News
Dec 05, 2024
Since joining Maritz in 2011, President and CEO David Peckinpaugh has led the company through significant growth. 2024 has been another banner year for the St. Louis-based private company, which provides registration, housing, sourcing, contracting, event management, and exhibitor services for some of the largest U.S. trade shows and business events around the globe. In July, Maritz acquired Convention Data Services (CDS) from Freeman, creating one of the largest registration providers in the U.S.
What’s trending for the company in Q4? In a recent interview, Peckinpaugh shared valuable… more
Dec 04, 2024
ConferenceDirect took its annual tentpole client event, the CD+Forum, to the happiest place on earth—Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts in Orlando, Fla. From Nov. 13-16, 190 of the California-based meeting and event planning firm’s customers networked and acquired new skills while nestled between Walt Disney World’s Epcot and Magic Kingdom theme parks (talk about a hub of creativity and innovation!).
Sustainability and wellness as well as cost containment solutions and hotel contracting were two major themes of the latest CD+Forum, according to J.J. Wills, ConferenceDirect’s senior vice… more
Dec 03, 2024
As a meeting professional, knowing the average pay for colleagues in the industry is invaluable when you find yourself in the market for a new job or when it comes time to ask for a raise.
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is on the job, providing the industry with its annual Convene Salary Survey. The 2024 report analyzed data from 462 event professionals, providing information on their average salaries, role, experience, job satisfaction, and more.
PCMA reports meeting-industry salary averages in several ways, the most relevant being by job title and by… more
Nov 29, 2024
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), which generated more than $500 million in economic impact for Toronto and the Province of Ontario during its 2023/24 fiscal year, appointed Kathy Haley as its new president and CEO, effective November 26. She takes over the position from MTCC Interim President & CEO Ron Pellerine, who held the position for the last year.
Haley, who most recently served as chief customer experience officer for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ), makes history as the first woman to hold this position at the MTCC, which is celebrating its… more
Nov 29, 2024
During this season of giving, the Javits Center in New York City continues to shine as a beacon of sustainability and community support with one of its most dazzling donations to date: a 15-foot, 1,100-pound crystal chandelier.
Originally designed by Baskervill and manufactured by Bluebird Lighting, the $18,000 masterpiece was showcased at Boutique Design New York (BDNY), a trade show for boutique hospitality brands and designers held Nov. 10-11 at the Manhattan facility.
Thanks to the JavitsCares program and a partnership with Materials for the Arts, this extraordinary chandelier, which… more
Nov 27, 2024
Exclusively sponsored by Honeycomb Strategies
As we approach the end of the year, many of us are planning corporate holiday gifts and budgeting for next year’s event swag and merchandise purchases. So now is a good time to consider what we’re purchasing and make thoughtful decisions or substitutions based on attention to manufacturing impact, shipping, disposal, and humane conditions in the supply chain.
We consider experiential gifts (a massage, a performance, a party, a discount or perk) to be the gold standard for gifting, both for the impression they make on the receiver and for their… more
Nov 27, 2024
Apple’s AirTag tracking devices have been around since mid-2021, but meeting professionals may be more interested than ever in the button-like units, with a new feature the company announced on November 11 called Share Item Location.
The new feature allows users to share the real-time coordinates of lost or misplaced items with third parties.
Apple is rolling out partnerships with 18 airlines to allow the system to more quickly locate missing luggage. However, meeting professionals might also consider an AirTag for exhibits and boxes of critical event materials that get shipped around the… more
Nov 25, 2024
Cvent flexed its muscles as a global leader in event management during the milestone 25th iteration of its annual meetings, events, and hospitality technology conference, Cvent CONNECT Europe.
Held Nov. 5-7 at the Hilton London Metropole, this year’s Cvent CONNECT Europe was the software giant’s largest yet, with more than 1,500 industry professionals onsite and thousands more tuning in virtually. Rachel Andrews, Cvent’s senior director of global meetings and events, attributed the 15% year-over-year attendance surge (there were roughly 1,300 in person in 2023) to the company’s increased… more
Nov 22, 2024
Fal.Con, cybersecurity platform CrowdStrike’s annual conference, has seen some impressive growth over the last few years. In 2022, the show welcomed 2,800 attendees; then 4,000 attendees in 2023; and now 6,000 attendees at this year’s show, which took place in September at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
The 2024 iteration of the show was a master class in creative problem-solving, especially in terms of spatial design. Experiential agency VDA led the production of the event, which featured a trade show floor of customer booths from the likes of Mercedes and Mattel, a dome-shaped… more
Nov 21, 2024
Currently under construction with a $1 billion investment, the new VAI Resort in Glendale, Ariz. is on track to open its initial phase in Q4 2025, redefining the concept of meetings and hospitality by integrating luxurious accommodations with cutting-edge entertainment and versatile event spaces.
For event professionals seeking something fresh and groundbreaking, the upcoming opening of VAI Resort presents a new option that promises to elevate the guest experience through innovative design and entertainment.
At IMEX America in the Visit Phoenix booth, we caught up with VAI Resort Senior… 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