News
May 10, 2022
New hotel properties, along with multi-million remodel and expansion projects, are making headway across the U.S. as hospitality companies work to meet the demands of corporate event groups forging ahead with in-person gatherings after two years of pent-up demand. Take a look!
New Hotels
Caesars Republic Scottsdale
After a pandemic-induced delay, above-ground construction has resumed on the new Caesars Republic Scottsdale, an 11-story, 265-room luxury non-gaming hotel scheduled to open in Q1 2024 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Featuring picturesque views of the iconic Camelback Mountain and the… more
May 09, 2022
As the trade show and meetings industry continues its emergence from the pandemic, this year’s Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) signature ECA Legislative Action Week couldn’t be a more important and urgent one for event professionals to consider attending.
Set for June 6-10, the week-long virtual event will converge face-to-face business events industry advocates to meet with their members of Congress about the vital role that exhibitions and conferences play in helping communities across the U.S. recover from the devastating economic and employment impacts of the COVID-19… more
May 06, 2022
In May 2023, Florida’s Gulf Coast will welcome an impressive new property ideal for corporate meetings and events: the Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, situated over 22 waterfront acres and boasting 785 guest rooms and a 60,000-square-foot convention center. The resort will be the first property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company, and a member of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI).
“The response from the meeting industry has been incredible due to the fact that we will be the first completely new-build resort with 300-plus rooms to open… more
May 05, 2022
Seattle’s main meetings and trade show venue recently unveiled a new name and brand identity. Following more than three decades as the Washington State Convention Center, the leading Pacific Northwest events facility changed its name and logo to the Seattle Convention Center (SCC).
According to officials from SCC parent organization Washington State Convention Center Public Facilities District (the District), the rebranding better aligns the venue with its hometown while solidifying the organization’s commitment to maintaining a fiscally responsible, self-sustaining operation that… more
May 04, 2022
Innovative new technology is making it easier than ever to produce the most engaging and impactful events. Check out the latest round of impressive additions!
CLIPr
CLIPr, a video analysis and management (VAM) platform using AI and machine learning to make recorded videos searchable by transcription, topics and subtopics, debuted a new livestream feature that allows event professionals to engage and connect with audiences in new ways.
CLIPr partnered with cloud communications provider Vonage to produce the new feature for its shared customer, event technology platform Grip, which employs… more
May 02, 2022
There is no doubt that when an event goes the extra mile to make a positive difference in its host community, the impacts can be incredibly meaningful. Case in point: the 9th annual Design & Construction Week (DCW), held at the Orange County Convention Center Feb. 8-10, which generously donated $13,300 in leftover kitchen, bathroom, living room and outdoor items to an Orlando-area nonprofit with support from the venue’s sustainability coordinator.
As the largest in-person trade show to take place at the facility since the onset of the pandemic, the massive event consisted of two… more
Apr 30, 2022
Famed British mathematician and data science entrepreneur Clive Humby said it best: “Data is the new oil. Just as oil has to be changed into gas, plastic, chemicals, etc., to create a valuable entity that drives profitable activity, so data must be broken down and analyzed for it to have value.”
As the world embraces virtual events to cope with the disruption caused by the pandemic, there’s an opportunity for event professionals to leverage data. And one of the best things about virtual events is that they generate a goldmine of data — granular details that can help you pinpoint exactly how… more
Apr 29, 2022
The 2022 survey for the Meeting Room of the Future Barometer, conducted by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), is pointing toward continued growth as the industry recovers after the pandemic.
Respondents globally reported that 2023 would be the first year to surpass 2019 meetings and business events revenue levels. Predictions did differ slightly by country with projected revenues in Denmark to surpass 2019 levels as early as 2022 while the Americas had a slightly longer outlook with revenues not returning to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.
Two-thirds of responding… more
Apr 28, 2022
Born and raised in the Hawaiian islands, Teri Orton’s passion for the hospitality industry started early. In fact, it’s part of her family legacy. Both her parents worked in hospitality, so she was born into and exposed to the industry as a small child, yet never felt the need to rebel against or stray from the family business as a young adult.
After majoring in communications at the University of Hawai‘i and advancing her training in hospitality management through various certifications with Starwood and Hilton Hotels, Orton stayed the course, spending more than 25 years holding an array… more
Apr 27, 2022
In an effort to quantify the significant contribution made by the face-to-face business meetings and events sector to the global economy, the Events Industry Council (EIC) launched the data collection phase of its Economic Significance Study and revealed the results of its latest Global Business Events Barometer, showing positive signs for the industry’s recovery.
Conducted by Oxford Economics, the survey portion of the study is open through June 25 and applies to business meetings and events, including conventions, conferences, trade shows, exhibitions and incentives.
The ambitious… 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