News
Jun 15, 2023
Nearly 100 industry leaders from 24 states — including representatives from event, venue and destination organizations including IAEE, Visit Orlando, Venetian Resort Las Vegas, PCMA, MGM Resorts International, Visit Anaheim and many more — gathered on June 1 on Capitol Hill for Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) Legislative Action Day. View the full list of attendees here.
During more than 100 meetings, Legislative Action Day attendees advocated for ECA’s federal public policy priorities and the vital role that the business events industry plays in helping to spur economic growth,… more
Jun 13, 2023
Two leading U.S.-based media companies have been busy making strategic event acquisitions to expand their market share and further benefit the industries they serve. Take a look!
Group C Media
Group C Media, a leading B2B media company based in Red Bank, N.J., recently acquired the portfolio of Continuity Insights from Pennsylvania-based Continuity Exchange.
Announced on May 25, the deal includes the acquisition of Continuity Insights Management Conference and ContinuityInsights.com., which delivers news and information to senior-level executives responsible for business continuity and… more
Jun 12, 2023
PCMA has selected the future host cities and dates for Convening Leaders (CL), the association’s annual flagship education and networking event, for 2024-2027. San Diego has been tapped to host the event in January 2024, followed by Houston in 2025, Philadelphia in 2026 and Miami in 2027.
“The business events industry plays a critical role in bringing people together that drives economic growth and social good for individuals, organizations and communities” said PCMA and CEMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat. “Each of these destinations has a unique identity and offers a diverse range of… more
Jun 09, 2023
In an effort to uncover the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the business events industry, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) are partnering with Gevme, a leading event technology provider, to launch Project Spark. Under this initiative, the AI model will be tested for various practical applications within the scope of business events to understand its impact on workforce productivity.
“AI in the business events industry is just beginning, but we cannot define its future without our global… more
Jun 07, 2023
As the nation’s elected officials burned the midnight oil to pass a bill to raise the debt ceiling on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., trade show industry executives gathered a few blocks away at the Grand Hyatt Washington to connect and learn from their peers at the 22nd annual Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF), produced by Lippman Connects. Held May 30-31, the event attracted a record 237 industry leaders and suppliers, and corporate event professionals can glean several tips from key insights provided during ECEF 2023 sessions.
“There's a mix on the stage of association… more
Jun 06, 2023
When Larita Clark began her career at the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), owner of Chicago’s McCormick Place, she never imagined she would one day become its CEO. Since accepting her first position there in 1984 as assistant controller, the certified public accountant by trade went on to successfully hold an array of positions at MPEA, including director of finance and administration of McCormick Place, controller of MPEA and then its CFO, responsible for the financial and administrative operations of the massive McCormick Place campus, which includes four buildings: Hyatt… more
Jun 05, 2023
While the majority of meeting and event professionals are expecting favorable overall business conditions over the next year, they’re also facing new market challenges, according to Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) recently released 2023 Spring Meetings Outlook. A future-focused quarterly report that identifies new industry trends and innovations, the publication allows planners to budget and plan accordingly and ensures a strong foundation for building sound strategies that keep businesses on paths to success, according to MPI officials.
Supported in partnership with IMEX Group… more
Jun 02, 2023
The future is looking bright for the business events industry, according to the 2023 Global Economic Significance of Business Events study by the Events Industry Council (EIC) in partnership with Oxford Economics.
The 2023 edition of the study, which measured the full scope of the $1.6 trillion global business events industry, revealed its massive and far-reaching impact, its resilience following the pandemic — with global event spending expected to reach 2019 levels by 2025 — and the importance of face-to-face interaction.
“Business events have a GDP larger than many global economies,”… more
Jun 01, 2023
Event-related organizations, particularly CVBs and meeting and convention venues, have been busily appointing industry veterans to executive roles and promoting team members. Take a look!
Orange County Convention Center
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., has welcomed two industry veterans to its executive leadership team with the appointment of Anthony “Tony” Camarillo as the venue’s new general manager and Keri Burns as its new director of sales.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Camarillo brings a wealth of experience in sales, events and… more
May 30, 2023
Two big convention cities — Salt Lake City and San Francisco — recently unveiled new hotel properties offering meeting planners and event groups more premium options in guest rooms, flexible event spaces, amenities, price points and convenience. Check them out!
Le Méridien, Element and Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City
Following the announcement of its best booking year ever, Visit Salt Lake is welcoming more than 1,000 premium hotel rooms to its vibrant downtown convention district.
In April, Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown and Element Salt Lake City Downtown, the first dual-pad project… 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