News
Feb 24, 2023
Taking place each February, Black History Month is an ideal time to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black people in the events industry and beyond and renew our commitment to continue fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Corporate Event News checked in with six industry leaders to find out how their organizations support the Black community and get their advice on championing DEI.
Desirée Knight, Senior Director, Meetings and Events, American Psychological Association; 2023 Chair of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
What tips would you share… more
Feb 23, 2023
Are attendees at your trade show registering later than they did pre-pandemic? Don’t panic, you are not alone. According to a study conducted in February by our sister publication, TSNN, 98 percent of show organizers reported that attendees are registering later for trade shows, compared with pre-pandemic times. Show organizers have always dealt with attendees who registered late, but the pandemic seems to have pushed back timelines even more. After dealing with cancellations and postponements for more than years, many show organizers have told us anecdotally they continue to be challenged… more
Feb 22, 2023
Oftentimes, the careers we imagine for ourselves as children aren’t necessarily what we end up pursuing as adults. Ask Phil Evans about his path into the culinary arts, and he’ll tell you a similar story.“My parents were the driving force for me to get into the culinary industry,” Evans explains. “I actually wanted to be a schoolteacher, but I grew up in the kitchen cooking with my grandmother and then my mother, so it came to me naturally. I inevitably fell in love with cooking.”Now, as executive chef at Sodexo Live!, Evans boasts an extensive background in fine dining, catering and… more
Feb 22, 2023
Sodexo Live! is stepping up its innovative new tech offerings with the addition of autonomous store technology by AiFi, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) and shopping solutions provider, at two ASM Global-managed venues in Salt Lake County, Utah: Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center.Designed to streamline throughput and ensure a more seamless experience for attendees of trade shows, conventions, meetings and other events, the store has opened as Salt Shaker Grab-and-Go at Salt Palace Convention Center, marking AiFi’s debut in a convention center setting, and… more
Feb 17, 2023
Following an incredibly challenging period of unprecedented, pandemic-inflicted hardships, the hotel industry is making promising strides toward recovery. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2023 State of the Hotel Industry Report, this resilient industry is projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels of demand, nominal room revenue and state and local tax revenue this year, while moving closer to other key 2019 performance metrics. However, with economic concerns such as inflation and borrowing costs, and operational challenges such as staffing shortages rising to the… more
Feb 16, 2023
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announced a formal three-year extension and expanded community offerings with the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP). Since October 2020, the partnership has focused primarily on a joint membership offering that has resulted in 53 members across both organizations having taken advantage of the opportunity to be part of MPI and NCBMP. The updated partnership will extend through 2026 with ongoing renewals available for the two organizations to continue their collaboration. Among the primary features, the two associations will… more
Feb 15, 2023
Exclusively Sponsored by MGM Resorts
World class entertainment, dining, and business amenities means wherever an organization is heading, getting there starts with being here.
You’ll find meeting and event spaces at other places but what you won’t find is all we offer here at MGM Resorts. For decades MGM has been leading the way by providing world-class experiences across all our destinations. Here we host events that create synergy, meetings that move members, conferences that foster collaboration. Here we create memorable experiences that move business forward. Because no matter where… more
Feb 14, 2023
The meetings industry continues to demonstrate a rosy outlook for the year ahead as event-related organizations across the U.S. announce a bevy of new hires and an array of leadership promotions. Check them out!
Visit Orlando
Visit Orlando recently named 25-year hospitality industry veteran Mario J. Bass as its new COO, responsible for overseeing internal operations and leading and implementing the organization’s strategic initiatives, strategic plans and annual business plans.
Bass most recently served as the chief sales officer for Visit San Antonio. During his five-year tenure, he… more
Feb 13, 2023
Global events agency Freeman has partnered with Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), an Explori-backed initiative and professional global community for senior corporate event leaders to share ideas and industry insights, discuss issues and engage in powerful, actionable conversations that lead to progress.
Announced on Jan. 25, the initiative enables ELX members to have direct access to Freeman’s data, strategists and innovations that are shaping the way people experience and interact with brands.
“Audiences today are more selective and protective of their time, so creating brand experiences that… more
Feb 10, 2023
Denver is readying for a future boost in meetings and conventions business, with vertical construction of the $233 million expansion of the Colorado Convention Center recently culminating in a commemorative “topping out” ceremony, as the project remains on schedule for a late 2023 opening.
“This is a welcome milestone in the progress of the expansion, which will assist us with booking multiple groups simultaneously to maximize capacity,” said Richard W. Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. “Ultimately, these improvements will pay huge dividends for years to come by generating new… 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