News
Oct 28, 2022
Destinations International Unveils Booking Agreement to Protect Destinations and Event Professionals
Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), announced a Destination Booking Agreement (DBA) that includes a toolkit to establish mutually agreeable terms to protect both the destination and the business event professional.
The announcement was made at the recent IMEX America show in Las Vegas, where Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International, and three representatives from Destinations International’s Large Market Roundtable were on hand to discuss the DBA’s importance to… more
Oct 27, 2022
Leading AI-powered translation service Wordly, which launched in 2019, took inclusivity to a new level for IMEX America 2022 in Las Vegas, enabling thousands of attendees to engage in education in the language of their choice, in addition to announcing Cvent integration, six more language options, on-demand transcript translation and expanded developer APIs.
Wordly, which recently topped 200 million minutes of live translation on its platform, making it the first SaaS solution designed for meetings and events to reach this milestone, was the official translation provider for IMEX America,… more
Oct 25, 2022
When it comes to achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the global events industry has a lot of work to do, according to the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study. Released on Oct. 11 in partnership with EIC’s global Equity Task Force, created in 2020 to address systemic racism and all forms of discrimination in the business events and hospitality industry, the study signifies the critical first phase of EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan.
While there is an ever-growing awareness and commitment toward equity in the industry, survey scores reveal widespread DEI… more
Oct 24, 2022
On Oct. 17, the 25-story Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City officially opened its doors as the first major hotel development in 20 years in a city recognized as one of the fastest-growing urban hubs in the U.S. Debuting as the only hotel directly connected to the Salt Palace Convention Center and the first Hyatt Regency in Utah, the new downtown property features 700 modern guest rooms and suites, and more than 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the largest hotel ballroom and largest outdoor rooftop event space in the city.
According to General Manager Pina Purpero, the… more
Oct 21, 2022
The soaring inflation rates that have plagued the U.S., let alone some other countries around the world, may not be subsiding any time soon. The Labor Department reported that the September consumer price index (CPI) rose 8.2% over the prior 12 months, which is higher than what experts had predicted.
Increasing costs have taken a heavy toll on the business events industry, with inflation’s impact seen in the price of transportation, hotels, venues, food and beverage, guest speakers and several other aspects of events.
We checked in with four event professionals to find out how inflation… more
Oct 20, 2022
MeetingPlay + Aventri, two leading event tech companies that merged in January and in June acquired eventcore, which provides customized registration and other event tools, has consolidated the three entities under the new name Stova.
The company unveiled the new brand during IMEX America 2022 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where its staff was out in full force at their newly minted exhibit booth.
With the consolidation of three major event technology pioneers, the company is designed to be the most comprehensive platform in the industry for delivering exceptional on-site… more
Oct 18, 2022
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s 2.1 million-square-foot convention center is getting a fresh new look via a $100 million remodel project. Reflecting the evolving needs and preferences of contemporary meetings and trade shows, the remodel features significant technology upgrades, dynamic digital signage and fresh, new design elements complementing the Las Vegas Strip resort’s signature tropical ambiance.
“With Mandalay Bay home to many of the city’s top events and trade shows year after year, we recognized the need to upgrade the space to reflect modern-day needs and create a timeless… more
Oct 17, 2022
Despite rumblings of a slowing job market, the events industry is continuing its robust hiring and promoting momentum, with organizations far and wide filling executive roles with seasoned industry veterans and elevating strong-performing team members to new positions. Check them out!
Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has promoted 20-year sales and hospitality industry veteran Kelly Gleeson Smith to vice president of sales, meetings and events, responsible for leading the global sales strategy for meetings and events for the enterprise and overseeing a team of more than 120… more
Oct 14, 2022
As the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas buzzed with the sounds of utility vehicles zipping by and booths being meticulously finished for the show floor opening of IMEX America the next day, Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, couldn’t have been calmer—or more excited.
“Fantastic!” she said, when I asked how she was feeling ahead of the big day.
Her joy—and that of the thousands of attendees who graced the show floor, educational sessions and networking events Oct. 10-13—was palpable. One overriding feeling seemed to prevail: The rebound is real.
When all was said and done, the 11th… more
Oct 13, 2022
Redrock Entertainment and POP Experiential
Event production company Redrock Entertainment and creative experience agency POP Experiential (POP | X) announced a new alliance to bring award-winning teams of creators and producers to the experiential marketplace, creating a broader offering to existing and prospective clients.
Together, the two teams will deliver tech-forward solutions for B2B and B2C experiences and events—in-person, virtual and hybrid.
Redrock delivers acclaimed large-scale productions, producing high-profile events including Stranger Things Drive-Into Experience, Riot… 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