News
Jun 23, 2023
As the industry begins to discover the significant impact artificial intelligence (AI) can have on certain aspects of event creation, three visionaries joined forces to design and produce AutonomousXP, a first-of-its-kind event that will utilize AI to make every decision possible.
Margaret Launzel-Pennes, CEO of Pop Experiential, Mark Roberts, head of experiential at POP Experiential, and Audry Hegwood, CEO and Founder of Impact Events and Marketing, are the innovators behind the three-day experience that will take place in Los Angeles Feb. 4-6, showcasing AI’s revolutionary capabilities to… more
Jun 22, 2023
The importance of making the events industry more inclusive and welcoming to all continues to be a major talking point. With June being Pride Month, it’s an opportune time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and reflect on the industry’s accomplishments and ways to overcome obstacles that it continues to confront.
We checked in with four leading event professionals to find out what their organizations are doing to be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community, how they are making their events more inclusive, the major challenges within the industry, how they are personally honoring Pride… more
Jun 20, 2023
Nashville, Tenn.-based Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, from Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT), a perpetual-life, institutional quality real estate investment platform, for $800 million.
According to officials from Ryman, a leading lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that owns the Gaylord-branded hotels and resorts across the U.S., Ryman’s acquisition of the meetings and leisure resort property gives the hospitality and entertainment… more
Jun 19, 2023
Who doesn’t love a sweet treat at a business meeting or conference, especially after a long day of educational sessions and back-to-back engagements with clients or colleagues? Besides being pleasing to the palate, desserts, whether served at a sit-down meal or at an interactive buffet station, help create a fun and relaxed environment for attendees to mingle and network, breaking the ice, encouraging conversation and contributing to a positive and memorable event experience. And by offering a variety of sweet dishes or bites, event organizers can cater to different preferences and dietary… more
Jun 16, 2023
Attendees at IMEX Frankfurt, which took place May 23-25 at Messe Frankfurt, and IMEX America, set for Oct. 17-19 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, are benefitting from enhanced digital navigation thanks to an innovative combination of indoor positioning technology from Crowd Connected and an interactive floorplan from ExpoFP.
Crowd Connected, a pioneer in location-based visitor tracking, and ExpoFP, a leading provider of digital floorplans to the exhibitions industry, developed the QR code navigation solution to revolutionize the visitor experience by providing an unparalleled… more
Jun 15, 2023
Nearly 100 industry leaders from 24 states — including representatives from event, venue and destination organizations including IAEE, Visit Orlando, Venetian Resort Las Vegas, PCMA, MGM Resorts International, Visit Anaheim and many more — gathered on June 1 on Capitol Hill for Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) Legislative Action Day. View the full list of attendees here.
During more than 100 meetings, Legislative Action Day attendees advocated for ECA’s federal public policy priorities and the vital role that the business events industry plays in helping to spur economic growth,… more
Jun 13, 2023
Two leading U.S.-based media companies have been busy making strategic event acquisitions to expand their market share and further benefit the industries they serve. Take a look!
Group C Media
Group C Media, a leading B2B media company based in Red Bank, N.J., recently acquired the portfolio of Continuity Insights from Pennsylvania-based Continuity Exchange.
Announced on May 25, the deal includes the acquisition of Continuity Insights Management Conference and ContinuityInsights.com., which delivers news and information to senior-level executives responsible for business continuity and… more
Jun 12, 2023
PCMA has selected the future host cities and dates for Convening Leaders (CL), the association’s annual flagship education and networking event, for 2024-2027. San Diego has been tapped to host the event in January 2024, followed by Houston in 2025, Philadelphia in 2026 and Miami in 2027.
“The business events industry plays a critical role in bringing people together that drives economic growth and social good for individuals, organizations and communities” said PCMA and CEMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat. “Each of these destinations has a unique identity and offers a diverse range of… more
Jun 09, 2023
In an effort to uncover the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the business events industry, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) are partnering with Gevme, a leading event technology provider, to launch Project Spark. Under this initiative, the AI model will be tested for various practical applications within the scope of business events to understand its impact on workforce productivity.
“AI in the business events industry is just beginning, but we cannot define its future without our global… more
Jun 07, 2023
As the nation’s elected officials burned the midnight oil to pass a bill to raise the debt ceiling on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., trade show industry executives gathered a few blocks away at the Grand Hyatt Washington to connect and learn from their peers at the 22nd annual Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF), produced by Lippman Connects. Held May 30-31, the event attracted a record 237 industry leaders and suppliers, and corporate event professionals can glean several tips from key insights provided during ECEF 2023 sessions.
“There's a mix on the stage of association… 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