Oct 01, 2024
Just in time for its 20th anniversary, the Omni San Diego Hotel in San Diego’s downtown Gaslamp Quarter recently completed a property-wide renovation that encompasses refreshed meeting and event spaces, a reimagined lobby and guest rooms, two new food and beverage concepts, and a redesigned poolside experience.  Led by New York-based design studio Jeffrey Beers International, the hotel’s new aesthetic features a modern color scheme and refined baseball-inspired design commemorating its connection with Petco Park (connected by the property’s Skybridge) and the San Diego Padres.   Flexible… more
Sep 30, 2024
Nearly 2,000 unionized employees—mostly housekeepers, front-desk agents, cooks, dishwashers, F&B servers, bartenders, bellhops, and door staff—walked off the job at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu on September 24. The 2,860-room property is the largest hotel in Hawaii and the largest Hilton in the world.  The labor action is just the latest in a series of temporary and ongoing walkouts conducted across at least 10 cities by members of national hospitality-labor union UNITE HERE.  In each instance, workers are calling for higher wages as well as eased workloads through a reversal… more
atlantic city
Sep 24, 2024
What do corporate event organizers need to know about Atlantic City, NJ? We spent 48 hours at the Jersey Shore to discover some of the old and the new of what Atlantic City has to offer. Getting there: While there is an airport in Atlantic City, there are many more direct flight options into Philadelphia International Airport, which is about 65 miles away or a one-hour drive with light traffic. Where we stayed: Nobu Hotel Atlantic City, located in Caesars Atlantic City, opened in March 2024. The latest hotel addition to the Caesars Entertainment portfolio in Atlantic City, Nobu Hotel… more
Sep 19, 2024
Caesars Entertainment, the public company that generated revenues of $11.5 billion in 2023, has expanded its wellness offerings for meeting planners and event organizers to Atlantic City, NJ. After debuting its wellness menu last October, Caesars officially rolled out the program first to its properties in Las Vegas in January 2024. For corporate event planners looking to integrate wellness into their conference schedules, the hotel and gaming company that operates more than 50 properties in the U.S. offers a curated group of wellness keynote speakers, workshops, activities, and nutrient-… more
Sep 18, 2024
Corporate meeting and event planners will soon have another hotel and event space option to consider when hosting events in Indianapolis. Situated in the landmarked Illinois Building following an intensive restoration project that has returned the 11-story structure to its previous grandeur, the new InterContinental Indianapolis hotel is gearing up to open in the city’s downtown this winter.   Situated near Monument Circle, the 170-room property will feature a new contemporary entrance canopy, grand staircase, lobby bar, eight-story atrium, luxury accommodations, two restaurants, a rooftop… more
Sep 17, 2024
New convention facility offerings, fresh and extended partnerships, and philanthropic activities comprise the latest developments for several North American convention centers as summer turns to fall. Take a look:  Anaheim Convention Center Opens New Marshaling Yard  The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) recently opened the Claudina Marshaling Yard, located on 6 acres of on-grade asphalt within 2 miles of the facility on the corner of Anaheim Boulevard and Claudina Way.   Serving as a staging ground for the coordination of deliveries and shipments, the new yard provides optimal space for… more
Sep 13, 2024
In a boon for more sustainable corporate events, full-service venue management company ASM Global recently unveiled the country’s first fully electric conference center in Ithaca, N.Y. The new Ithaca Downtown Conference Center (IDCC) is powered by the New York State electric grid, which receives energy from a large portion of renewable sources such as hydroelectric power, nuclear, solar, and wind, according to IDCC officials.   With cooking, heating, air conditioning, hot water, and the building’s backup systems running off the electric grid, sustainably minded event planners can rest… more
Sep 11, 2024
Sponsored by MGM Resorts    The most successful events, conferences and trade shows always have something new to offer attendees—new insights, opportunities, and experiences. That’s why MGM Resorts is at the forefront of keeping it fresh in Las Vegas. Here are five things your attendees are sure to love: STYLISH STAYS With 13 iconic destinations on the Las Vegas Strip, you don’t have to worry about variety at MGM Resorts. Chic, new standouts include remodeled rooms within MGM Grand’s Studio Tower; a $63 million redesign and remodel of guest rooms and suites at New York-New York, and a… more
Sep 05, 2024
New meetings hotel properties are continuing to pop up on the Kansas City hospitality scene, offering upscale accommodations, dining, amenities, and plentiful meeting space for event planners to choose from. Since October 2023, two new meetings hotels have opened in the destination, with two more set to open this fall—for a total of 652 new hotel rooms.   These new rooms are a welcome addition to Kansas City’s hotel inventory that features myriad upscale accommodations available to meeting and event groups across the city, said Nathan Hermiston, senior vice president of convention sales and… more
Sep 04, 2024
Multi-year contracts with labor union UNITE HERE have expired at hotels across the country, and repercussions are starting to be felt. At least 10,000 unionized hotel employees—housekeepers, front-desk clerks, kitchen and restaurant staffers, bartenders, and bellhops—from 25 hotels in 10 cities stayed home from their jobs between August 29 and September 3. First, more than 700 employees at the Virgin Las Vegas stood outside the hotel on August 29 to chant and picket in support of a new five-year contract. The workers had also walked out for 48 hours in mid-May to protest not having a new… 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