News
Jul 07, 2021
Raccoon Events is built upon the guiding principle that runners slow down to walk trade show aisles and — dare to dream, sit — for inspirational keynotes. Having successfully launched two run shows in the United Kingdom, where the health- and wellness-minded company is based, it is time to step across the pond.
Run Show USA, as the American version is dubbed, is off to a brisk pace planning for 2022. Its initial show will debut Jan. 29-30 at Hynes Convention Center in Boston, and a second event at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago was recently announced for June 4-5. A third… more
Jul 06, 2021
Executing an event perfectly every single time doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design. A design that is supported by a rock-solid strategy and technology to activate this strategy.
Customer support that comes with your event platform is crucial for success. Here are four reasons to invest in a hybrid event platform that provides dedicated customer support.
1. Simplifies Platform Adoption
A dedicated customer support team will define how your most recent purchase will be adopted and implemented within the organization.
21.1% of tech professionals attributed the lack of tech… more
Jul 05, 2021
Las Vegas has been busy setting the stage for the next generation of meetings and conventions with a slew of new state-of-the-art venues. Now home to 14 million square feet of meeting, conference and exhibition space, the iconic desert destination offers planners more exciting options than ever, with more than 2 million square feet of new space and three resorts launched in the past 18 months alone.
“That additional space will allow Las Vegas to host more meetings and it will allow our current clients to grow their business,” said John Schreiber, vice president of business sales for the Las… more
Jul 05, 2021
A walk down memory lane might do some good when pondering the road ahead for trade shows.
Channing Muller, a public relations specialist in the events industry, thinks back to her days playing SimCity when it first emerged in the 1990s. She wasn’t alone. The game in which players created their own environment, filled with different zones, and then explored it for hours at a time, captivated millions on the internet. “Now people can do that for business,” said Muller.
Intrado Digital Media President Ben Chodor, meanwhile, turns to the times he’d watch the big screen at the 92nd Street YMCA… more
Jul 02, 2021
The deluge of hiring and promoting continues in the trade show industry, with a plethora of event-related organizations appointing new leaders and boosting existing team members up the organizational ladder. Check them out:
Visit Phoenix
Following an extensive nationwide search, the executive committee of Visit Phoenix has appointed Ron Price as president and CEO. He brings 25 years of experience in the tourism industry to his leadership role, most recently serving as president and CEO of the Arlington Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau, and prior to that, as the assistant executive… more
Jul 02, 2021
Staff of Ungerboeck and EventBooking recently broke bread together in St. Louis. Think of it as a “getting to know you” event with the specific purpose of smoothly combining the forces of two of the event industry’s leading software companies.
The merger, announced in May, pools the resources of leading technologies for event and venue management. It is part of a growing trend of consolidation as companies in all sectors seek a path forward in a post-pandemic world and recovering economy.
In this case, said Ungerboeck President and CEO Manish Chandak, the real winners will be the organizers… more
Jul 01, 2021
Maybe it’s because Soundings Founder Tracy Judge makes it her mission to match companies with relevant freelance event professionals that she could see the early signs of a talent crisis. Now that the pandemic is receding, Judge is no longer ahead of her time in raising the alarms about how short-staffed teams are going to operate events.
Across all aspects of the industry, labor shortages will cause anything from headaches to cancellations for the foreseeable future. American Airlines has warned that it will be forced to cancel more than 100 flights weekly into July because it can’t… more
Jun 30, 2021
Like many key aspects of events, food and beverage is having a moment of adaptation as the industry looks to a post-COVID future. For example, buffets aren’t gone completely, but they will look a little different for a while, with health and safety expected to remain a major concern at events for the foreseeable future. But pandemic or no pandemic, F&B remains one of the most discussed aspects of an event, according to Tracy Stuckrath, chief connection officer at Thrive Meetings & Events. She believes that smart planning can help planners turn a complicated event feature into a golden… more
Jun 29, 2021
David Stevens, director of global events and field marketing at Alation, knows a thing or two about planning events. So when Alation was recently evaluating purchasing a booth at a trade show this November in California, his Spidey-sense went off. There were no backup plans should COVID-19 have an unexpected surge or another circumstance forced a cancellation. A digital component was not mentioned because there isn’t one. When he pressed about contingencies, Stevens was told the group would figure it out if they had to.
“There’s this arrogance that events are back,” Stevens said. “They are… more
Jun 28, 2021
In response to audience and industry demand, three leading show organizers are gearing up to launch two new trade shows for the food and beverage and the plastics processing industries next year. Take a look!
SIAL America
Leading global event organizers Comexposium and Emerald have formed a strategic partnership to launch the first large-scale, generalist food show for the $1.5 trillion U.S. food and beverage market: SIAL America. Set to debut March 22-24, 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, it will co-locate with Emerald’s International Pizza Expo and International Artisan Bakery Expo… 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.