News
Jul 25, 2019
Haute Dokimazo, known for its “Spontaneous Think Tank” event format and eponymous Signature Events, is launching its first Secret Family Reunion this fall.
Participants will be whisked away to a secret destination, where they will spend a week engaging with and learning from peers. The all-inclusive fee covers airfare, accommodations, food and beverage as well as registration.
“All attendees will know is to show up at JFK at 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 2, and the weather to pack for,” says Haute Dokimazo president Nicole Osibodu. “We’ll have the long-awaited reveal party that will bring on the Oprah… more
Jul 24, 2019
Members of Generation Z — loosely defined as people born between the years of 1995 and 2010 — are true digital natives, according to McKinsey & Company. From the time they could walk, they’ve been exposed to the Internet; they’ve hardly known a world without social media; and just like the rest of us, they’re dependent on their smartphones.
Gen Z can’t relate to conversations about the “good old days” of CD players, TV without DVR and events lacking apps. It’s obvious this generation differs in many ways from the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X and even Millennials — and with Gen… more
Jul 22, 2019
Corporate event professionals are often too busy getting things done to focus on creativity. But innovative event design and event marketing is what helps businesses stand out from the crowds.
That’s why CEMA and Corporate Event News have teamed up to bring you an exclusive event that will help spark your creativity, ignite new ideas, and provide networking opportunities with your peers — in a "no selling" environment.
CEMA Roadtrip: The Theory of Creativity will be held on October 10, 2019 (with an opening networking reception on October 9) at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.
This one-day… more
Jul 19, 2019
Greater Columbus Convention Center, managed by SMG, is now Certified Sensory Inclusive — the first convention in the convention center to earn this certification.
KultureCity, which issues the certification, is a non-profit organization based in Birmingham, Alabama, that works toward creating sensory-inclusive venues. It’s meant to assist individuals with sensory challenges, such as those with autism, dementia, PTSD and similar health concerns, navigate such venues often affected by excess noise.
Sensory-sensitive guests of the GCCC can now enjoy events in the venue, thanks to this effort… more
Jul 18, 2019
To help draw attention to the serious issue of human trafficking, ECPAT-USA, part of ECPAT International — a global network working to eradicate sexual exploitation of children — is launching a new campaign called 20BY20.
The year-long initiative aims to train 20,000 business events professionals on what they can do to prevent and respond to human trafficking by July 2020. It officially kicks off on July 30, coinciding with World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, an awareness day designated by the United Nations.
Participation by the business events community is especially important, as… more
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
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