News

Oct 27, 2021
Creating community around events has become an increasingly important way to build awareness, boost engagement, drive attendance and deliver on ROI goals. 365 Media, a leading expert in virtual and hybrid events and online community consulting, recently debuted a completely free resource that helps industry professionals create, build and grow online communities year-round while continually advancing their careers: the Community Leaders Institute (CLI). The platform was designed to unite a global network of community leaders, founders, managers and launchers in various industries (including… more
Oct 25, 2021
Across the corporate meetings industry, new and established event professionals alike are continuing to find exciting career opportunities at organizations far and wide. Take a look! Event Marketing Partners Full-service event marketing agency Event Marketing Partners (EMP) recently promoted Tricia Daniels to president, responsible for leading the firm’s team of experienced event marketers.  Since joining EMP in 2009, Daniels has helped grow and enhance its client events by drawing on her 30 years of event and hospitality experience, including her time as convention services director at… more
Oct 21, 2021
Event technology is continuing to evolve at record speed, with new tools and platforms significantly improving the experience for organizers and attendees. Here are some of the most recent developments.  Hubilo Virtual event platform Hubilo has secured $125 million in Series B funding from Alkeon Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Balderton Capital, bringing the company’s total funding to $153 million. The new investment will allow Hubilo to expand its global footprint, build out new functionalities and deliver on its product vision for the future of events.  “The potential ahead of… more
Oct 20, 2021
The Biden Administration has set Nov. 8 as the official date the U.S. will reopen its borders to fully vaccinated international visitors arriving by air, land and sea. The news was met with enthusiastic praise from officials throughout the tourism, trade show and event industries. The original announcement in September of the intention to lift the travel ban in November for international visitors flying into the country was followed with an announcement last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the Canada and Mexico borders would also reopen to international arrivals by land… more
Oct 19, 2021
Sodexo Group recently launched Sodexo Live!, a new global brand dedicated to the hospitality space. Designed to unify and leverage the company’s extensive expertise in the sports, events and hospitality sector, the fresh identity reaffirms the company’s commitment to being a market leader in a space on the verge of rebounding, according to Sodexo Live! officials. “We are thrilled to unveil Sodexo Live! for meeting planners, show organizers and the space as a whole,” said Steve Pangburn, CEO of Sodexo Live! North America. “Those in the meetings and events industry can expect a continued… more
Oct 18, 2021
Hotel and resort companies across the country have been busy bringing new-builds online while others expand and upgrade their existing properties to lure back leisure travelers and event groups. Take a look at the latest developments! New Properties ARCHER Hotel Tysons (Fairfax County, VA) Archer Hotel recently expanded its growing portfolio with the debut of ARCHER Hotel Tysons, a new urban-chic boutique hotel in the new upscale Scotts Run South development nine miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Featuring 178 rooms and suites boasting a variety of design palettes and layouts, the… more
Oct 15, 2021
As the industry returns to face-to-face events, rest assured there will be no shortage of spectacular spaces in which to convene. With the array of new and expanded convention centers that have opened this year and are on track to debut in the near future, this seems to be one of the most prolific periods of new construction the industry has seen. Here are four upcoming convention centers to keep on the radar, all of which are making dynamic architectural and design statements. The Summit, Seattle The home of the Space Needle knows a thing or two about bringing awe-inspiring icons to its… more
Oct 14, 2021
New York City’s Javits Center may be located in one of the busiest cities in the world, but it’s as green as it gets at this newly expanded facility. The center just unveiled an innovative 200,000-square-foot rooftop that features a glass-enclosed pavilion, an outdoor terrace and a one-acre working farm that is expected to generate up to 40,000 pounds of produce each year for the center’s banquet operations. The farm, along with other enhancements, builds upon the center’s other sustainability success stories, including an existing 6.75-acre green roof that serves as a habitat for area… more
Oct 13, 2021
Ensuring the health and safety of attendees, exhibitors and employees working at host venues has become a paramount priority as the industry returns to in-person events. An increasing number of organizers are opting to implement COVID-19 vaccine mandates or negative test requirements in addition to several other health and safety measures. With these trends, the need for streamlined ways to verify proof of health status electronically is on the rise. The following four health-screening solutions are designed to ease the verification process for everyone involved and, in some cases, provide… more
Oct 12, 2021
Meetings, events, travel and tourism industry leader, Connect, is gearing up to welcome a pre-pandemic number of event professionals to its signature summer marketplace conference and trade show in Detroit next year. Set for Aug. 8-10, 2022 at TCF Center, Connect Detroit expects to attract approximately 4,000 decision-making planners and suppliers, who will gather together to meet, network, do business and experience all that the city has to offer for meeting and event groups. The annual August conference will once again draw in attendees from four main market segments: corporate,… 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