News

Aug 13, 2024
We're just two weeks out from Connect Marketplace—a corporate conference where attendees can get a week's worth of business done in two days while dancing to Lil Jon or crushing it on the trade show pickleball court. Yep, this isn't your average conference. At Connect, attendees can expect a B2B event that, above all, values one-on-one appointments and purposeful education—but planners and partners who take time out of their schedule to attend deserve an experience too. That's where lively networking events and other perks come in. Wondering what's on the docket for Connect Marketplace 2024… more
Aug 12, 2024
Workday Rising 2024, an annual corporate event produced by human capital management software company Workday with $7.3 billion in revenues in fiscal 2024, will culminate in the annual Customer Appreciation Party at Allegiant Stadium, featuring a live performance by rock star Gwen Stefani.  “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our rock star customers than with a REAL rock star performance,” said Workday's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Emma Chalwin in a blog. Scheduled for Sept. 16–19 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, this year’s conference is set to bring together… more
Aug 09, 2024
Two major convention centers established and expanded agreements with service providers while a Midwestern destination previewed its expanded outdoor offerings for meeting and convention groups alike. ASM Global Tapped to Operate Reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center, Extended Its Contract to Manage Detroit’s Huntington Place Full-service venue management company ASM Global has been awarded the contract by the City of Cincinnati to launch and operate the reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC), which recently closed its doors for renovation on July 1. Currently undergoing a $240… more
Aug 08, 2024
In the wake of the devastating wildfires that leveled the city of Lahaina, Maui, on Aug. 8, 2023, there has been a growing curiosity about the island's recovery and readiness to welcome back group business one year later.  At the DMC Network Exchange on Aug. 1, we had the opportunity to sit down with Josh DeSilva, president of DeSilva Meeting Consultants, to get an update on the current situation in Maui, how the recovery process is unfolding, and what organizers can expect when planning their events.  Here are highlights from our conversation. Watch the full interview here. Backstory:… more
Aug 07, 2024
On July 30, event-furniture rental giant CORT Events invited 200 industry leaders and tastemakers to a five-hour, garden-themed open house event on the 9th floor of New York City’s iconic Rockefeller Plaza. The to-do drew inspiration from the venue’s adjacent alfresco event space—where a foliage-filled oasis was a reprieve from the traffic below—and boasted setups throughout of different seating, table-and-chair, and decor arrangements for guests to both ogle over and mingle in. Here are the five noteworthy trends that CORT chose to display, plus insights the company’s executive director of… more
Aug 06, 2024
It's been a busy summer for Milwaukee. Since this year's opening of Baird Center—a $456 million expansion of the Wisconsin Center—in May, the city has played host to high-profile gatherings like the Republican National Convention and the Northwestern Mutual Annual Meeting. And later this month, the new facility will welcome attendees of Connect Marketplace, taking place Aug. 27-29. "The RNC used every inch of the Baird Center, and then the minute they were out, Northwestern Mutual brought in 12,000 people," said Claire Koenig, vice president of communications and advocacy for Visit Milwaukee… more
Aug 05, 2024
With 5% to 16.5% of attendees who have symptoms associated with sensory processing challenges and 1 in 45 adults in the U.S. with autism, more venues and destinations are committed to making sure autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors feel welcome and supported while attending meetings and events. The Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) is the latest venue to receive Certified Autism Center (CAC) designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a global organization that provide professional autism and neurodiversity training and… more
Aug 02, 2024
A ruling by the United States Court of Appeals in July upheld a group's right to apply a hotel contract’s force-majeure clause and cancel a 1,200-attendee meeting without penalty. While the specifics of the case relate to COVID-pandemic restrictions, the ramifications could be broader. “Not only was this a federal case, but it went to the Court of Appeals for the area, one rung below the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Joshua Grimes, Esq., Grimes Law Offices. “The next time there's a force-majeure cancellation lawsuit, other federal courts and even some state courts will look to this case. It… more
Aug 01, 2024
What is the secret to happiness at work? Arthur Brooks, who co-authored the 2023 No. 1 New York Times bestseller, "Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier" with Oprah Winfrey, shared strategies and insights during the opening keynote at the Destinations International Annual Convention 2024 in Tampa, Fla.  “I talk to a lot of different business groups, but not every group I talk to is a happiness business like you,” Brooks said from the main stage at the event produced by Destinations International (DI), an association for destination management professionals from… more
Jul 30, 2024
In its first acquisition under new private-equity ownership, London, UK-based Hyve Group, whose flagship events include Shoptalk, Fintech Meetup and Bett, bought POSSIBLE, a two-year old brand marketing event for corporate marketers. The acquisition, announced on July 26, sees Hyve enter a new market sector and further cements its presence in the U.S., following the launch of its U.S. headquarters in New York City last year.  “I am in awe of what the team has achieved in just two years, and I am encouraged by the incredible advocacy for POSSIBLE from the marketing community,” said Hyve CEO… 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