10-year tourist visas and the introduction of hotels, programming and amenities geared toward Chinese visitors, Las Vegas has established… more
Aug 23, 2016
The 16th Shanghai International Children Baby and Maternity Products Industry Expo (CBME China 2016) closed its three-day run at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) July 22 with 85,111 trade buyers in attendance.
There also were 2,366 suppliers (+10.2% YOY) representing 3,673 brands (+29.5% YOY) showcased their latest products in 223,305 square meters of exhibition space (+8.9% YOY). 32% were from overseas brands.
A number of brands in attendance included: Angel’s Face, Babience Baby Coccole, Babyauto, Baby's Only Organic, Babystyle, Bellamy, Besafe, Brevi, Cocolico,… more
Aug 23, 2016
Sudesh Sharma has been appointed as Deputy Director of Operations of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). The new role is part of a plan to create internal support and succession planning. With 25 years of experience in hotel, banquet and convention industry, Sharma is well-positioned to manage various large-scale conferences, conventions and trade shows held in KLCC.
Alan Pryor, General Manager of KLCC commented, “I am pleased to welcome Sharma to the team and I believe his extensive industry experience will undoubtedly be an add asset to the Centre. His appointment reflects our… more
Aug 23, 2016
Committing to venue and event sustainability, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is the first organization in Hong Kong to attain the ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System certification.
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) took a further step to launch the LoveGreen Meeting Package, which can help event organizers to meet their corporate responsibility goals.
In the package, HML aims to offer green meeting experiences to event organizers and delegates from event setting, menu options to after event… more
Aug 23, 2016
The expansion project of Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) is scheduled to be completed in November 2016. The venue’s management anticipates that US$170 million renovation and expansion will better position BITEC to attract major international concerts and theatre shows.
The expanded BITEC will feature three new event halls, 12 meeting rooms, three convention halls, retail and dining areas, an outdoor concert area and a mixed-use office building. More convenient transportation options such as the SkyTrain connection are included in the plans. After construction is… more
Aug 23, 2016
Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau has decided to form a dedicated body to coordinate the promotion, branding and facilitation of MICE events in Kuala Lumpur.
As a part of the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015-2025, this initiative aims to develop a Kuala Lumpur-specific MICE unit with focused strategies and initiatives. The new body will provide event support and facilitation for organisers as well as assistance such as liaising with Kuala Lumpur City Hall for event approvals.
Noraza Yusof, General Manager at Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, said that the dedicated unit will be managed by KLTB. It… more
Aug 23, 2016
An economic impact study, commissioned by the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA), concludes that the exhibition industry contributed HK$52.9 billion (US$6.8 billion) to Hong Kong’s economy in terms of expenditure in 2014, which was equivalent to 2.3% of the city’s total GDP. That represents a 29% increase from the previous study covering 2012. According to the study, the industry’s compound annual growth rate was 13.9%.
International exhibition visitors and exhibitors reportedly spent on average 61% more than general overnight tourists. Visitor expenditure… more
Aug 22, 2016
Close to 4,800 association professionals and industry partners took part in the 2016 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, held last week in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Attendees took part in more than 120 education sessions, two keynotes and five Game Changers, as well as 20-plus OpenSpace pop-ups and events. ASAE Foundation’s The Classic event also sold out for the second year in a row.
The final attendance breakdown includes: 2,669 executives, 1,739 exhibitors, 381 others, including guests, spouses, press, vendors, and staff, for a grand total of 4,789.
A total of 424 companies… more
Aug 21, 2016
As part of a consistent effort to provide added-value services that benefit all its trade show attendees, IMEX America has turned its sights on helping buyers to ‘match and meet’ other buyers.
A new service, which will be provided by networking specialists Zenvoy, will use intelligent data profiling to facilitate face-to-face introductions between pre-registered IMEX America hosted buyers and buyer attendees.
The move follows feedback from IMEX America 2015 which revealed how hungry buyers are to connect directly with each other and expand their networks of… 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.