Jan 28, 2025
The New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) has selected 30-year convention industry veteran Joyce Leveston as the new CEO of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, following a unanimous recommendation by the executive search committee and approval from the NYCCOC Board of Directors. Joining the Javits team on February 10, Leviston will officially take the helm on March 10.
Hugh Carey, Vice Chair of the NYCCOC Board of Directors and chair of the search committee, expressed enthusiasm for her historic appointment, which marks the first time a woman has held… more
Jan 28, 2025
Sponsored by Orange County Convention Center (OCCC)
OVERVIEW
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) redefines excellence in the event and meetings industry by seamlessly blending world-class customer service with cutting-edge industry partnerships. From a dedicated in-house rigging team to comprehensive exhibitor services, the Center works in harmony to transform ambitious visions into unforgettable experiences. With over 2 million square feet of flexible exhibit space, unparalleled resources, and a dream destination, the OCCC is where extraordinary events come to… more
Jan 27, 2025
The start of a new year is always a prime time to look ahead. In the world of hospitality and business events, that often means checking in on the hotel pipeline around the country. From luxury brand debuts to impressive restorations, these new hotels are designed to impress, with top-tier amenities and locations. Keep scrolling to see which properties caught our eye, including the first-ever Graduate Hotel in Texas and the reopening of a swanky South Florida resort.
Waldorf Astoria New York
A historic, transformed New York City property is expected to open its doors in spring 2025. Waldorf… more
Jan 24, 2025
As event professionals seek new ways to connect with attendees and foster engagement, experiential gifting has emerged as a transformative approach. At PCMA Convening Leaders held Jan. 12-15 in Houston, we caught up with CI Group Experiential Gifting Division Founder Jenna Ovadia at a corporate event at the Four Seasons Houston to explore and discuss innovative gifting solutions.
Read highlights from our conversation or watch the full interview from the Texas gifting experience here.
Exploring Experiential Gifting
CI Group, a 40-year-old privately held full-service brand engagement and… more
Jan 23, 2025
Inside Live Events, a new book by co-authors Freeman Board Member Bob Priest-Heck and Freeman Board Chair Carrie Freeman Parsons, debuted yesterday as a comprehensive playbook for creating and producing live events, including trade shows, corporate events, and exhibits.
Back story: With a combined 78 years of event production experience, the authors drew on their decades of knowledge to publish Inside Live Events, designed to serve as a reference for events veterans while equipping newcomers with practical insights and actionable strategies.
Need to know: Offering steps to create… more
Jan 22, 2025
In the face of people’s changing perceptions toward alcohol consumption, fueled by an increasing focus on health and wellness, the growing “sober-curious” social moderation movement appears to be picking up steam as people are re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol.
Between 2016 and 2023, the share of Americans who view moderate drinking as “good for health” dropped from 19% to 10%, whereas the share who perceive it as “bad for health” increased from 26% to 39%, according to Gallup. Americans are drinking less than they used to--with the average number of drinks consumed falling… more
Jan 21, 2025
Omni and Pendry recently renovated, restored, and unveiled two historic hotel properties in Indianapolis and Somerset County, NJ, respectively, that offer meeting and event space for small to mid-sized groups.
Omni Completes $24 Million Renovation in Indiana
The historic Omni Severin Hotel in the heart of downtown Indianapolis recently completed a $24 million renovation that honors its original architecture and classic style. A city mainstay since it was built in 1913 across from the former Indianapolis Union Station train station, the iconic hotel’s renovation was designed to evoke the… more
Jan 20, 2025
The Consumer Electronics Show brought a hotbed of innovation to 12 different venues scattered across the Las Vegas strip. The city is already busting at the seams with hotels, restaurants, and other engaging experiences vying for tourists’ attention, but during CES 2025, which ran January 7-10, these 10 activations and events won the attention of more than 141,000 onsite attendees and media outlets for their innovation, photo worthiness, and plain ‘ole cool touches of experiential.
Keep scrolling to see what we’re talking about, plus get an inside look at how the events teams behind each… more
Jan 17, 2025
As 2024 wrapped up, the corporate event industry continued to thrive, actively recruiting and promoting seasoned professionals in preparation for a promising 2025. Here’s a summary of some personnel changes that took place in December.
CEN’s take on the biggest move in the last month: Creative brand experiences agency Cheerful Twentyfirst welcomed Joe Rivers as its new U.S. brand experience director, responsible for overseeing business development and supporting the agency’s wider growth strategy for its North American division.
The big picture: Based in London, Amsterdam, and New York… more
Jan 16, 2025
Marking the latest development in the long-term strategic licensing agreement between MGM Resorts International and Marriott International, the W Las Vegas hotel recently made its debut at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Now part of the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy, the resort’s 1,117-suite tower––formerly known as the Delano hotel––has transitioned into the globally recognized W Hotels brand.
The W hotel is the latest in the collaboration between the two companies since first announcing their partnership in 2023 and launching the MGM Collection in March 2024… 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