News

Jul 07, 2022
Mark Johnson, chairman and CEO of Minneapolis-based The STAR Groupe, has acquired leading trade show and corporate event marketing education company Exhibitor Media Group, publisher of the award-winning EXHIBITOR magazine and producer of EXHIBITORLIVE, the national conference and exhibition for trade show and corporate event marketers.  As the founder of Star Exhibits and Environments in 1993, Johnson made a strategic decision following the COVID-19 pandemic to establish a holding company dedicated to serving the face-to-face marketing industry.  “The trade show industry was significantly… more
Jul 06, 2022
As the meetings industry continues its steady journey out of the COVID-19 pandemic, event-related organizations across the U.S. and abroad are tapping new executives, promoting staff and welcoming new team members in preparation for clearer skies ahead. Here are the latest exciting new people developments you need to know! OVG360  After taking over management of American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, full-service venue management and hospitality company OVG360 has revealed its local leadership team.  Industry veteran Brian Martin has been tapped as general manager of the facility,… more
Jul 05, 2022
If thoughts of Pittsburgh still evoke visions of a gritty, industrial steel town, then it’s time to pay a visit and have your misconceptions changed! Within the last several decades, this revitalized metropolis has undergone a dramatic transformation that has made it one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly places in the nation.  Named one of the most livable cities in the U.S. as well as a top 10 U.S. cities for green-certified building spaces, Pittsburgh is not only a friendly destination boasting a beautiful skyline, sparkling rivers, stunning architecture and a bustling arts,… more
Jul 01, 2022
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) promised golden opportunities at this year’s World Education Congress (WEC), its signature annual North American event, and it certainly delivered as it ushered attendees into the “new era of events.” With 2022 marking the association’s 50th anniversary, the Golden State’s iconic city of San Francisco set the stage for an innovatively designed three-day gathering filled with insightful education and keynotes on trending topics, top-notch networking events, celebrations honoring its community members and plenty of opportunities to make meaningful… more
Jun 30, 2022
ASM Global, a leading producer of entertainment experiences, teamed with Infor, a top cloud software provider, for a multi-year strategic blueprint that will offer the live-entertainment industry’s first fully integrated booking, sales, food and beverage, and event management platform, and it will also be used for conventions, trade shows and other corporate events.   The newly developed software is earmarked for ASM’s domestic and international venues, and the company plans to officially begin deploying it this month at select ASM Global U.S. arenas, stadiums, theaters and convention… more
Jun 29, 2022
As meetings and conferences continue their steady return to face-to-face, convention centers are happily welcoming back event participants. However, for the events industry and the myriad venues that support it, the post-pandemic era hasn’t turned out to be synonymous with a return to business as usual. Attendee priorities have changed, and it’s not just event organizers who are having to work harder than ever to lure audiences back to their events, venues are also having to adapt, working harder and faster to meet ever-changing needs in order to fill their exhibit halls and meeting rooms. … more
Jun 27, 2022
Two new wild bird species were recently identified at the Javits Center’s nearly seven-acre green roof, which has evolved into a unique wildlife sanctuary since its genesis in 2014. The new birds, discovered this spring by New York City Audubon Society Killdeer and Ovenbird, now join 35 other local and migratory bird species, five bat species and thousands of insects, including 300,000 honeybees that regularly visit or inhabit the rooftop sanctuary on Manhattan’s West Side. Led by the New York Convention Center Development Corporation (NYCCDC), the construction of the 6.75-acre green roof,… more
Jun 24, 2022
Leading digital engagement platform JUNO has secured $10 million in Series A funding, led by global software investor Insight Partners, that is aimed at advancing the company’s mission to serve networked communities, ultimately allowing users to engage in integrated physical and digital worlds. Human connection is critical to building communities around events, whether virtually or in-person, according to Josh Hotsenpiller, founder and CEO of JUNO, adding that JUNO is one platform for all digital engagement—networking, community, events and learning. “Digital is what’s next for communities… more
Jun 23, 2022
Three is not a crowd when it comes to the leadership team at Huntington Place. While female executives and general managers are becoming more and more common at convention centers across North America, few U.S. facilities can claim an all-female leadership team made up of three dynamic industry veterans: Lisa Canada, chairwoman of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and the DRCFA Arts Committee; Karen Totaro, general manager; and Becky Bixby, assistant general manager. Bringing decades of experience to their roles, the powerful trio has made Detroit’s downtown… more
Jun 22, 2022
An event is a culmination of months of meticulous planning. Everything—from laying out the plan to conducting dry runs to post-event marketing—falls in the event planner’s arsenal. The result? Stress, stress and more stress.  But what if you had someone to share the stress (read load)? That would be much better, right? Well, that's where a designated client experience team comes into play. This team is available with you throughout the event providing real-time support and post-event reporting and analytics. Here are five reasons to have a client experience team in your green room. #1… 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