News
Dec 16, 2021
ASM Global announced a new name for the 723,000-square-foot convention center that it has managed in downtown Detroit since 2010. Formerly named Cobo Center, then TCF Center after TCF Bank purchased the naming rights for the facility in 2019, the venue is now known as Huntington Place. The new name comes after the recent merger between TCF Financial Corp. and Huntington Bank.
According to Karen Totaro, general manager of Huntington Place/ASM Global, Huntington is a well-respected brand, and the timing of the new moniker could not be any better.
“The renaming comes at a time when Detroit… more
Dec 15, 2021
Event experience leader Bizzabo recently acquired two new companies, Klik and TeeVid, and debuted the Ultimate Video Production Suite to further invest in innovative, experiential technology for virtual, hybrid and in-person events.
Klik is a pioneer of smart wearables technology to power onsite experiences at live events. Its technology helps event professionals elevate and measure attendee engagement, participation, and networking.
Bizzabo believes event organizers have established appetites for the rich behavioral and intent data that virtual events have captured for the past 18 months… more
Dec 14, 2021
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts recently debuted The Meetings Collection, a new element of the brand’s Wyndham Business program comprising a network of premium meetings-focused hotels offering meeting planners new incentives in desired markets and streamlined multi-year bookings.
Initially launched with eight U.S. hotels and resorts in highly sought-after meetings destinations and with plans to expand in the future, the collection was specifically designed to meet the needs of planners and offers rewarding solutions and a simple, streamlined way to book multi-year meetings at different hotels… more
Dec 10, 2021
Your sales reps' expectations from sales kick-offs (SKOs) have changed. They no longer want boring business strategy monologues. They want to network, get energized, and figure out how they’re going to be successful that year. There is also the added challenge of meeting these expectations virtually.
Here are 3 mistakes you could be making at your virtual SKOs that are affecting your sales results.
Mistake #1 - Packing it all into 48 hours
A typical SKO is an annual mega-event where sales reps are crammed into their seats all day and given one presentation after another. This drains their… more
Dec 10, 2021
Talk to Chef Mike Mantia about how he found his way into the culinary world and he’ll tell you the story of a young teen who loved the hustle and bustle of a kitchen so much, he never looked back once he fell into the profession.
Born in the U.S. to Sicilian parents, Mantia’s culinary training started early at his grandmother’s side, learning to roll meatballs at the ripe old age of five. His burgeoning passion for food became further cemented once he discovered the wonder of cultivating herbs, greens, vegetables and fruit in grandfather’s garden, an experience that instilled in him a… more
Dec 09, 2021
As 2021 winds to a close, hotel companies far and wide are opening new properties, finishing up remodel projects or finalizing expansions in preparation for a busier 2022. Here are some of the most recent developments to keep on your radar:
New Properties and Spaces
Virgin Hotels New Orleans
As the latest lifestyle brand to open its doors in New Orleans’ artsy Warehouse District, Virgin Hotels New Orleans features 238 “chambers” (aka guest rooms), two penthouse suites, multiple outlets for dining, drinking and gathering, a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center and 5,000 square feet of… more
Dec 08, 2021
Destinations International, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) will launch Business Events Industry Week, aimed at bringing the global events industry to the U.S. Capital region and consolidating several important annual gatherings into one week.
The inaugural Business Events Industry Week, taking place March 23-25, 2022, at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., will be dedicated to community, commerce, content, awards and advocacy in order to unite the global business… more
Dec 06, 2021
Knowland, a leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, released the U.S. Meetings Recovery Forecast (MRF) with predictive insights into event recovery over the next three years. The company will update the model quarterly.
“Knowland’s Meetings Recovery Forecast model is the foundation for future predictive forecasting," said Jeff Bzdawka, CEO of Knowland. "It applies the intelligence of machine learning to Knowland’s expanding meetings and events database to generate thoughtful, actionable AI-driven insights."
The MRF demonstrates projected… more
Dec 03, 2021
New tech solutions for events of all types continue to rapidly take shape in the industry, from platform upgrades and additions to mobile apps and measurement tools. Check out some of the latest new developments!
Bizzabo
Bizzabo recently launched its Event Experience category and Event Experience Operating System (OS) to help companies “future-proof” events for a hybrid world.
The Experience OS, built from the ground up to lead the new category of Event experience was designed to give event organizers the tools they need to deliver personalized experiences, create magical moments that… more
Dec 02, 2021
The iCompli Sustainability division of global assurance provider BPA Worldwide has become an official member of the new Maritz Global Events Wellbeing Network. The alliance is designed to provide a custom tool for clients to measure the carbon footprint of an event and then provides guidance to improve it.
Three phases will consist of measurement, improvement and implementation through the BPA iCompli Sustainability Carbon Footprint Measurement Tool and Maritz Global Events:
For phase 1, Discovery & Assessment, participating organizers are educated on the information required to… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more