News

Apr 26, 2018
There is a lot of preparation going on in Japan for the Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo in 2020.  In addition to new hotels and venues that will expand the many existing options for events, transportation infrastructure will be transformed. Plans include a ring road that will bypass central Tokyo, a central arterial road that will better connect central Tokyo to the Tokyo Bay area, a new railway connecting Haneda Airport and Tokyo Station, plus improvements to the existing Narita Airport railway system that will cut transit time from thirty minutes to a mere eighteen. Tokyo, however,… more
Apr 25, 2018
An event provides one of the most powerful opportunities for sponsors to get their brand and message out in a face-to-face environment.  For event organizers, sponsorships can help offset costs, increase revenue, enhance the attendee experience, and strengthen partnerships. To help clients increase the value, efficiency, and impact of their live events, GES has launched GES Sponsorship Strategy & Sales. Announced on Apr. 10, the offering enhances the company’s sponsorship program offerings. “We’ve blended decades of experience in live event marketing and domain knowledge with the… more
Apr 24, 2018
There is a plethora of industry events every year, but with limited budgets and busy schedules, it’s impossible to attend all of them. The Corporate Event News team has curated a short list of upcoming U.S.-based events that our own team plans (or hopes) to attend. Note: This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all the great events out there for event professionals – even we can’t be at all of them! MPI World Education Congress (WEC) – June 2-5, Indianapolis, IN Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide. Founded in 1972… more
Apr 23, 2018
May 25, 2018 is the day that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) goes into effect. The GDPR provides EU citizens specific privacy rights regarding the collection, storage, transfer and use of their personally identifiable information. Non-compliance with the GDPR may result in significant fines and penalties of “up to €20 million, or 4% of the worldwide annual revenue of the prior financial year, whichever is higher,” according to the GDPR’s regulation 2016/679. In March, I attended a roundtable event co-hosted by Key Events and Lenos Software on GDPR compliance and how it will… more
Apr 20, 2018
The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) Board of Directors has appointed global entertainment and convention venue management company, SMG, to oversee operations at Reno-Sparks’ major convention and entertainment facilities. The four-year operating agreement includes the RSCVA-owned Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC), the state-owned Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center (RSLEC), as well as the Reno Events Center (REC) and the National Bowling Stadium (NBS), which are both owned by the City of Reno. “This is a great opportunity for the entire Reno Tahoe region and an… more
Apr 19, 2018
Editor's Note: Earth Day is April 22. To help illustrate how event planners can help move the industry towards a more sustainable future, we are sharing this inspiring TSNN interview with Kimberly Smith, director of conferences and events at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). When Kimberly Smith began as director of conferences and events at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), she already thought she was doing her part to be environmentally conscious, both in her career and personal life. Two years… more
Apr 18, 2018
When disaster strikes, people need to know what is happening and how they should proceed. In late February, I attended a workshop at the MPINCC Annual Conference & Exhibition entitled “Crisis Communications: The Most Important Tweet.” Alex Plaxen, MTA, president and founder of Little Bird Told Media, initially asked three questions of the event professionals in the room: “Do you have a crisis communications plan in place?” “Who executes your plan?” “What are your vulnerabilities?” You are responsible for the safety and well-being of your attendees. In the event of an emergency, people… more
Apr 17, 2018
If you’re an event professional, chances are high that you are also a frequent flier. Delta Airlines has just launched a new biometrics program for Delta Sky Club members: Sky Club members who also have CLEAR® can now use their fingerprints to enter all 50 U.S. Delta Sky Club locations. The experience is made possible through Delta’s new biometrics program – Delta Biometrics Powered by CLEAR – which is free for Delta Sky Club members who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. This new program has the potential to streamline check-in for millions of Sky Club visits each year.  “From… more
Apr 16, 2018
On Thursday, April 12, meeting professionals around the world came together to celebrate our great industry. I was lucky enough to be in Las Vegas – the meetings capital of the world – for a media tour centered around Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID). Some key facts about meetings and Las Vegas: Las Vegas offers more than 11 million square feet of convention space In 2017, nearly 6.7 million people attended conventions in Las Vegas Las Vegas hosts close to 22,000 meetings annually Las Vegas is home to 3 of the top 10 largest convention centers in North America Las Vegas has been the… more
Apr 13, 2018
Hilton Des Moines Downtown opened its doors for guests on March 21, with a public ribbon-cutting and a grand opening event. Located just five miles from Des Moines International Airport, Hilton Des Moines Downtown is connected to the Iowa Events Center via the Des Moines Skywalk. It is the first convention hotel to open in Des Moines in more than ten years.  “We are immensely proud to bring this much anticipated facility to the Des Moines community,” said Mike Tousley, executive vice president and general manager of The Weitz Company, which developed, designed and built the property. The… 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 more