News
Mar 06, 2020
The following is an open letter dated March 5, 2020, from the leadership of the American Society of Association Executives; Destinations International; Events Industry Council; International Association of Exhibitions and Events; International Association of Venue Managers; Meeting Professionals International; PCMA; and the U.S. Travel Association.
We share the concern about the coronavirus and the questions this challenge presents. The health and wellbeing of the public is always paramount. The goal, of course, in any moment of public health concern is to be guided by expert information,… more
Mar 05, 2020
In the wake of sudden, severe storms that caused a series of devastating tornadoes to slam through Nashville and greater middle Tennessee in the early hours of March 3, the City of Nashville is starting to pick up the pieces. According to news reports, the storm claimed more than two dozen lives and caused extensive destruction to homes and businesses, with the East Nashville, Germantown and Donelson neighborhoods hit particularly hard.
But despite the extensive damage, Nashville’s resilient residents, including the Convention Center Authority, are already stepping up to help their community… more
Mar 04, 2020
While trade shows throughout the globe are continuing to cancel due to fears of COVID-19, some major events in the U.S. and Germany are forging ahead. They’re leveraging strong and transparent communication plans to reassure concerned attendees and exhibitors that their health and safety remain a top priority.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE
CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE will be taking place as planned at Las Vegas Convention Center, March 10-14. According to a statement on its website, the show is not only closely monitoring the latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control and the World… more
Mar 02, 2020
Can life be easier for corporate event planners? The answer is yes, if they employ the right automation technologies to help them with planning and delivery of their events.
In its eighth annual report, “2020 Future Trends in Meeting and Events,” CWT Meetings & Events survey data shows that event technologies are eliminating inconveniences from many meetings and events processes. According to the report, automation technologies can speed up registration, create a high level of personalization and measure attendee engagement.
Cindy Lo, president and event strategist of Austin, Texas-… more
Feb 28, 2020
Two major convention venues in the Southeast U.S. have been expanding their event spaces to accommodate more trade show business. Here’s how things are developing with Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center and Florida’s Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
Georgia World Congress Center Completes Exhibit Hall BC
Georgia World Congress Center’s new $55 million Exhibit Hall BC project has been completed ahead of schedule and under budget. With the 100,000-square-foot expansion creating more than 1 million square feet of contiguous exhibition space, the GWCC’s total exhibit space… more
Feb 27, 2020
Updated Mar. 23, 2020: BOCOM has been postponed til Sept. 3, 2020
With growing demand for more personalized, interactive event experiences, organizations around the world have been working to reinvent meetings. BOCOM — the self-described first borderless communication experience worldwide — is a step towards what could become the conference of the future.
BOCOM officials say the April 23 multisite event will enable participants to experience future digital meeting and work technologies and their impact on daily business life.
The idea behind BOCOM is intriguing: to overcome the borders of… more
Feb 26, 2020
As the importance of lessening the environmental impact of meetings, trade shows and events only continues to grow, here’s what two Midwestern convention centers are doing to help make sustainable planning easier.
McCormick Place
With nearly 3 million visitors each year, McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center, has a large environmental footprint. However, for more than a decade, the 2.6 million-square-foot facility has been actively creating a more sustainable campus. In the last few months, the campus has taken two major steps forward.
With installation of the… more
Feb 25, 2020
Much like social media, podcasts are increasingly becoming a great medium for sharing news, information, tips and best practices in the trade show and events industry. And their popularity is growing. According to Edison Research and Nielsen, there are more than 700,000 active podcasts and more than 29 million podcast episodes in existence, including content in more than 100 languages. As of 2019, 51 percent (approximately 165 million people) of the U.S. population had listened to a podcast.
With the help of some of our podcast-loving #Expochat moderators, including Michelle Bruno of Event… more
Feb 21, 2020
Update: SPIN AdventureCon has been postponed till 2021.
As shown by recent experiential marketing studies, people are craving more human-to-human experiences at events, which for event organizers means shaking things up. From events like Haute Dokimazo’s Secret Family Reunion to Ateema Media & Marketing’s Planner Master Class roundtables, planners are implementing creative new ways to meet differently.
SPIN AdventureCon, a new event from the Senior Planners Industry Network for senior planners, promises a combination of education and unique experiences that will provide plenty of… more
Feb 20, 2020
Ripples from the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus continue to be felt by the meetings industry. Today, Reed Travel Exhibitions announced that it has postponed the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific. Originally scheduled for Apr. 6-8, the event has been rescheduled to Apr. 13-14, 2021. The location (Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands) will remain the same.
According to Reed officials, the decision was made based on the latest advice from its partners, and after in-depth discussions with customers and hosted buyers regarding the coronavirus.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” said Shane… 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