News
Oct 15, 2024
The 13th edition of IMEX America is a wrap. The booths and signage have come down at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and the show’s record-setting 15,500 participants, including more than 5,500 buyers, have headed home. Now comes the work of maintaining the connections and acting on the education and experiences delivered at the October 8-10 event.
Here are four ideas and two trends from IMEX America that focus on thinking a bit differently about event planning.
Great Idea: Hands-On A.I.
“Wow,” “Oh my goodness!,” and spontaneous clapping: Those were some of the audience reactions during the… more
Oct 14, 2024
ConferenceDirect's voyage towards producing a carbon-neutral event wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. "This journey started four years ago when we committed to a 30% reduction by 2030," said Larry Hanson, chief marketing and sustainability officer for ConferenceDirect, a meeting and event management firm that manages more than 1,000 conferences globally.
The increasing demand from corporate clients to address sustainability in RFPs and his personal commitment to sustainability propelled the company to develop a dedicated team of Events Industry Council (EIC)-certified sustainable event… more
Oct 11, 2024
September was another active month for the corporate events industry, especially among industry suppliers, with organizations across the U.S. tapping new leadership, promoting seasoned staff, and welcoming experienced professionals to executive teams.
CEN’s take on the biggest move in September: Tavar James has joined the executive team of AI-powered, full-service event planning and services platform BoomPop as its new vice president of events and industry advocacy.
The big picture: James most recently served as head of events and experiences at virtual professional coaching platform… more
Oct 09, 2024
As Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 4 storm, barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, the impact on the state’s business events industry is already being felt. With winds reaching up to 150 miles per hour, Milton is projected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay region, potentially disrupting major conferences, conventions, and trade shows across Florida.
Several key events in destinations like Tampa, Orlando, and Miami have already been canceled or rescheduled, dealing a blow to an industry that plays a crucial role in the state’s economy. As Florida braces for what could be its strongest… more
Oct 08, 2024
With 1,350 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 78 countries across six continents already in its portfolio, Hyatt Hotels Corp. is significantly expanding its luxury and lifestyle brand footprint with more than 20 new and planned property openings across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean through 2025.
When asked about total meeting and event space at these new hotels, Hyatt told us eight properties offer more than 250,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The two largest: the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas features more than 88,000 square feet… more
Oct 07, 2024
Asking attendees about their dietary restrictions and preferences—and accommodating them—is part of any F&B 101 curriculum. Delegates’ meals affect their satisfaction with the event and, ultimately, the bottom line, so accommodating dietary needs is part of the job.
But some planners see a further twist coming in this already challenging responsibility.
Over time, attendee requests for special meals have expanded beyond vegetarian, kosher, and allergen-free options. As dietary trends have emphasized nutrition-savvy, gut-friendly, plant-based food and more Americans are committed to… more
Oct 04, 2024
Dreamforce made headlines last month after the now-viral moment when comedian John Mulaney roasted Salesforce’s “imminently replaceable” workforce for wearing “fleece vests” and embodying all of the other corporate tech bro stereotypes.
“The fact that there are 45,000 ‘trailblazers’ here couldn’t devalue the title any more,” Mulaney added during his 45-minute set, throwing in that the Salesforce workers filling the audience around him looked “like a group who looked at the self-checkout counters at CVS and thought, ‘This is the future.’”
The reality is that hiring a comedian for an event… more
Oct 03, 2024
As IMEX America 2024 approaches, IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer joined CEN’s VP of Group Content Danica Tormohlen for an insightful preview of what attendees can expect at this year's event, which will be held Oct. 7-10 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Bauer told us she expects this year's IMEX America to surpass last year's success in terms of both size and attendance. The event's app, equipped with advanced navigation features akin to Google Maps, will be integral in helping attendees navigate the expansive show floor.
Related: IMEX DEBUTS GROUNDBREAKING DIGITAL WAYFINDING… more
Oct 02, 2024
An array of event technology companies have formed strategic partnerships and added new services to help corporate event planners streamline their events, elevate ROI, and increase attendee inclusivity.
RainFocus Acquires WebEvents Global
Event marketing platform RainFocus has acquired WebEvents Global, an established event technology and data analytics firm. The acquisition will allow RainFocus to extend its leading event marketing position through WebEvents Global’s strong client relationships with leading enterprise technology organizations and long-standing industry expertise,… more
Oct 01, 2024
Just in time for its 20th anniversary, the Omni San Diego Hotel in San Diego’s downtown Gaslamp Quarter recently completed a property-wide renovation that encompasses refreshed meeting and event spaces, a reimagined lobby and guest rooms, two new food and beverage concepts, and a redesigned poolside experience.
Led by New York-based design studio Jeffrey Beers International, the hotel’s new aesthetic features a modern color scheme and refined baseball-inspired design commemorating its connection with Petco Park (connected by the property’s Skybridge) and the San Diego Padres.
Flexible… 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