News
Sep 29, 2022
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) in Chicago is soliciting ideas for the potential redevelopment of some or all of Lakeside Center, the east building of McCormick Place. Issued on Sept. 15, the Request for Information (RFI) will gather ideas for revitalizing the more than 50-year-old venue and providing an attractive new revenue generator for MPEA, the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.
According to MPEA officials, this process will provide innovators, architects and developers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine one of Chicago’s signature buildings,… more
Sep 28, 2022
Packing maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida on Sept. 28 as one of the region’s most intense hurricanes on record.
The Category 4 hurricane produced massive storm surge, destructive winds and flooding rainfall.
As the powerful storm barrelled toward the Gulf Coast, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida, leading to major disruptions in flights and cruise lines, port and school closures and statewide evacuation orders.
And with Florida serving as a highly popular destination for meetings, trade… more
Sep 26, 2022
Harkening back to pre-pandemic times, the latest edition of Surf Expo boasted a bigger crowd and showfloor, with buyers and brands feeling comfortable and relaxed as they reconnected face-to-face to conduct business over the course of three busy days.
Held Sept. 8–10 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, the world’s largest and longest-running watersports, beach and resort lifestyle B2B event brought together more than 7,400 attendees and exhibitors spanning more than 150,000 square feet of expo space.
Produced bi-annually in January and September by Emerald, Surf Expo… more
Sep 23, 2022
A record-breaking number of nominations came flying in for the 2022 TSNN Awards, including nominations in 12 categories for the Innovation Awards and an incredible number of nominations for the Outstanding Show Pro Awards.
TSNN has named those who will be recognized with Outstanding Show Pro Awards and unveiled the finalists for the Innovation Awards as well as the Comeback Awards, which honor shows that have demonstrated resilience by “coming back” in areas such as attendance, overall business excellence and customer connectivity.
The 2022 TSNN Awards (www.T-awards.com) are on tap Nov. 8-… more
Sep 23, 2022
The Events Industry Council (EIC) announced the recipients of its annual Global Awards, which celebrate and honor exemplary achievements within the global business events industry, concentrating on leadership at all levels and specific areas of focus.
The EIC received a fantastic number of nominations for the Global Awards this year, according to Amy Calvert, CEO of the EIC.
“All [of the nominations] show remarkable personal accomplishments and achievements on behalf of our industry,” Calvert said. “Recognizing, rewarding and celebrating the incredible leadership and innovation in our… more
Sep 22, 2022
Right off the bat (pun intended), I knew Cleo Battle was someone who makes the most of an experience.
No more than a couple of minutes into our conversation, the discussion turned to how much he treasures his personalized Louisville Slugger in purple—the color of his hometown baseball team, the Colorado Rockies—which he’s had since moving to Louisville almost 10 years ago, and how he enjoys his fine Kentucky bourbon on occasion—with a nice cigar and a great Sinatra album.
Indeed, Battle is an aficionado and a connoisseur of the destination he has represented for nearly a decade, first as… more
Sep 21, 2022
Leading technology solutions provider Personify has purchased GTR Event Technology, a long-established industry player, to offer a complete event management platform for organizers of trade shows, conferences, corporate meetings and other gatherings.
GTR has developed powerful and easy-to-use software, along with expert services for badge printing, online registration, lead retrieval and attendance tracking, all of which are now available through Personify’s Community Experience Platform.
“The addition further enables our mission of helping our clients to manage and grow their… more
Sep 20, 2022
On Sept. 14, a cross-industry task force of event industry stakeholders released a collaborative research report that identifies key focus areas to support the B2B trade show industry’s transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.
The result of a two-year independent research program, the report, “Finding the Future, Together: Towards a More Sustainable B2B Trade Show Industry in the U.S. and Canada,” details the industry’s most significant environmental impacts and creates a data and knowledge foundation for decision-making, knowledge-sharing and action. It also showcases steps… more
Sep 19, 2022
As interest in plant-based diets and environmentally conscious food choices continues to grow throughout the world, it makes sense that a trade show dedicated to this expanding market segment would find itself growing along with it. Case in point: Plant Based World Expo (PBW), North America’s only 100% plant-based B2B industry event designed exclusively for foodservice professionals, retailers, distributors, investors and manufacturers.
As the official trade show of the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), the U.S.’s sole trade association for plant-based food companies, the annual event… more
Sep 15, 2022
During its annual Predict Conference, currently being held at MGM National Harbor outside Washington, D.C., the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) unveiled the second quarter results of its 2022 Index, showing significant improvement of the U.S. B2B exhibition industry compared to the previous nine quarters.
According to the results, cancellation rates for physical in-person events fell to just 2% in Q2 2022 compared to 66.2% in Q2 2021 and 100% in Q2 2020. Of all shows originally scheduled to be held in Q2 2022, 0.6% were postponed, 1.9% were cancelled and 97.5% were completed… 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.