News
Jul 17, 2019
IMEX America, IMEX’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, will be held Sept. 10–12 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Now in its ninth year, IMEX America will bring together 4,000 buyers and 3,500 suppliers from across the events industry and around the world.
The IMEX Group’s aim is to unite and advance the meetings industry through education, innovation, and fostering connections and at its event, provides multiple opportunities for those interactions to happen.
Each year, IMEX America features an annual talking point that explores a single… more
Jul 15, 2019
Event marketing technology firm Bizzabo recently won the SIIA CODiE award for best technology company, for the second year in a row. Bizzabo has raised $27M in new funding and more than doubled its revenue in the last year, with clients like Forbes, HubSpot and The Wall Street Journal. And Bizzabo’s Vice President of Marketing, Alon Waks, says it’s all because of account based marketing — an approach that he believes should be integral to event marketing.
For more than a decade, inbound marketing — a methodology designed to draw visitors and potential customers in, rather than pushing a… more
Jul 12, 2019
We’ve reported a lot recently on green convention centers, from LEED status to sustainability efforts in 2019. However, let’s not forget hotels, which are also doing their part to make meetings and conferences more eco-friendly. Take a look at some of the latest initiatives from hotels across North America and beyond.
The Setai, Miami Beach in Florida has partnered with Danish water company Iskilde to introduce completely compostable plant-based water bottles for guests. The hotel is the first in the U.S. to pioneer this product.
Demonstrating its commitment to protecting the natural forest… more
Jul 11, 2019
Seattle is in the midst of a growth spurt. Population-wise, the city has made the top five fastest growing U.S. cities list for the past several years. In the past two years, eight new hotels have added 2,200 rooms to the city’s downtown area alone, according to Visit Seattle. And the Washington State Convention Center’s expansion will continue to fuel the city’s growth, opening up opportunities for mid-size conventions that are too large for the existing space.
Workers broke ground on WSCC’s new multi-level convention building, The Summit, in August 2018. It’s expected to be complete by… more
Jul 09, 2019
Event professionals are always on the go, and sometimes it can be challenging to keep up with industry news. While we are obviously in favor of news articles, it’s nice to have options. And for those times you’re on a plane, in a car, taking a walk or just neeing a break from the computer screen, listening to a podcast can be a great way to learn.
Paris-based event app and matchmaking platform provider Swapcard is betting that there is a large audience of event professionals out there who would agree.
As the boundaries between business and consumer marketing continue to blur, podcasts are… more
Jul 08, 2019
You could say Amy Calvert began her new role as CEO of Events Industry Council by jumping in with two feet. After taking the helm on May 20, her first day on the job was at IMEX Frankfurt. A little overwhelming, perhaps — but overall “it was awesome,” says Calvert. “It was a really fine and appropriate place to begin my career with EIC.”
Now less than two months in, she’s still making a big splash, carrying the enthusiasm and excitement she has brought with her since the beginning. We caught up with Calvert, who came to EIC from Visit Baltimore, to learn how she’s doing, what she’s planning… more
Jul 05, 2019
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, the certification requires a four-step process: registration; a comprehensive certification application; review with Green Business Certification Inc.; and finally, if all checks out, certification (followed by celebration).
While we hear a lot about LEED-certified buildings these days, the certification hasn’t gone fully mainstream in the world of convention centers, at least not yet. According to the USGBC, about 60… more
Jul 03, 2019
CEMA Summit 2019 is less than three weeks away! Not registered yet? You still have time to join 300 of your peers from July 21-23 at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas — and if you work directly for a client-side brand, you don’t even have to be a CEMA member to attend (although we recommend you consider joining).
The Corporate Event Marketing Association offers senior-level strategic event marketers and industry professionals a welcoming community for sharing knowledge and best practices. And I use the term “welcoming” first-hand, after attending last year’s CEMA Summit.
Prior to… more
Jul 01, 2019
Hotel ballrooms, expo halls and restaurants all serve important purposes for corporate events, but sometimes it’s necessary to break out of the event venue mold to create an impactful experience. The venue can play a key role in helping planners achieve the goals of the meeting — whether it’s a corporate retreat, team building event, client reception, seminar, user conference, or something else entirely.
Here are some ideas for unique venues that can spark even more creative ideas and make corporate meetings more successful.
Museums
Museums — in all their diversity — offer elements of… more
Jun 28, 2019
For the second year in a row, Bizzabo was awarded Best Event Technology Solution of 2019 at the annual Software & Information Industry Association CODiE Awards.
The SIIA CODiE Awards recognize companies producing the most innovative business technology products across the globe.
SIIA, the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, announced the full slate of CODiE winners during an award ceremony at InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco hotel this month.
“We’re thrilled to have retained our leadership position as the best event technology… 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