News

Jul 25, 2022
It can be daunting to be the “first.” But for Lynn Osmond, the new president and CEO of Choose Chicago, being the very first woman to helm the city’s official destination marketing organization is an exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  Just two and a half months into her new role, Osmond has hit the ground running, laser-focused on promoting the U.S.’s third-largest city on the national and global stage. And she is more than prepared to pull this mission off successfully. She possesses an intimate knowledge of the Windy City, its tourism and hospitality community and DMO following… more
Jul 22, 2022
Puerto Rico is no stranger to crises, having faced and overcome major challenges such as the Zika virus outbreak and Hurricane Irma over the past several years. COVID-19 has been no exception, with the destination showing its profound resiliency as it emerges from the pandemic. Brad Dean, president and CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, highlighted some of the promising numbers at the recent MPI WEC in San Francisco, along with the newly launched "Make Your Meetings Boricua" branding initiative and venue developments. “Rebuilding has been vitally important over the past four years and to position… more
Jul 21, 2022
Event software provider Cadmium partnered with Bear Analytics to bolster the digital product and service offerings of both organizations in the event technology industry. The partnership, which facilitates the connection between users of Cadmium technology and Bear Analytics’ Bear IQ platform, enables data-driven decision making for organizations evaluating the effectiveness of their event and online learning programs.  Cadmium is an event and learning software provider offering continuing education, professional development, and content management solutions. Bear Analytics is a leading… more
Jul 18, 2022
Trade Show News Network (TSNN), a member of Tarsus Group and the world’s leading news and online resource for the trade show, exhibition and event industry, has partnered with jwc GmbH, the leading advisory services firm for the trade fair and conference industry, in their launch of venueScout – the definitive global platform connecting professionals looking to organize and host events, and venue operators and service providers looking to capture more business. The partnership aims to promote opportunities for North American and Mexican event venues and service providers to gain more… more
Jul 18, 2022
Across North America, major hotel and resort companies are taking “bleisure” to a whole new level by unveiling new and renovated properties with plentiful meeting and event spaces in highly desirable locations. Take a look! Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk recently celebrated its 40-year anniversary with the completion of a $38 million renovation that has transformed its 602 guestrooms, 28 suites, hotel corridors and elevator waiting areas to reflect an upscale urban property showcasing its premier location between the city’s most famous attractions… more
Jul 15, 2022
VenuIQ, a leading platform for live, hybrid and virtual events, and akire productions, an event production agency, announced a strategic initiative to accelerate growth, create new technology for the industry and produce a variety of events.   akire productions has been and will continue to be VenuIQ's premier event production partner, and the higher-level strategic partnership will pave the way for innovative features to be unveiled in the coming months, according to John D’Adamo, head of sales, USA for VenuIQ "Together, we will be collaborating on new solutions to revolutionize the events… more
Jul 14, 2022
As staffing shortages continue to plague the meetings and events industry—from convention centers to hotels and beyond—the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is stepping up efforts to lure prospective employees following its recent member survey. According to the results of the survey, which polled 500 properties, 97% of respondents indicated they are experiencing a staffing shortage, 49% severely so. The most critical staffing need is housekeeping, with 58% ranking it as their biggest challenge.   To meet the demand, hotels surveyed are offering a host of incentives for… more
Jul 12, 2022
Convention delegates staying at Resorts World Las Vegas now have a faster, greener and more convenient way to get to and from meetings and trade shows held at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). Unveiled June 30, the new Las Vegas Convention Center Loop passenger station, located beneath the resort, provides direct underground access to the LVCC’s West station in just minutes via all-electric Tesla Model X and Model Y vehicles traveling at 35-40 miles per hour.  Created by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company, the Resorts World station is the fourth to be added to the LVCC Loop, an all-… more
Jul 11, 2022
When it comes to achieving true sustainability, the meetings and events industry has a lot of work to do. For decades, many planners have been touting the “green” practices they’ve been carrying out at events such as going paperless, recycling, reducing waste and reusing signage, all with good intentions. But when faced with the hard, cold fact that the industry by its very nature creates temporary experiences in an extremely wasteful way, producing massive amounts of carbon emissions in the process, are those low-hanging-fruit-type practices really enough? The answer is obvious. It’s time… more
Jul 08, 2022
As the venerable Event Technology Awards (ETA) approaches its 10th anniversary this fall, two new categories based on increasingly trending industry topics were just added to the list: “Best Metaverse Experience” and “Best Sustainable Tech Solution.” The metaverse is a hot topic in the events industry at the moment, especially when coupled with how it can best use it to enhance future events and encourage audience interaction within the virtual world, according to Adam Perry, co-founder of ETA and co-creator of Event Tech Live. “We want to hear from event organizers who are already… 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