Nov 03, 2023
Held Oct. 17-19 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the 12th edition of IMEX America was the largest ever in terms of attendance and number of booths. The event featured 360 booths and nearly 15,000 confirmed participants, of which more than 5,000 were buyers.
Those buyers, of which one-fifth represented the corporate sector, took part in more than 80,000 pre-scheduled meetings in three days, of which 73,000 were one-to-ones with exhibitors.
The show boasted a 20% increase in space taken by exhibitors and a 9% increase in the number of booths, according to an IMEX press… more
Nov 02, 2023
Global Diversity Alliance (GDA), a new global LGBTQ+ community association committed to fostering a world that celebrates and embraces diversity in all its forms, released its whitepaper, “Banning the Boycott – How to Do Business in Times of Discrimination (BTB).”
The new resource, a comprehensive guide for meeting planners, hospitality and destination professionals to build more inclusive and diverse events for all stakeholders, offers pathways to navigate through the challenges of planning events in destinations with discriminatory legislation. The resource-rich, data-driven document also… more
Oct 31, 2023
The top challenges event planners are currently facing include higher costs (75.7%), followed by finding availability (51.3%), while timely approval from decision-makers, responsiveness, service levels/quality, contract negotiations and budget management were all closely ranked in third place, according to the Q2/Q3 Meetings & Events Pulse Survey.
Designed to shed light on the challenges and trends currently shaping the meetings and events industry, the biannual report by Global DMC Partners (GDP) covers top-of-mind industry topics, including current challenges, the importance of… more
Oct 30, 2023
TEMBO Launches Digital and On-Demand Training and Development Courses for Global Event Professionals
London-based marketing, content production and event management services provider TEMBO has unveiled TEMBO TECHNIQUES, a new training and development service designed to equip event professionals with the essential skills and knowledge they need to succeed in conference production and event marketing.
With an emphasis on interactivity and hands-on learning to help empower team members to learn through practical experience, TEMBO’s training portfolio will encompass a wide array of courses, with an option to tailor bespoke training solutions to meet specific business needs, according to TEMBO… more
Oct 27, 2023
As wellness and mental health have come to the forefront, today’s attendees and exhibitors value unique experiences to not only network but also recharge before, during and after events. To meet this growing demand, Caesars Entertainment, a public company with more than 50 resorts across the U.S., has launched a meetings wellness menu to fuel the mind, body and soul of event participants.
Beyond healthy food and beverage options, the gaming and hospitality company is providing a wide range of wellness activities and services — from tai chi and guided outdoor hikes to chakra readings and… more
Oct 27, 2023
Cvent, a global meetings, events and hospitality technology provider, is moving its 2024 customer and industry conference from Las Vegas to San Antonio, Texas. Cvent CONNECT, one of the largest event and hospitality technology conferences in North America, has been held in Las Vegas since 2014. With more than 21,000 customers worldwide, Cvent CONNECT 2024, which will be held June 10-13 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, is estimated to generate a direct economic impact of $7.06 million for San Antonio, according to Visit San Antonio.
“We know our customers – and the industry at… more
Oct 20, 2023
Internal meetings are predicted to be a driving force behind the meetings and events industry’s growth in 2024, as organizations focus on building relationships and achieving objectives within their dispersed workforces, according to the 13th Annual Global Meetings and Events Forecast, produced by American Express GBT Meetings & Events.
The 2024 Forecast, a result of surveys of more than 500 global meetings and events professionals and insights from industry leaders conducted in June and July 2023, reveals several key trends and expectations for next year.
Highlights include… more
Oct 19, 2023
Following COVID, the pent-up demand for in-person events and experiences has reached new highs. Artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter are cashing in – big time.
With $579 million in revenue, Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour will go down in history as the highest-grossing tour by a female artist of all time, according to Forbes – at least until The Eras Tour by Swift concludes on Nov. 23, 2024, in Toronto. It’s estimated the tour will generate $1.4 billion in gross revenue, according to Pollstar.
With soaring revenues and big production budgets, these B2C experiences highlight… more
Oct 18, 2023
Exclusively sponsored by Honeycomb Strategies
When Honeycomb Strategies talks to planners and venues about sustainability, the first challenge we hear about is cost. Naturally, to start up any operational change requires investment. But it’s a myth that sustainability is more expensive than operations-as-normal. In fact, we’re increasingly seeing cost savings from sustainable practices both in the short and long term.
Let’s start with some sustainable solutions with short-term benefits for event planners. To reduce energy costs, contract with venues that have undergone improvements and… more
Oct 17, 2023
The buzzing no-alcohol movement is as strong as ever, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Research from Nielsen IQ (NIQ) underscores the fact that consumers are either ditching booze altogether or enjoying alcohol in moderation as part of a “sober curious” or “mindful drinking” lifestyle. Non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits sales have steadily grown over the past several years, while alcoholic beverage sales have dropped, according to a recent NIQ trends report.
As demand grows and new non-alcoholic brands continue to flood the market and rise in popularity, the events… 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