Mar 22, 2018
April 12 marks Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) 2018. GMID is a day for event professionals to celebrate the industry and reflect on the positive impact that meetings and events have – not just for business, but also for communities and individuals.
The GMID 2018 slogan is “Real results, real impact, all around the world,” and in this spirit, leaders from across the industry are coming together to host and attend events that honor the power of face-to-face meetings.
In 2016, the community came together to crowdsource lyrics for a GMID anthem. In 2017, the team at SongDivision put… more
Mar 21, 2018
A recent industry-wide survey from iJET International showed a lower-than-expected focus on preparedness around meetings and events. The resulting report reveals that most organizations and companies in this space are not meeting minimum standards of risk management protocols for attendees.
The survey was sent to approximately 6,000 meeting planners, meeting planning companies, and meeting and event decision-makers from corporations, iJET stated. More than 400 responses were received.
Key findings include:
Of the 64 percent of respondents currently with a business travel risk management… more
Mar 19, 2018
A new research report on “The Rise of Midsize Cities in the Meetings Industry” in North America and Europe, commissioned by the IMEX Group and developed by Skift, examines how some midsize cities have positioned themselves as hubs for innovation or knowledge.
The 44-page report covers how smaller cities have elevated their destination appeal through leveraging their local economies, tapping into innovation and developing multi-partner coalitions and new experiences designed to attract meeting and convention groups.
The report claims that two primary factors are driving the shift towards mid… more
Mar 14, 2018
South By Southwest (#SXSW) with its thousands of attendees in the interactive, tech, film and music industries is THE place for brands to roll out the red carpet and show off their latest launches.
This year’s event, held annually in Austin, Texas, did not disappoint, with several companies spending some serious cash to ensure they left an impression.
The ones that hit it out of the park took the time to figure out an actual ‘experience’ that attendees would have, something that trade show and event organizers, as well as exhibitors, could take a page from.
Here are the brand activations… more
Mar 13, 2018
Eventcore, a provider of enterprise-level event registration and technology solutions, recently completed a $4.1 million growth capital financing initiative. The funding will be used to accelerate sales and marketing and enhance product development to better serve the corporate events industry.
The Seattle-based company was founded in the mid-1980s. It provides customized technical solutions and professional services for event registration, housing, content management and attendee engagement.
With this investment, eventcore plans to upgrade many of its internal systems and unveil several… more
Mar 06, 2018
Opus Agency, a provider of global event experiences, announced its acquisition of CRG Events on Mar. 6, 2018. Established in Seattle in 1984, CRG is known for its comprehensive event management service offering including event logistics, event registration and onsite management.
CRG specializes in corporate conferences, meetings, product launches, roadshows, recognition/reward programs and tradeshow management. CRG clients include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, Columbia Sportswear and Unity.
Monte Wood, CEO of Opus, said that adding CRG to the Opus family was an easy… more
Mar 02, 2018
As the events industry continues to be tasked with making the case for the value of face-to-face meetings and events, a new report commissioned by the Events Industry Council (EIC) has been released that will not only help the industry drive that case home but also prove what it has long known to be true: the meetings and events sector is critical to a healthy and thriving national economy.
According to the Economic Significance of Meetings to the US Economy, conducted by independent global advisory firm, Oxford Economics, and supported by the Meetings Mean Business Coalition and other… more
Mar 01, 2018
Global brand design and brand experience consultancy Elmwood has acquired digital design agency Framework Creative. The London-based agency specializes in the design and production of virtual brand experiences using the latest immersive, simulation technologies, including augmented reality and virtual reality.
Framework Creative specializes in design for digital and immersive technology. Framework works directly with end-clients, as well as through other agencies having designed for clients like Ikea (through BWP Group), Virgin Holidays (through Big Bear X and YourStudio), Dell (through… more
Feb 22, 2018
The GDPR is currently among the top concerns for marketers at organizations across all industries. As technology continues to advance, data breaches are inevitable, so more and more security measures will be put in place in the effort to keep personal data safe.
Event marketers who may not have technology backgrounds still need to know the many aspects of digital and data security that should be considered both internally and in their organizations’ contracts with suppliers, vendors, and partners. However, figuring out where to start and exactly how data security and related regulations… more
Feb 12, 2018
AlliedPRA, Inc., one of the nation's largest event planning and full-service destination management companies, on Feb. 7 announced that it will acquire Destination Nashville, the DMC leader in the Nashville market.
This acquisition provides AlliedPRA with an increased presence in the Nashville market, which in 2017 attracted 14.5 million visitors, an increase of 4.6 percent from 2016 which set a new record.
As a leading event management and solutions firm in the nation, AlliedPRA serves many of the most respected brands within every major industry sector. Tony Lorenz, CMM, chief executive… 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