News
Oct 01, 2021
Famous for the fortifications, cobblestone streets and colorful Spanish Colonial buildings of Old San Juan, founded in 1519, Puerto Rico is also becoming a favorite for something brand-new, and it’s as vibrant and infused with local heritage as the historic district. Distrito T-Mobile, a five-acre entertainment complex that was being unveiled in phases right across from the Puerto Rico Convention Center, is now fully open, taking the experience for residents, visitors and event attendees to new heights.
"In celebrating the opening of Distrito T-Mobile, we share with the world our goal of… more
Sep 30, 2021
NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and CVB for New York City’s five boroughs, is aiming to get event professionals in a New York state of mind. The organization recently unveiled “It’s Time to Make It NYC,” a marketing and sales initiative designed to highlight the city’s vibrant comeback and major new developments and invite event professionals to choose the destination for in-person gatherings.
“This new campaign is a signal to planners and [organizers] everywhere that it’s time to return to NYC for face-to-face meetings, conventions, trade shows and events… more
Sep 28, 2021
MGM Resorts International has entered into a definitive agreement with New York-based private equity behemoth Blackstone Group to acquire the casino and hotel operating rights of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for just over $1.6 billion.
Announced Sept. 27, the deal coincides with Blackstone’s sale of the 3,032-room Strip resort to a group of buyers for about $5.6 billion, nearly tripling its investment in the Strip property seven years after acquiring it from Deutsche Bank for just over $1.7 billion and spending $500 million on capital improvements.
According to Blackstone officials, a… more
Sep 27, 2021
It’s no secret that waste is a leading sustainability issue plaguing the entire global hospitality industry. In the U.S. alone, nearly 40% of food waste is generated from consumer-facing businesses including restaurants and hotels, according to leading conservation organization World Wildlife Fund (WWF). But while hotels have made important strides in waste prevention and diversion over the last several years, industry-wide waste reduction has presented a significant challenge due to the absence of a common approach in collecting data and measuring and reporting waste. In other words, hotels… more
Sep 24, 2021
The Vendry, a digital sourcing and planning marketplace and professional community for corporate event planners, has secured $6.5 million in seed funding to empower event professionals as they navigate the next generation of live events.
The funding round was led by Peter Boyce, founder of Stellation Capital, with several other investors participating in the raise.
The new funds will allow the company to invest in new platform developments for a fresh era of live events, including those mixed with hybrid, and the robust pent-up demand the company expects to start seeing for them in 2022.… more
Sep 23, 2021
Officials throughout the tourism, exhibitions, conferences and events sectors overwhelmingly applauded the Biden Administration’s announcement Sept. 20 that U.S. travel restrictions for vaccinated international visitors will be eased in November. The move reopens the country to millions of people and paves the way for a massive boost to the industry’s recovery.
Starting in early November, fully vaccinated travelers from anywhere in the world will be able to fly directly into the U.S. if they show proof of full vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding their U.S.-bound flight… more
Sep 22, 2021
Caesars Entertainment is gearing up to expand its extensive global resort portfolio with a new resort development in Danville, Va. Expected to break ground in December, the $500 million Caesars Virginia will include 500 hotel rooms, a state-of-the-art casino floor, Caesars Sportsbook, World Series of Poker Room, new dining and entertainment concepts, as well as meeting and event space.
“Caesars Virginia will be an economic driver for the region, both as a tourist and entertainment draw and through the more than 1,000 good-paying jobs the resort will create,” said Anthony Carano, president… more
Sep 20, 2021
While the words “startup” and “epiphany” seem to go hand-in-hand nowadays, a pivotal moment of realization is not what inspired Adam Riggs to create Frameable and build out its suite of remote-first digital experiences, including its virtual and hybrid event platform, Social hour.
“Many founder stories start with a magical ‘aha!’ moment—a sudden spark of inspiration an aspiring entrepreneur scribbles on a coffee shop napkin,” he said. “I don’t have one of those.”
What Riggs does have is an incredibly varied career that has led him to reflect on learnings from his many prior roles, including… more
Sep 17, 2021
Gavin Escolar, a happy Uber driver, made $252,000 a year, only $36,000 of which came from his daily trips. The "Uberpreneur" made the extra money by using his car as a "showroom" for his jewelry design company.
Much like Gavin, event profs too, try to make the most from organizing an event. Here are 5 ways for event profs to engage with customers and make that extra buck for their brand, virtually.
Ticket sales - Ticket sales are like the mafia of events. Want to learn how to make pretty pennies from them at virtual events? Bifurcate ticketing based on:
Early bird discounts
VIP tickets… more
Sep 17, 2021
In what was perhaps the strongest argument to date calling for the full return of in-person professional gatherings, leaders from the business and travel sectors joined together Sept. 15 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to deliver a powerful, data-driven, science-backed message: Travel for and participation in professional meetings, exhibitions and events can safely resume, and doing so will significantly accelerate America’s economic recovery.
Under the Let's Meet There initiative, the broad alliance included representatives of the American Society of Association Executives… 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