News
Mar 14, 2024
Celebrated every March, Women’s History Month is an opportune time to celebrate the female achievers of the trade show and corporate events industry. In this first in a series of exclusive interviews with several outstanding female industry professionals, we had the pleasure of speaking with Kitty Ratcliffe, president of Explore St. Louis and Kathy Springstead, general manager, convention center operations for Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, to find out how their organizations are supporting women, whether they believe we are making progress when it comes to gender diversity in the C-suite… more
Mar 12, 2024
Are you attending Connect 2024 Spring Marketplace in Las Vegas? Considering it?
Connect Spring Marketplace is scheduled for April 2-4 at The Venetian, Las Vegas. Designed for event professionals, Connect Spring Marketplace is expected to draw more than 2,000 leaders who produce association, citywide, corporate, sports, eTourism and diversity events.
We’ve got the scoop on what you need to know before you take off for this popular desert destination for trade shows.
1. Speed date with suppliers. Engage in personalized 1:1 sessions with representatives from top destinations, hotels and… more
Mar 11, 2024
If your trade show or event organization works with independent contractors, it’s important to know how a new employment rule that takes effect on March 11 could impact labor costs for businesses that rely on contract labor or freelancers, such as trucking, manufacturing and more.
The industry sector most likely to be impacted: general service contractors, AV companies, freight companies and other suppliers that rely on independent contractors.
Why it matters: Increased costs for suppliers could be passed on to event organizers or exhibitors, who were already facing increases of 7%-30% for… more
Mar 08, 2024
Ask about Visit Salt Lake (VSL) President and CEO Kaitlin Eskelson’s long and accomplished career in the travel and tourism industry and prepare to be impressed. As the organization’s youngest chief executive and only the fourth person to hold the leadership role in its 36-year history, she has made her mark through passionately crafted programs and strategies designed to secure a strong future for business events and tourism in Salt Lake City and Utah.
Since taking the helm at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 16, 2020, Eskelson’s achievements to build back the city’s meetings and… more
Mar 07, 2024
As the corporate meetings and events industry moves into full recovery mode this year, there are myriad industry events for event professionals to take advantage of. After all, not only are industry conferences an excellent source of professional development with plentiful educational opportunities designed to inform and inspire, but also they’re a great way to connect with peers and make new business contacts, all in one place.
Here, we’ve curated a short list of upcoming U.S.-based events that meeting and event professionals should consider adding to their schedules in 2024.
Connect… more
Mar 05, 2024
Exclusively sponsored by Honeycomb Strategies.
The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015, “recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.” If that sounds like all-encompassing, world-changing rhetoric… well, it’s the U.N. That’s their job.
But it’s our job as sustainability consultants to help our clients ladder up to the U.N.’s lofty goals. And in doing so, we… more
Mar 05, 2024
What’s the latest in Las Vegas? We spent a few days in Vegas in January, and here are some of the highlights about what’s new and trending for events in the ever-popular desert city.
Fountainbleau
Fontainebleau Las Vegas officially opened its doors Dec. 13, 2023. Located across the street from the West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Fontainebleau Las Vegas features a 150,000-square-foot casino with 42-foot ceilings and 3,644 hotel rooms and suites.
Staying here: The 67-story resort features a bevy of high-end amenities, including a six-acre elevated pool deck, a 14,000 sq. ft… more
Mar 04, 2024
The SEARCH Foundation, a nonprofit that assists event, meetings and catering professionals in crisis, celebrated a milestone, raising more than $105,000 at its Annual Signature Event, held Feb. 14 at Skybox on 6th in Austin, Texas. Since its inception in 1997, more than $1.25 million has been distributed, and more than 300 individuals have been assisted by the SEARCH Foundation, including 45 in 2023, according to SEARCH Foundation officials.
Kate Patay, SEARCH Foundation Chairperson“The support our foundation provides to individuals in crisis is only possible with the generosity of the… more
Mar 01, 2024
Event-related organizations far and wide, particularly CVBs and suppliers, are elevating staff, welcoming new industry professionals and saying farewell to long-standing team members this month.
Huntington Place
Detroit’s Huntington Place welcomed Heather Anderson as its new marketing and communications director. She is succeeding Mary Klida, who has headed the downtown convention center’s marketing and communications efforts since 2010 and is retiring March 31.
In her new role, Anderson is responsible for leading the facility’s marketing and communications team and working closely with… more
Feb 29, 2024
Taking place each February, Black History Month is an ideal time to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black trade show and event industry professionals and renew our commitment to continue fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
We want to recognize and highlight Black industry leaders and share their experiences. This week, we are featuring Julie Coker, president and CEO of San Diego Tourism and Al Hutchison, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore. Find out how their organizations are supporting the Black community and Black History Month, and how all of us can champion… 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