Tech News: AI-Powered Tools Launched for Exhibitors and Event Organizers
January 29, 2025
An event solutions provider and a destination marketing organization (DMO) recently unveiled AI-powered tools to help trade show organizers and event planners increase exhibitor ROI and improve the in-destination planning experience, respectively.
Map Your Show Launches AI-Powered Sales Tool to Boost Exhibitor ROI
Trade show operating system Map Your Show (MYS) has launched Sales Accelerator, an AI-powered tool designed to help exhibitors generate better-qualified leads, expand their reach, and boost business opportunities.
By leveraging proprietary data on attendee activity and behavior, the new tool predicts attendees’ needs, interests, and intent, enabling exhibitors to focus on converting leads into customers and accelerating the sales cycle, said MYS CEO Don Kline.
What they’re saying: “The goal of Sales Accelerator is to help our customers leverage artificial intelligence,” Kline said. “We are using AI to analyze the unique attendee behavior generated on our platform to help exhibitors get more out of their trade show investment. This extends the value proposition of the event and creates more ROI for the exhibitor.”
Why it matters: Besides employing advanced AI-driven lead scoring to rank prospects based on intent, thus allowing exhibitors to prioritize high-value leads, the tool also integrates third-party data to provide additional information about leads and potential contacts within their organizations.
How it works: Sales Accelerator helps redefine how exhibitors engage with prospects with its ability to generate personalized messages tailored to each lead’s interests, helping exhibitors streamline follow-ups and enhance communication and relationship-building.
Big picture: “By harnessing the power of AI, Sales Accelerator equips exhibitors with unmatched access to attendee behavioral data they can’t find anywhere else, improving outreach efforts and increasing exhibitors’ chances of closing sales,” Kline added.
Context: Cincinnati, Ohio-based MYS provides trade show technology solutions for event organizers, exhibitors, and attendees, including floor plan management, exhibitor engagement, conference session management, mobile applications, booth sales, attendee engagement, revenue generation, and data analytics. Learn more about Sales Accelerator by watching this video.
New York City Tourism + Conventions Unveils AI Chat Platform for Events
New York City Tourism + Conventions launched Ellis, its first AI chat-planning platform for business event professionals. Developed in partnership with GuideGeek, Matador Network’s award-winning AI Travel Assistant, Ellis offers expert guidance and resources for meeting planners in 45 languages via the NYC Tourism Meeting Planner resource page and WhatsApp.
What they’re saying: “We’re pleased to unveil Ellis, the first-ever AI chat platform by a DMO designed to revolutionize event planning in New York City,” said Julie Coker, president and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions. “As a global leader in travel, we’re breaking new ground with this free, innovative tool that empowers planners to craft unique events across our five boroughs. With 13.1 million business travelers expected this year, NYC is primed to deliver unforgettable experiences.”
How it works: Named after New York City’s storied landmark, Ellis Island, and built on ChatGPT4o, Ellis uses information from NYCTourism.com and more than 1,000 travel integrations to help business event professionals streamline venue research and welcome event delegates to the city. The platform can answer NYC-related event planning questions and provide instant, detailed responses.
Deeper dive: “Ellis opens up an exciting new chapter for business event professionals,” said Jerry Cito, executive vice president of convention development for NYC Tourism + Convention. “We’re thrilled to enhance our convention development services with this innovative new feature, helping planners customize their events with endless possibilities across New York City’s five boroughs.”
What’s next: This spring, NYC Tourism + Conventions will launch Libby, a consumer-facing AI chat platform named after the Statue of Liberty, to assist leisure travelers in exploring the city’s five boroughs. In anticipation of a surge in global visitors, both multilingual chat platforms are being strategically introduced ahead of New York City hosting the FIFA World Cup Final and eight matches in 2026.
Looking ahead: “New York City Tourism + Conventions is moving the global meetings and conventions industry into the future with their new Ellis chat platform, powered by our industry-leading GuideGeek AI,” said Ross Borden, founder and CEO of Matador Network. “Ellis will connect meeting planners on a much more personalized basis with New York City’s meetings and conventions industry to create more customized and dynamic attendee experiences.”
Have some event technology news to share? Reach out to lisa.savas@informa.com and danica.tormohlen@informa.com.
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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.
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