Mar 17, 2025
"We're the music makers,” said PEI Global Head of Value Creation & Strategy Lawrence Dvorchik during a recent keynote at Connect NYC. “We're the dreamers of dreams."
As Dvorchik indicated, today’s event planners must craft journeys that are not just experiences but also immersive and memorable paths that attendees and sponsors will cherish and talk about long after the event ends. Easier said than done.
Context: PEI produces more than 50 meetings annually for financials communities who are part of its subscriber-member network. The company runs peer-to-peer networking events for… more
Mar 14, 2025
Heather Larson’s journey into the hospitality, tourism, and events industries began at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she developed a strong passion for service, relationships, and travel. After graduating and falling in love with Chicago’s stately old grand hotels, she began her career honing her skills at iconic Windy City properties including The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago (formerly The Bismarck), The Whitehall Hotel, The Drake, and the Fairmont Chicago.
“I started working in hotel sales, where I quickly realized that I thrived in the fast-paced, people-driven nature… more
Mar 13, 2025
This month, several event marketing agencies and DMCs have announced major mergers and acquisitions as they seek to increase their market share, expand their global reach, strengthen their capabilities, and broaden their client services.
360 Destination Group and CSI DMC Announce Strategic Merger
360 Destination Group (360DG) and CSI DMC are joining forces to create one of the largest destination management companies (DMCs) in the U.S. Both companies will continue operating as separate entities and unify under a single brand before the end of 2025.
Through this merger, the two companies… more
Mar 12, 2025
Splash, an event marketing technology company owned by Cvent, introduced the Event-Led Growth (ELG) Masterclass & Certification, a new online educational program designed to provide marketing and event professionals with the tools they need to make events their most powerful marketing channel.
Created to equip participants with strategies and techniques used by industry experts and leading organizations to create revenue-generating event programs, the ELG Masterclass teaches participants how to develop effective event strategies that drive business growth, optimize event budgets for… more
Mar 11, 2025
After completing a waste assessment through an on-site audit, two Dell Technologies Forum events were the first to achieve zero waste event certification by SCS Global Services (SCS), a third-party sustainability and environmental certification company headquartered in Emeryville, Calif.
Organized by Kestone Global and in consultation with Saahas Zero Waste, these two Dell regional events in India were held in Mumbai and Bangalore and achieved 98.64% and 92.88% diversion, respectively.
From New York to Bangkok, Dell Technologies produces a number of these regional B2B conferences that… more
Mar 10, 2025
With more than 25 years of history, the Keller Williams (KW) Family Reunion continues to be a premier event for real estate professionals seeking cutting-edge insights, unparalleled networking, and game-changing strategies.
Held February 17-21 in Las Vegas, this year’s event brought together 9,272 attendees for an immersive experience filled with insightful sessions and industry-leading innovations. The exhibit hall at Mandalay Bay Convention Center featured 70 vendors and 20 internal KW booths, covering more than 170,000 square feet, said KW Senior Director of Events Alex Perica.
As one… more
Mar 07, 2025
The good news: Meeting and event planners are feeling generally optimistic about 2025, with 41% expecting an increase in event bookings and 65% anticipating higher attendance. The bad news: Planners are also feeling dissatisfied with rising costs, which are straining budgets and affecting the quality of events.
“The outlook for 2025 is optimistic, with more than 40% of meeting planners expecting bookings to increase and 65% anticipating higher attendance even as rising costs remain a significant challenge for planners,” said Michael Bennet, president of Cendyn. “Finding a balance between… more
Mar 06, 2025
The city of Austin, Texas, is about to see a change to its skyline. On February 25, the Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD) unveiled the first renderings of the new Austin Convention Center, dubbed “Unconventional ATX.” The $1.6 billion project is expected to redefine the city’s event landscape with more space, innovative design, and a commitment to sustainability.
The new downtown facility will nearly double the rentable space of the existing convention center, expanding it from 365,000 to 620,000 square feet. Funded through hotel occupancy tax and convention center revenues, the… more
Mar 05, 2025
Event management platform RainFocus hosted its annual flagship event, RainFocus INSIGHT, in Salt Lake City Feb. 18–20. Nearly 450 event, marketing, and technology professionals attended the three-day event, which featured 75-plus educational sessions, demos of brand-new platform features, and the annual Innovation Awards ceremony.
The attendance figure marked a 20% increase overall year over year—fitting in a year when INSIGHT took on an “Elevating Relationships” theme. “Even more exciting was the 40% growth in attendance from our customer and prospect base, the fastest-growing segment,”… more
Mar 04, 2025
When asked to share her perspective on what the Donald J. Trump presidency might mean for the business events community, former U.S. Representative from Wyoming Liz Cheney said: “Nobody should assume that this is a permanent change in American politics.”
In a fireside chat with Emcee Holly Ransom at PCMA Convening Leaders, Cheney shared her insights on leadership, courage, and the challenges facing democracy today. Known for her steadfast dedication to principled leadership, Cheney's discussion highlighted the importance of courage and the responsibilities that come with leadership roles… 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