May 01, 2023
It can’t be easy trying to fill the shoes of a longtime, widely respected industry veteran who held your new role for more than four decades. But that’s exactly what Mac Campbell, the new executive director of the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC), has been attempting to do since taking the helm in January 2023. Campbell replaced the legendary Peggy Daidakis, the first female director of a major U.S. convention center, who retired last fall after 44 years with the BCC. In 1979, Daidakis helped open the BBC, Maryland’s largest convention venue, ran it from 1986 to 2022, and was instrumental… more
Apr 19, 2023
At a time when the meetings and events industry is becoming increasingly focused on green initiatives and conservation, with sustainability now a top priority for many event groups, a number of large U.S. convention centers are accelerating the adoption and development of sustainable practices to lessen their environmental impact and that of the events they host. Case in point: the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., which has been consistently and continuously working to pioneer stewardship that models how large venues can contribute to safer, more efficient environments… more
Apr 11, 2023
Leading venue hospitality partner Sodexo Live! is continuing its sustainability journey with a new Earth-friendly initiative at the soon-to-open Rum Room restaurant and Venu event space at the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC). Organized in partnership with Compost for Life Miami, the Sustainability Project – Herb & Vegetable Garden was recently unveiled as part of a larger sustainability initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the MBCC campus. Consisting of 192 square feet of herb and vegetable beds just outside of Rum Room and Venu, the new garden features organic… more
Apr 10, 2023
ASM Global is upping the ante with its sustainability goals via an ambitious plan to convert its global event venues portfolio into the most sustainable on Earth. The global leader in venue and event strategy and management is in the process of launching this strategy through its corporate social responsibility platform, ASM Global Acts, and in partnership with Honeycomb Strategies, a leading sustainability consulting firm specializing in the hospitality, sport and event industries.  Beginning this year, ASM Global will dedicate its full resources to achieving measurable results throughout… more
Mar 27, 2023
The Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wis., will soon be known by a different name. The Board of the Wisconsin Center District (WCD), which owns and operates the Wisconsin Center, Miller High Life Theatre and UW-M Panther Arena, recently authorized the WCD to finalize an agreement with Milwaukee-based multinational independent middle market investment bank Baird to become the convention center’s official naming rights partner. “The WCD leadership team and I are dedicated to leveraging our core values to Be Bold. Be Proud. Be Experience Obsessed. to guide every business decision we make,” said… more
Mar 24, 2023
Caesars Entertainment, long renowned for its celebrity chef establishments, has further elevated its Las Vegas dining scene with three delectable restaurants by Martha Stewart, Gordon Ramsay and Chris Santos, all of which are available for group bookings. The recently opened additions join an already impressive list of Caesars Entertainment dining options by top chefs and restaurateurs, including Dominique Ansel, Michael Chow, Giada de Laurentiis, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Nobu Matsuhisa, Gordon Ramsay, Buddy Valastro and Lisa Vanderpump. The Bedford by Martha Stewart Global lifestyle icon… more
Feb 27, 2023
Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) is continuing to forge partnerships and create offerings designed to benefit global destination organizations and the events they serve. On Feb. 15, the organization announced that it had formed an official partnership with Tourism Cares, a non-profit organization dedicated to the long-term survival of the travel and tourism industry that inspires travel leaders to make travel a force for good.Designed to unite the industry and serve as a catalyst for… 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 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 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
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