Blogs

Feb 07, 2024
It's impossible to imagine even a mid-sized event without the support of an event management platform or app. However, the tools designed to enhance customer experience can sometimes lead to headaches for event organizers and overall dissatisfaction by exhibitors and attendees. Let’s explore the nine most common event tech problems and how to solve them. 1. Poor Networking Opportunities People attend business events primarily for the chance to network with industry peers, decision-makers and fellow professionals, so make sure your event app has a powerful networking tool. Features such as… more
Jan 31, 2024
In January, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) released its 2024 public policy agenda. The headline: ECA is ‘all in’ on supporting government policies to help you attract and train the business events industry’s future workforce.   Why? Our industry has a skilled workforce shortage. But it’s not just us. Our country has a skilled workforce shortage, and working together, we can make a difference. How is ECA helping? In Washington, DC we are advocating for two bipartisan bills in Congress with the potential to be game changers for the industry. Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act… more
Jan 24, 2024
Sustainability is a hot topic in events. In the age of climate change and heightened environmental awareness, it’s important to ensure that events are as sustainable as possible. Fortunately, one energy-efficient lighting technology can help do just that: LED.  LED screens and energy-efficient lighting offer numerous benefits for event organizers and exhibitors looking to reduce their environmental footprint while also making an economic impact – i.e., saving you money on your event budget.  Brighter, dynamic and more engaging screen displays on LED can take the event to the next level,… more
Jan 17, 2024
As marketing trends continue to cycle, the importance of consumer trust remains constant. However, the rise of influencer marketing and social media has changed the dynamic between consumer and brand trust. With immediate access to product reviews, promotional codes and influencer testimonials, it’s easier than ever for consumers to learn about new brands and products. Over the years, marketers have witnessed the relationship between B2C companies and influencers flourish, so much so that influencer marketing is expected to surpass $34 billion this year. Though the influencer market remains… more
Jan 11, 2024
Authenticity was a buzzword in events in 2023, and there's no denying, based on many predictions posted for 2024, that the word will play a role in many event and marketing strategies for the year ahead. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has not only revolutionized content generation but also impacted what many people assume to be genuine content or not.  There are many advantages to utilizing AI in your content marketing strategies, such as personalization, time and cost efficiency. However, there's also a danger of losing authenticity if it is not used correctly. This is where the… more
Jan 03, 2024
In a significant step towards a sustainable future, the stakeholders of the Net Zero Carbon Events workstreams have officially released seven comprehensive guidance documents for decarbonization. As a culmination of efforts from more than 100 colleagues worldwide, the guidance documents offer a detailed and actionable framework for stakeholders, entering in a new era of responsible event management. Venue Energy: The Venue Energy workstream introduced a four-fold approach to kickstart the decarbonization journey for event venues. Recommendations range from tracking energy usage to… more
Dec 20, 2023
Google recently issued a guide to inclusive event design, detailing ways organizers can make spaces and content more accessible. Critical areas, like mobility access, sensory accommodations, dietary options and more, are considered, but there is a key component missing that event planners must take into account to enable next-level accessibility: digital indoor mapping. Creating an indoor map of a facility improves accessibility in public, as well as private places, making it easier and more inclusive for everyone to navigate them. According to the World Health Organization, 16% of the world… more
Dec 14, 2023
Bruno Giaccio Sr. was my first show floor mentor. He survived the Nazi invasion of Italy when he was six years old, emigrated to the Bronx before he was 18 and started his own upholstery business before joining the event industry and rising through the ranks.  First as a union decorator and eventually vice president of sales for the country’s largest general services contractor, he was a giant on the show floor, making sure to communicate the importance of the event business, of serving your clients, of bringing people together to share ideas that can change the world.  At home, he was a… more
Dec 06, 2023
As event professionals, we are always looking for ways to maximize value for our audience while finding new ways to generate revenue. The challenge: How do you accomplish growth without continuously raising prices for your customers? One answer: Consider a discount pricing model for show admission. Exhibitions and events historically use an early-bird, advance and standard pricing model for admission. The prices are set for a time and automatically applied when an attendee registers for the event. The traditional model doesn’t provide the marketing team with true discounts, which hinders… more
Nov 29, 2023
Imagine attending a conference with more than 10,000 participants. How do you make meaningful connections among a sea of people? This is where micro events are most valuable.  Micro events offer a unique solution by focusing on creating intimate settings that cater to specific subsets of the larger community. These events align with attendees' unique personas, interests, problems, business units or regions, making it easier to find and connect with like-minded individuals. How Micro Events Are Executed Micro events take various forms, for example: Brain Dates: One-on-one or small group… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more