Jan 24, 2022
Chef Jeff Leidy is one of those lucky people who found his calling at a very young age. The consummate hospitality culinary professional began his four-decade-long career at 16, starting as a busboy in a steak and seafood house, where he quickly moved into the kitchen and fell in love with the culinary arts.
“I have been cooking professionally ever since,” Leidy said. “I like to tell people that you don’t choose to be a chef, it chooses you. I was captivated by every aspect of being a chef—having the chance to be creative and serve guests who give you immediate feedback, and the ability to… more
Dec 10, 2021
Talk to Chef Mike Mantia about how he found his way into the culinary world and he’ll tell you the story of a young teen who loved the hustle and bustle of a kitchen so much, he never looked back once he fell into the profession.
Born in the U.S. to Sicilian parents, Mantia’s culinary training started early at his grandmother’s side, learning to roll meatballs at the ripe old age of five. His burgeoning passion for food became further cemented once he discovered the wonder of cultivating herbs, greens, vegetables and fruit in grandfather’s garden, an experience that instilled in him a… more
Nov 24, 2021
Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI), a global sales force dedicated to connecting luxury independent hotels with meeting and event professionals, has partnered with global wellness and real estate technology company Delos to be the first global entity to launch the Delos Wellness Accreditation for Meetings and Events, designed to provide planners with the knowledge and resources they need to create healthier and more productive meeting environments.
Focused on bringing awareness to the value of wellness practices in meetings and conventions, the scientifically backed credential… more
Nov 09, 2021
Now that meetings and conventions are trickling back to an in-person format again, the question of what event food and beverage is going to look like for the foreseeable future is likely occupying the mind of many a pandemic-weary event planner these days. To find out how the last 20 months have influenced the kinds of menus events are opting to serve or forgo, we turned to the experts—in this case, 20-year culinary veteran Jen Bargisen, senior executive chef with Sodexo Live!—to find out which F&B trends are hot and which are not in this ever-evolving health and safety landscape.
What… more
Sep 16, 2021
With Zoom-fatigued attention spans on the wane and pandemic-weary people eager to get back into the world and converge face-to-face again, is a traditional conference center really what the doctor ordered for your next meeting or event? If not, maybe it’s time to get creative and aim for an out-of-box alternative venue to help create excitement and enhance attendee engagement. Here are five fun, unique and creative venues to keep on your radar for your next meeting or special event.
SGWS Wynwood (Miami)
Located in Wynwood, Miami’s eclectic creative arts and culture district, SGWS Wynwood is… more
Aug 24, 2021
For many event planners, the idea of planning, let alone pulling off a successful hybrid event is often viewed as a complicated and daunting task requiring a major learning curve to master. To help planners overcome their trepidation, move beyond theory and put hybrid events into action, U.K.-based virtual and hybrid event platform Glisser launched its first-ever hybrid event designed to provide corporate event planners with best practices for executing engaging and successful events with both digital and in-person audiences.
Held July 13 in London, across the pond in New York City and… more
Aug 06, 2021
In an effort to expand its catering presence in South Florida, Coconut Grove-based Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production acquired Eten Catering, a full-service catering and event company based in Fort Lauderdale. The merger not only brings two South Florida food and events brands together under one umbrella but also adds a new level of service to Hansen’s 41-year platform as an events vendor in the region.
The acquisition will expand the Hansen brand’s presence to an even larger market, specifically on large-scale yachts in South Florida, thus allowing the company’s services to span… more
Jul 30, 2021
The Events Industry Council (EIC) recently launched an interactive, self-paced online version of its in-person Sustainable Event Professional Certificate Program (SEPC), putting educational opportunities within easier reach for event planners, suppliers and sustainability professionals seeking to improve the environmental performance of their events and services.
Developed by a globally diverse group of business events industry leaders and experts in sustainability, social impact and event management, the course covers 16 modules that include understanding the business value of… more
Jul 15, 2021
Donald Contursi, president of Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, says corporate groups never lost their appetite for eating out. Now that COVID restrictions are being lifted nationwide, he expects business to be booming soon. After guiding 250 hosted buyers attending MPI’s World Education Congress around local eateries in Las Vegas, the prediction looks good. “There's nothing that can come between breaking bread and bonding over food and drink,” Contursi said.
While Contursi has plenty of options at his disposal in Las Vegas, planners elsewhere can create evenings to remember at these fine dining… more
Jul 12, 2021
The first time Margaret Launzel-Pennes worked on a virtual trade show, it was still a year or two before Y2K became three infamous characters. In the more than 20 years since that groundbreaking endeavor, technology has changed (particularly in the past year) but the idea of bringing communities together regardless of distance is nothing new, Launzel-Penne says.
It’s that kind of experience and knowledge that Launzel-Pennes hopes will help her new company, Pop Experiential, stand out among a crowded field of event companies. She isn’t going solo — not by a long shot — and is as prepared as… 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