Nov 05, 2021
The event and hospitality industries are rallying behind a new bill that would help restore communicable disease coverage within event cancellation insurance and keep jobs and businesses protected during future pandemics and public health emergencies. Reintroduced in Congress on Nov. 2 by U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2021 (PRIA), a version of which she first proposed in May 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is music to the ears of those in industries still reeling from billions in pandemic-related financial losses.  If passed, the bill… more
Oct 28, 2021
Leave it to the IMEX Group to always make you feel like you’re part of their great big family. Event professionals unable to attend IMEX America in person this year are in luck. The group announced plans to debut IMEX BuzzHub Live, offering a unique virtual window into the world of the show, which takes place Nov. 9-11 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.    “'There’s always a seat at our table’—this is our mantra, and we’ve worked to ensure IMEX America remains inclusive and available to all,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group.  “As part of this, we’re launching our first-… more
Oct 27, 2021
Creating community around events has become an increasingly important way to build awareness, boost engagement, drive attendance and deliver on ROI goals. 365 Media, a leading expert in virtual and hybrid events and online community consulting, recently debuted a completely free resource that helps industry professionals create, build and grow online communities year-round while continually advancing their careers: the Community Leaders Institute (CLI). The platform was designed to unite a global network of community leaders, founders, managers and launchers in various industries (including… more
Oct 20, 2021
The Biden Administration has set Nov. 8 as the official date the U.S. will reopen its borders to fully vaccinated international visitors arriving by air, land and sea. The news was met with enthusiastic praise from officials throughout the tourism, trade show and event industries. The original announcement in September of the intention to lift the travel ban in November for international visitors flying into the country was followed with an announcement last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the Canada and Mexico borders would also reopen to international arrivals by land… more
Oct 19, 2021
Sodexo Group recently launched Sodexo Live!, a new global brand dedicated to the hospitality space. Designed to unify and leverage the company’s extensive expertise in the sports, events and hospitality sector, the fresh identity reaffirms the company’s commitment to being a market leader in a space on the verge of rebounding, according to Sodexo Live! officials. “We are thrilled to unveil Sodexo Live! for meeting planners, show organizers and the space as a whole,” said Steve Pangburn, CEO of Sodexo Live! North America. “Those in the meetings and events industry can expect a continued… more
Oct 15, 2021
As the industry returns to face-to-face events, rest assured there will be no shortage of spectacular spaces in which to convene. With the array of new and expanded convention centers that have opened this year and are on track to debut in the near future, this seems to be one of the most prolific periods of new construction the industry has seen. Here are four upcoming convention centers to keep on the radar, all of which are making dynamic architectural and design statements. The Summit, Seattle The home of the Space Needle knows a thing or two about bringing awe-inspiring icons to its… more
Oct 12, 2021
Meetings, events, travel and tourism industry leader, Connect, is gearing up to welcome a pre-pandemic number of event professionals to its signature summer marketplace conference and trade show in Detroit next year. Set for Aug. 8-10, 2022 at TCF Center, Connect Detroit expects to attract approximately 4,000 decision-making planners and suppliers, who will gather together to meet, network, do business and experience all that the city has to offer for meeting and event groups. The annual August conference will once again draw in attendees from four main market segments: corporate,… more
Sep 30, 2021
NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and CVB for New York City’s five boroughs, is aiming to get event professionals in a New York state of mind. The organization recently unveiled “It’s Time to Make It NYC,” a marketing and sales initiative designed to highlight the city’s vibrant comeback and major new developments and invite event professionals to choose the destination for in-person gatherings. “This new campaign is a signal to planners and [organizers] everywhere that it’s time to return to NYC for face-to-face meetings, conventions, trade shows and events… more
Sep 27, 2021
It’s no secret that waste is a leading sustainability issue plaguing the entire global hospitality industry. In the U.S. alone, nearly 40% of food waste is generated from consumer-facing businesses including restaurants and hotels, according to leading conservation organization World Wildlife Fund (WWF). But while hotels have made important strides in waste prevention and diversion over the last several years, industry-wide waste reduction has presented a significant challenge due to the absence of a common approach in collecting data and measuring and reporting waste. In other words, hotels… more
Sep 24, 2021
The Vendry, a digital sourcing and planning marketplace and professional community for corporate event planners, has secured $6.5 million in seed funding to empower event professionals as they navigate the next generation of live events. The funding round was led by Peter Boyce, founder of Stellation Capital, with several other investors participating in the raise.  The new funds will allow the company to invest in new platform developments for a fresh era of live events, including those mixed with hybrid, and the robust pent-up demand the company expects to start seeing for them in 2022.… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more