News

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
Dec 01, 2021
The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition and standards, has extended the benchmarking survey for the first phase of its recently launched Equity Acceleration Plan. The landmark plan aims to provide a framework to turn its vision to action and lead the challenge against discrimination and systemic racism in the events industry. The first phase was designed to focus on establishing a benchmark by which to measure progress for the industry through a survey that determines the current state of diversity,… more
Nov 30, 2021
Across the events spectrum, new appointments and promotions are continuing to happen at breakneck speed as organizations gear up for a busier and more promising 2022. Check out who’s moving onward and upward in the corporate events industry this month. Ungerboeck Global event software provider Ungerboeck has expanded its executive team and promoted several key leaders. As the company’s first CFO, Ryan Morrow will focus on building a high-performing organization that will scale with the expected growth coinciding with a recent investment from Cove Hill Partners. As a strategic advisor to… more
Nov 27, 2021
When planning a virtual event, visualizing and setting up a virtual stage is quite a herculean task. The stage needs to be intuitive to interact with and needs to inspire engagement. You want to see your audience interact with your content, with other attendees, and build meaningful relationships. You can’t do it alone. You need an all-star team with a range of skills to consider. How should you structure the team? Which are the key responsibilities to hire for? Let’s take a look! Producer This is the person who manages the A to Z of your event production. They have a clearly outlined… more
Nov 24, 2021
The co-chairs of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC), an industry-wide coalition created to showcase the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities, recently provided an update about next year’s Global Meetings Industry Day. Set for April 7, 2022, GMID is the meeting and event industry’s annual day of advocacy that shines a light on the positive impact that conferences, conventions and trade shows have on people, businesses and the economy. “For the seventh consecutive… 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