Apr 20, 2022
The future is beaming brighter for in-person professional meetings and events, with a recent Q1 2022 survey revealing that 84% of American business travelers expect to take at least one trip to attend conferences, conventions or trade shows in the next six months. The survey, which had more than 2,500 respondents, also found that less than one in 10 business travelers are uncertain if they would travel in the next six months and that business travelers expect to resume traveling at a slightly slower pace compared to pre-pandemic levels, averaging about 1.6 trips per month (compared to 1.7… more
Apr 14, 2022
As the non-profit fundraising arm of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the largest global meetings and event industry association, the MPI Foundation (MPIF) serves an important purpose: to fund grants, scholarships and pan-industry research in support of the global meeting and event industry. But when the increasing humanitarian crisis resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began to take shape, the MPIF joined many event industry organizations in seeking an appropriate means to provide aid during the crisis. According to MPI officials, since its joint board meeting on March 1,… more
Apr 11, 2022
Event planners interested in creating more engaging events with the help of new technologies and strategies can join the Event Leadership Institute’s first Innovation & Engagement Summit, set for April 20 and kicking off at 11 a.m. EDT. During this half-day virtual event, participants will have a chance to gain insights from A-list industry leaders and speakers about future trends, evolving event technologies and innovative engagement tools that can help them reinvent and reimagine events.  Presented in partnership with Meeting Professionals International, the online experience will also… more
Mar 31, 2022
After two challenging years, there’s no doubt that the meetings and events industry could use an industry-wide celebration to commemorate and honor the return of in-person experiences. And what better way to celebrate the industry’s renaissance than by joining Meeting Professional International (MPI)’s fifth annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID): Virtual Experience, broadcasting live April 7 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT.  As an annual international day of advocacy that shines a light on the positive impact that conferences, conventions and trade shows have on people, businesses and the… more
Mar 29, 2022
Global Experience Specialists (GES), a leading global provider of exhibition services, brand experiences and live event services, debuted Spiro, an integrated marketing solutions agency that aims to deliver uniquely elevated experiences for the new era of events, including virtual, hybrid and in-person formats.  “The past two years have reinforced the critical value of events and experiences in connecting people,” said Jeff Stelmach, global president of Spiro. “[Today], it’s not about meeting people with similar interests in a single location—it’s about people with similar interests meeting… more
Mar 21, 2022
Event and meetings industry media company BizBash is launching a think tank designed to help create a roadmap for the future of the meetings and events industry.  A major component of the BizBash Live springtime program, the new BizBash Leadership Summit will take place May 22-24 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, alongside the Connect Spring Marketplace at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. Designed to be an intimate gathering for industry thought leaders to share ideas and resources to power the next generation of events, the high-level event is expected to attract approximately 30 executives from… more
Mar 11, 2022
The U.S. Travel Association led a delegation of 11 travel industry leaders to Washington, D.C., March 8 for a roundtable discussion with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves on ways to bolster the industry’s recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion centered on promoting safe business and professional travel and identifying opportunities to help all aspects of the travel and tourism sector, including professional meeting and events, fully and evenly recover. At the meeting, Graves voiced his support for the industry, saying the U.S. Department of Commerce will… more
Mar 02, 2022
A growing number of events industry organizations are condemning the acts of aggression on Ukraine, with some suspending business activities with Russia.  IMEX Group, Messe Frankfurt, Messe Düsseldorf, Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Events Industry Council (EIC) are among the entities that have issued statements on the conflict showing support for the people of Ukraine and denouncing the Russian invasion. IMEX Group IMEX Group suspended Russian businesses from attending its IMEX Frankfurt show, which is scheduled for May… more
Feb 25, 2022
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) recently published the 2022 edition of its Winter Meetings Outlook, revealing signs of positivity for the industry’s full recovery as well as complications expected as a result of societal shifts that have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The future-focused quarterly outlook identifies trends and innovations, allowing event professionals to budget and plan accordingly and ensuring a strong foundation for building sound strategies that keep businesses on the path to success. According to the report, a balancing market reveals signs of positive… more
Feb 11, 2022
As the industry continues to emerge from the pandemic and increasingly hold in-person gatherings, ASM Global, featuring the largest portfolio of convention centers, arenas, stadiums and theaters in the world, will hold an ambitious, three-day virtual job fair to hire 1,000 employees at 100 of its venues.    The international, collaborative event, titled ASM Presents: The Next Great Opportunity, will take place online Feb. 15-17, with representation from venues in the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Aimed at addressing the global staffing shortages that have challenged the… 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