News
Oct 29, 2021
Tech Giants: Banzai’s Joe Davy on Event Marketers as Heroes, the Future of Events and How to Prepare
Raised in a small university town in North Carolina, where both of his parents were English professors, Joe Davy was self-taught when it came to tech smarts, which have been top of mind for him since childhood.
“I learned to program on our 386 PC desktop at home using a manual for a Tandy 2000 computer that I found in a box of free books at my parents’ office,” he said.
Davy’s early interest in technology and programming eventually turned into an interest in business and entrepreneurship.
“I was lucky to meet a few life-changing mentors and friends who shaped me into who I am today,” he… more
Oct 28, 2021
Leave it to the IMEX Group to always make you feel like you’re part of their great big family. Event professionals unable to attend IMEX America in person this year are in luck. The group announced plans to debut IMEX BuzzHub Live, offering a unique virtual window into the world of the show, which takes place Nov. 9-11 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
“'There’s always a seat at our table’—this is our mantra, and we’ve worked to ensure IMEX America remains inclusive and available to all,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group. “As part of this, we’re launching our first-… more
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
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