News
Sep 05, 2019
Set on the bank of the Chicago River, Sheraton Grand Chicago is an impressive sight. One of the larger meeting properties in the Windy City, the hotel’s 1,218 guest rooms and suites offer views of the river, Lake Michigan or the city skyline.
While there are other properties in Chicago with larger exhibit halls, Sheraton Grand Chicago has the largest ballroom, at 40,000 square feet, which can hold general sessions of up to 4,600 or can be divided into up to 10 smaller spaces. The hotel also features 43 meeting rooms and a 35,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall with pre-function space that leads… more
Sep 03, 2019
As Hurricane Dorian ambles its way toward the Southeastern United States, it’s wreaking more havoc on conferences and conventions. Show organizers are taking precautions to protect the safety of those traveling to events — as well as the teams helping to execute them locally — by canceling or postponing those scheduled this week.
In Orlando, Surf Expo and Imprinted Sportswear Show, both slated to take place Sept. 5-7 at Orange County Convention Center, have been canceled. Hotel reservations will be automatically cancelled (with no fees incurred) and attendees were notified via email.
“We… more
Aug 30, 2019
Lemon chia breakfast bread. Spirulina goji berry energy bites. Adzuki bean brownies.
It’s safe to say Murray Hall, executive chef of Bank of Montreal Conference Center, got creative with these healthy treats dubbed “foods of the future” at MPI World Education Congress in Toronto earlier this summer. The spread was part of the inaugural Meeting Room of the Future showcase put on by IACC at WEC, intended to give a glimpse (and a taste) of what’s to come for meetings and events.
While at WEC these were called foods of the future, serving healthier offerings at corporate events has picked up… more
Aug 29, 2019
Hurricane Dorian whipped through Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands yesterday, bringing heavy rains and high winds. As a Category 1 storm, it spared much of the main island of Puerto Rico from extensive damage, though islands off the eastern coast were hit harder.
Dorian will continue on its path heading toward the coast of Florida over the weekend through Tuesday. Forecasters are predicting it may grow into a Category 4 hurricane as it moves through warm waters.
With Labor Day weekend upon us, it’s a relatively slow time for meetings and conventions, CVBs report. While poor for business,… more
Aug 28, 2019
Community Brands has launched a new suite of integrated event tech solutions designed to help organizations simplify the event management process while delivering an impactful attendee experience. The unveiling comes after months of development of new capabilities through strategic product investment and acquisitions.
Earlier this year, the company acquired event technology firms Core-apps, Attendee Interactive and TripBuilder Media, bringing in new capabilities for exhibitor management, speaker and abstract management, and mobile attendee experience. These new organizations represent the… more
Aug 26, 2019
Fall is always a busy season for event professionals. Summer vacations are over; kids are back in school; and as we get well into the second half of the year, it feels more like a new beginning. Inevitably, there are a number of industry events to help you keep your professional development going strong. If you have the education and travel funds available, and enough time to use them, here are some events to consider attending.
Haute Dokimazo – Sept. 9, Austin
A Haute Dokimazo signature event is like no conference you've experienced as an event industry professional. There are no keynotes… more
Aug 23, 2019
It’s no secret that trade shows and conferences produce a sizable amount of waste that becomes destined for the dumpster after just a few days in the spotlight. Having witnessed this problematic pattern for years, event management and production firm Decibel Event Management has partnered with Reborn Clothing Co. to help tackle event waste by upcycling signage, graphics and other single-use textiles into one-of-a-kind, durable products.
According to David Sonntag, Decibel CEO, the company’s new UpCycling Initiative is designed to not only keep surplus textiles out of landfills but also… more
Aug 22, 2019
We live in a world of data. We have the ability today to know more about our customers than ever before — their likes, their needs, their behaviors, their interactions with brands and much more. Thanks to advances in technology platforms, it is possible for event managers to connect the dots with the data they collect. Leveraging data insights can help prove the value of events as well as shape personalized marketing communications and in-person event experiences.
Alon Alroy, co-founder and CMO of Bizzabo, an event technology company that empowers event marketers to manage, measure and grow… more
Aug 21, 2019
Facility leadership and show floor trade partners of Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia have signed a five-year extension and amendment of its 10-year labor agreement. The contract builds on the competitive work rules and expanded exhibitor rights initially put in place in 2014.
Known as the Customer Satisfaction Agreement, the extended labor agreement, which went into effect Aug. 1, allows exhibitors to set up and tear down their own booths without limitations on booth size. This marks a significant shift from the facility’s previous practice, which limited exhibitors to… more
Aug 19, 2019
Center for Exhibition Industry Research has released two new reports focused on the trade show industry’s latest best practices.
A must-read for first-time exhibitors looking to better understand material handling, Unraveling the Myths About Material Handling provides a comprehensive overview of what material handling is, along with details about what expenses and factors impact charges. It also shares advice on how to plan and send shipments cost-effectively.
Written by Aaron Bludworth, president and CEO of Fern (with contributions by Neil McMullin, senior vice president of Shared Services… 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