Sep 20, 2024
As the flagship event produced by global B2B e-commerce platform Alibaba.com, Alibaba CoCreate bought together more than 2,000 e-commerce and supply chain industry experts, celebrity entrepreneurs, Alibaba.com users, manufacturers, and small to mid-sized e-commerce businesses to explore current trends, including the new developments in artificial intelligence (AI) that are driving the e-commerce space. The Chinese technology company’s event grew attendance by 53.8% year-on-year. For the quarter that ended June 30, Alibaba generated revenues of $33.5 billion--a 4% year-over-year increase. … more
Sep 19, 2024
Caesars Entertainment, the public company that generated revenues of $11.5 billion in 2023, has expanded its wellness offerings for meeting planners and event organizers to Atlantic City, NJ. After debuting its wellness menu last October, Caesars officially rolled out the program first to its properties in Las Vegas in January 2024. For corporate event planners looking to integrate wellness into their conference schedules, the hotel and gaming company that operates more than 50 properties in the U.S. offers a curated group of wellness keynote speakers, workshops, activities, and nutrient-… more
Sep 18, 2024
Corporate meeting and event planners will soon have another hotel and event space option to consider when hosting events in Indianapolis. Situated in the landmarked Illinois Building following an intensive restoration project that has returned the 11-story structure to its previous grandeur, the new InterContinental Indianapolis hotel is gearing up to open in the city’s downtown this winter.   Situated near Monument Circle, the 170-room property will feature a new contemporary entrance canopy, grand staircase, lobby bar, eight-story atrium, luxury accommodations, two restaurants, a rooftop… more
Sep 17, 2024
New convention facility offerings, fresh and extended partnerships, and philanthropic activities comprise the latest developments for several North American convention centers as summer turns to fall. Take a look:  Anaheim Convention Center Opens New Marshaling Yard  The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) recently opened the Claudina Marshaling Yard, located on 6 acres of on-grade asphalt within 2 miles of the facility on the corner of Anaheim Boulevard and Claudina Way.   Serving as a staging ground for the coordination of deliveries and shipments, the new yard provides optimal space for… more
Sep 16, 2024
If you watched the Olympics closing ceremony in mid-August, you might have noticed some unique lighting displays happening in the crowd. That was the work of wireless lighting technology company PixMob, which distributed high-powered X4 LED wristbands to each of the event’s 70,000 fans and athletes. PixMob’s Moving Visual Transmitter technology essentially transforms audiences into interactive canvases, allowing for the projection of moving graphics onto crowds.  At the closing ceremony, PixMob’s Moving Visual Technology cast animated effects illustrating the long history of the Olympics,… more
Sep 13, 2024
In a boon for more sustainable corporate events, full-service venue management company ASM Global recently unveiled the country’s first fully electric conference center in Ithaca, N.Y. The new Ithaca Downtown Conference Center (IDCC) is powered by the New York State electric grid, which receives energy from a large portion of renewable sources such as hydroelectric power, nuclear, solar, and wind, according to IDCC officials.   With cooking, heating, air conditioning, hot water, and the building’s backup systems running off the electric grid, sustainably minded event planners can rest… more
Sep 12, 2024
Learning. Innovation. Community. Those are the key words cloud-based CRM software company Salesforce uses to describe its annual flagship conference, Dreamforce, touted as the world’s largest AI event and enterprise tech conference. Hosted every year in San Francisco and set for Sept. 17-19 at Moscone Center, Dreamforce is considered an essential business gathering for the global Salesforce community, aka “Trailblazers,” that attracts thousands of attendees worldwide for three days of learning, networking, innovation sharing, philanthropy, and fun.  In 2023, the 21st annual event drew an… more
Sep 11, 2024
Sponsored by MGM Resorts    The most successful events, conferences and trade shows always have something new to offer attendees—new insights, opportunities, and experiences. That’s why MGM Resorts is at the forefront of keeping it fresh in Las Vegas. Here are five things your attendees are sure to love: STYLISH STAYS With 13 iconic destinations on the Las Vegas Strip, you don’t have to worry about variety at MGM Resorts. Chic, new standouts include remodeled rooms within MGM Grand’s Studio Tower; a $63 million redesign and remodel of guest rooms and suites at New York-New York, and a… more
Sep 10, 2024
At this year’s Connect Marketplace in Milwaukee, it wasn’t just the deal-making and networking that had the 3,000 attendees buzzing. The 2024 iteration of Connect’s largest event upped the game when it came to experiential moments—and they might’ve even stolen the whole show (hey, Lil Jon!). In late August, event planners and suppliers spent three days exploring a lively trade show floor, participating in one-on-one appointments, sitting in on valuable education, and enjoying after-hours fun in Brew City. And each of those cornerstones came with its own creative, innovative experiences,… more
Sep 09, 2024
In general, attendees go to conferences based on content, potential contacts, and convenience, not the attributes of the host convention center. However, the conference experience, which is strongly influenced by the venue, can be an important factor in an attendee’s decision to return to that event in the future.  So, what do attendees want and expect in a conference experience?  Convention center management company ASM Global recently explored that question, specifically looking at preferences of Millennial and Gen Z attendees. The growing under-40 audience, ASM says, represents 42… 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