News
May 22, 2019
In the past several years, C-level marketers across all industry segments have been putting more emphasis on — and budget toward — digital and experiential marketing, says Chris Cavanaugh, chief marketing officer at Freeman.
Freeman, once known as Freeman Decorating Services, has long been known for exhibition logistics management, and has grown into an experiential marketing powerhouse. According to the recent Ad Age Annual Agency report, which gives Freeman strong rankings, the experiential marketing category grew 2.1 percent in the U.S. over the past year, outpacing the “all marketing… more
May 21, 2019
Is face-to-face marketing still relevant, and are there plans to use it moving forward? What is the image of the business-to-business exhibition channel today? A new report from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research aims to answer those questions — and more — from the perspective of marketing leaders.
The first in the new “Head of Marketing Insights” series, “Overview of Marketing and Sales Approaches, Most Urgent Objectives, and Brand Image of the B2B Exhibition Channel to Support Needs” examines the perception of B2B exhibitions as a marketing channel.
The report draws from survey… more
May 17, 2019
Technology company Chili Piper has launched a new event scheduling tool designed to improve how B2B event managers and field marketing managers book, manage and track individual and group meetings on-site at events.
Besides delivering a broader feature set that can be deployed in just hours, the platform is also designed to help event managers improve and measure their event ROI.
“The expertise we developed from creating our scheduling platform led us to launching a first-of-kind solution specifically for event managers that meets all their goals,” said Nicolas Vandenberghe, CEO and co-… more
May 16, 2019
Hard on the heels of Uber’s vouchers offering launch, Hilton has announced a new travel and hospitality partnership with rideshare provider Lyft. Now, Hilton Honors members will be able to earn points for riding with Lyft within the United States and Canada.
This partnership may make Hilton even more attractive for planners looking to keep their attendees within the host hotel or room block. Hotel brand loyalty is a powerful tool, as meeting attendees will often choose where to stay based on loyalty status and points earned.
“What makes this partnership unique and different is the… more
May 15, 2019
The 671-room Encore Boston Harbor was scheduled to open its doors on June 23, but that opening may now be delayed until July according to Wynn Resorts CEO Matthew Maddox. The $2.6 billion resort and casino, which is located four miles from downtown Boston in Everett, Mass., is reportedly the country’s most expensive resort development of 2019.
The casino was in question for a time due to the sexual misconduct scandal involving former CEO and chairman Wynn Resorts owner Steve Wynn, but in late April the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ruled that Wynn Resorts could keep its gaming license.… more
May 13, 2019
Colossal events, such as Oracle OpenWorld, Dreamforce and CES, can attract upwards to 200,000 attendees and cost millions to produce.
But….are these events worth all the time, effort and money poured into them?
The goal for most events is to drive new business. But without a forum for holding discussions with attendees about their business challenges and ways you can help them overcome these challenges, it’s often impossible to build quantifiable connections that provide the ROI your event needs.
Many event marketers and CMOs are constantly looking for ways to quantify results. Do any of… more
May 13, 2019
The city of Madison, Wisconsin, while less than half the size of Milwaukee, has a lot of things going for it. For one, it has one of the best farmer’s markets in the United States (visit in July and you’ll see what we mean). It also sits right on Lake Mendota, making it a prime spot for water recreation; ranks among the top five healthiest cities in the country; and has a creative, energetic vibe thanks to University of Wisconsin-Madison.
It makes sense that many trade show organizers and meeting planners want to capitalize on all of those amenities by hosting events in Madison (among the… more
May 10, 2019
The new “State of Inclusion in Meetings & Events” research report from Meeting Professionals International shows that improvement is needed across all facets of event planning. The report discusses how event professionals plan for inclusivity and diversity, highlights knowledge gaps and offers best practices for planners to create inclusive experiences.
Driven by MPI’s inclusion initiative, which involves offering education and tools to make meeting experiences more welcoming, the association partnered with New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch School of Hospitality to conduct a… more
May 09, 2019
End-to-end event success platform Bizzabo has released its next-generation, all-in-one suite of onsite technology designed to foster a more rewarding and less stressful check-in process at trade shows and events of all sizes. The launch comes on the heels of Bizzabo’s $27 million Series D financing round.
Developed in response to the rising demand for ways to improve and elevate the event check-in experience, the new custom-tailored software includes everything from innovative kiosks to lead collection tools and white glove onsite service, according to Bizzabo officials.
“Thanks to research… more
May 08, 2019
MGM Springfield, Massachusetts’ first resort and casino, opened in August 2018. The 250-room, $960 million resort takes up three city blocks in downtown Springfield and blends in with the surrounding real estate and overall feel of the city.
Like its Las Vegas brethren, MGM Springfield offers far more than just a casino experience. If gambling isn’t your thing, not to worry: in the sleeping rooms and meeting space, it’s almost possible to forget that there is a casino floor (and a good-sized one, at that) nearby.
Kimberly Altobelli, national sales manager for MGM Springfield, says that the… 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