News
Oct 20, 2022
MeetingPlay + Aventri, two leading event tech companies that merged in January and in June acquired eventcore, which provides customized registration and other event tools, has consolidated the three entities under the new name Stova.
The company unveiled the new brand during IMEX America 2022 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where its staff was out in full force at their newly minted exhibit booth.
With the consolidation of three major event technology pioneers, the company is designed to be the most comprehensive platform in the industry for delivering exceptional on-site… more
Oct 18, 2022
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s 2.1 million-square-foot convention center is getting a fresh new look via a $100 million remodel project. Reflecting the evolving needs and preferences of contemporary meetings and trade shows, the remodel features significant technology upgrades, dynamic digital signage and fresh, new design elements complementing the Las Vegas Strip resort’s signature tropical ambiance.
“With Mandalay Bay home to many of the city’s top events and trade shows year after year, we recognized the need to upgrade the space to reflect modern-day needs and create a timeless… more
Oct 17, 2022
Despite rumblings of a slowing job market, the events industry is continuing its robust hiring and promoting momentum, with organizations far and wide filling executive roles with seasoned industry veterans and elevating strong-performing team members to new positions. Check them out!
Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has promoted 20-year sales and hospitality industry veteran Kelly Gleeson Smith to vice president of sales, meetings and events, responsible for leading the global sales strategy for meetings and events for the enterprise and overseeing a team of more than 120… more
Oct 14, 2022
As the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas buzzed with the sounds of utility vehicles zipping by and booths being meticulously finished for the show floor opening of IMEX America the next day, Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, couldn’t have been calmer—or more excited.
“Fantastic!” she said, when I asked how she was feeling ahead of the big day.
Her joy—and that of the thousands of attendees who graced the show floor, educational sessions and networking events Oct. 10-13—was palpable. One overriding feeling seemed to prevail: The rebound is real.
When all was said and done, the 11th… more
Oct 13, 2022
Redrock Entertainment and POP Experiential
Event production company Redrock Entertainment and creative experience agency POP Experiential (POP | X) announced a new alliance to bring award-winning teams of creators and producers to the experiential marketplace, creating a broader offering to existing and prospective clients.
Together, the two teams will deliver tech-forward solutions for B2B and B2C experiences and events—in-person, virtual and hybrid.
Redrock delivers acclaimed large-scale productions, producing high-profile events including Stranger Things Drive-Into Experience, Riot… more
Oct 12, 2022
As Hurricane Ian recovery efforts kick off in Florida, community organizations, including event and hospitality industry entities, are stepping up to the plate to provide assistance to those impacted by the devastating storm. Throughout the state’s response to the hurricane, VISIT FLORIDA has been working closely with authorities and travel brands including Expedia, Airbnb and hoteliers throughout Florida to connect displaced citizens with resources for finding suitable short- and long-term accommodations.
On Oct. 3, the state’s official tourism marketing organization learned of 23 families… more
Oct 10, 2022
Vibrant, progressive, walkable, innovative and diverse. Those are words that often come to mind when thinking of Toronto, North America’s fourth-largest city and the cultural heart of Canada. Easy to get to from the U.S., this modern, multicultural gateway also happens to be one of the most sustainable destinations for meetings and events, with an array of industry-leading convention venues that make environmental consciousness a top priority.
Nowhere is this more evident than at Canada’s leading meetings and trade show facility, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), which offers more… more
Oct 07, 2022
The age of the metaverse is upon us, but how can event organizers, event marketers and businesses innovatively leverage this brave new world? The first annual Metaverse Spectrum Business Conference & Expo, set for Oct. 25, is designed to showcase the many ways for attendees to do so—all within the metaverse itself.
The first-of-its-kind event specifically aims to educate attendees about the metaverse and its various use cases for events and businesses by connecting them with top influencers and leading companies blazing new trails in the metaverse, according to Sabrina George, senior… more
Oct 05, 2022
Several days after Ian pummeled Southwest Florida as a Category 4 hurricane then slowly weakened as it barrelled through the middle of the state and on to the Carolinas, the hardest hit destination, Lee County, Fla., remains all but closed to visitors, while other areas throughout Florida and South Carolina have resumed normal operations and are welcoming visiting groups for events. Following is an update from several destination marketing organizations throughout the region.
Lee County
Packing winds of up to 155 mph, heavy rain and major storm surge, Hurricane Ian carved a path of… more
Oct 04, 2022
This month’s People News demonstrates that CVBs and venue management companies are among the busiest event industry entities continuing their hiring streaks as the demand for in-person meetings and events continues to surge toward pre-pandemic levels. Take a look!
ASM Global
Leading venue and event strategy and management company ASM Global is continuing its growth trajectory with an executive appointment and a major new hire at one of its convention center partners in Detroit.
Seasoned industry veteran Daniel Hoffend was recently named executive vice president convention centers,… 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