News

Feb 22, 2023
Oftentimes, the careers we imagine for ourselves as children aren’t necessarily what we end up pursuing as adults. Ask Phil Evans about his path into the culinary arts, and he’ll tell you a similar story.“My parents were the driving force for me to get into the culinary industry,” Evans explains. “I actually wanted to be a schoolteacher, but I grew up in the kitchen cooking with my grandmother and then my mother, so it came to me naturally. I inevitably fell in love with cooking.”Now, as executive chef at Sodexo Live!, Evans boasts an extensive background in fine dining, catering and… more
Feb 22, 2023
Sodexo Live! is stepping up its innovative new tech offerings with the addition of autonomous store technology by AiFi, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) and shopping solutions provider, at two ASM Global-managed venues in Salt Lake County, Utah: Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center.Designed to streamline throughput and ensure a more seamless experience for attendees of trade shows, conventions, meetings and other events, the store has opened as Salt Shaker Grab-and-Go at Salt Palace Convention Center, marking AiFi’s debut in a convention center setting, and… more
Feb 17, 2023
Following an incredibly challenging period of unprecedented, pandemic-inflicted hardships, the hotel industry is making promising strides toward recovery. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2023 State of the Hotel Industry Report, this resilient industry is projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels of demand, nominal room revenue and state and local tax revenue this year, while moving closer to other key 2019 performance metrics. However, with economic concerns such as inflation and borrowing costs, and operational challenges such as staffing shortages rising to the… more
Feb 16, 2023
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announced a formal three-year extension and expanded community offerings with the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP). Since October 2020, the partnership has focused primarily on a joint membership offering that has resulted in 53 members across both organizations having taken advantage of the opportunity to be part of MPI and NCBMP.  The updated partnership will extend through 2026 with ongoing renewals available for the two organizations to continue their collaboration. Among the primary features, the two associations will… more
Feb 15, 2023
Exclusively Sponsored by MGM Resorts World class entertainment, dining, and business amenities means wherever an organization is heading, getting there starts with being here.  You’ll find meeting and event spaces at other places but what you won’t find is all we offer here at MGM Resorts. For decades MGM has been leading the way by providing world-class experiences across all our destinations. Here we host events that create synergy, meetings that move members, conferences that foster collaboration. Here we create memorable experiences that move business forward. Because no matter where… more
Feb 14, 2023
The meetings industry continues to demonstrate a rosy outlook for the year ahead as event-related organizations across the U.S. announce a bevy of new hires and an array of leadership promotions. Check them out!    Visit Orlando  Visit Orlando recently named 25-year hospitality industry veteran Mario J. Bass as its new COO, responsible for overseeing internal operations and leading and implementing the organization’s strategic initiatives, strategic plans and annual business plans.  Bass most recently served as the chief sales officer for Visit San Antonio. During his five-year tenure, he… more
Feb 13, 2023
Global events agency Freeman has partnered with Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), an Explori-backed initiative and professional global community for senior corporate event leaders to share ideas and industry insights, discuss issues and engage in powerful, actionable conversations that lead to progress. Announced on Jan. 25, the initiative enables ELX members to have direct access to Freeman’s data, strategists and innovations that are shaping the way people experience and interact with brands.  “Audiences today are more selective and protective of their time, so creating brand experiences that… more
Feb 10, 2023
Denver is readying for a future boost in meetings and conventions business, with vertical construction of the $233 million expansion of the Colorado Convention Center recently culminating in a commemorative “topping out” ceremony, as the project remains on schedule for a late 2023 opening. “This is a welcome milestone in the progress of the expansion, which will assist us with booking multiple groups simultaneously to maximize capacity,” said Richard W. Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. “Ultimately, these improvements will pay huge dividends for years to come by generating new… more
Feb 07, 2023
As the meetings and events industry continues its robust return to face-to-face in 2023, a plethora of industry events are happening this year that event professionals won’t want to miss. As we in the events industry well know, not only are industry conferences an excellent source of professional development, with plentiful educational opportunities on tap to inform and inspire, they’re also a wonderful way to convene with peers and make new business connections, all under one roof. Here, the Corporate Event News team has curated a short list of upcoming U.S.-based events that meeting and… more
Feb 06, 2023
As the demand for face-to-face meetings shows positive signs of gaining more momentum in 2023, established hotel brands are announcing remodels, touting recent upgrades and unveiling reinventions of their U.S. properties to lure back meeting and event groups. Take a look! The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit  Oxford Capital Group is kicking off the new year with a $20 million renovation of The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, which is located within walking distance of the Huntington Place Convention Center. Set for completion in summer 2023, the project will feature a reimagining of the hotel’s… 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