News

Jul 28, 2021
Full-service production company CNTV has been helping clients tell their unique stories through dynamic video coverage experiences for nearly 14 years. To amplify those messages and further boost engagement, attendance and revenue, the company recently launched CNTV Marketing, offering a one-stop solution for the meetings, exhibitions and events industry.  “We’ve consistently heard from clients that they are interested in more holistic offerings from CNTV, and the marketing division will provide just that,” said Carrie Ferenac, co-founder and president of the company. “It’s not only about… more
Jul 27, 2021
Mirroring the red-hot U.S. job market, the meetings and events industry is continuing to experience a deluge of new hires and promotions as it works to get back to normal. Check out who’s moving up the ladder at a host of organizations across the events spectrum: Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Randy Fiveash has been named interim president and CEO of the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in Fayetteville, N.C. Charged with leading and directing strategic planning and executing research-based marketing, sales and public relations, he will also work to… more
Jul 21, 2021
The Greater Miami CVB appointed David Whitaker as its new president and CEO following a six-month executive search by a 14-member committee comprised of local business and community leaders who reflect Miami-Dade County’s rich diversity.  The appointment is a homecoming for Whitaker, who worked for the Greater Miami CVB from 1990-2007, most recently as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. He then went on to serve as president and CEO of Tourism Toronto for eight years then president and CEO of Choose Chicago for five years. “David brings back to us a rare and powerful… more
Jul 20, 2021
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, N.C., is gearing up to complete a $250 million expansion this fall. The four-year project, which broke ground in June 2018, includes a new 725-room hotel tower, an 83,000-square-foot convention center and new food and beverage offerings, among additional amenities. “We are thrilled to see this project come to completion and to be able to offer our guests new amenities and offerings,” said Brooks Robinson, regional senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos. “This expansion has been an integral component to our property… more
Jul 19, 2021
One of the many effects of the pandemic was the movement of many city residents to nearby suburbs. The same reasons for the mini-exodus, namely cost and convenience, could also lead more events to make similar leaps. If any region is capable of a shift in event locations, it’s the surrounding areas outside the nation’s capital. Beyond being home to the federal government, Washington, D.C., and its neighboring counties are the hub of many national associations. Marriott International makes its home in nearby Bethesda, Maryland (where its new headquarters will also be located) and Hilton’s… more
Jul 19, 2021
Trade Show News Network (TSNN) and Corporate Event News are pleased to announce the appointment of Lori Tenny as Editorial Director. She is an award-winning editor, writer and strategist who has worked in publishing for more than 25 years, 16 of which have been spent covering the meetings and events industry.  In her new role, Tenny will be overseeing TSNN, the No. 1 online news source for the trade show industry, and Corporate Event News, an online news publication for corporate event planners and professionals. "TSNN and Corporate Event News are extremely fortunate to have Lori joining on… more
Jul 18, 2021
Event sponsorships are a popular marketing channel for most large organizations. 85% of marketers say their companies prioritize sponsoring events. For event organizers, understanding what ROI sponsors look for is of utmost importance to build trust and have sponsors return for future events. Most companies sponsor events: To build brand awareness among the target audience. To introduce their brand and business to new customers. To increase sales of their product or service. As an event organizer, you want to ensure your event delivers the ROI sponsors expect. So if you want to wow them at… more
Jul 16, 2021
After a successful innovation festival in 2018, all systems were a go for a sequel in 2020. Well, it goes without saying those plans were delayed. Surely by April 2021, the show would go on. COVID-19 wasn’t consulted, but fortunately, the folks at Visit Flanders were. Rather than canceling the And& Festival in Leuven, show organizers worked with the tourism bureau to develop a platform for our times.  And thus, a successful virtual event with some on-site activations showcasing Flanders and Belgium as a destination was born. The model, born out of necessity, proved to be a forward-… more
Jul 15, 2021
Donald Contursi, president of Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, says corporate groups never lost their appetite for eating out. Now that COVID restrictions are being lifted nationwide, he expects business to be booming soon. After guiding 250 hosted buyers attending MPI’s World Education Congress around local eateries in Las Vegas, the prediction looks good. “There's nothing that can come between breaking bread and bonding over food and drink,” Contursi said. While Contursi has plenty of options at his disposal in Las Vegas, planners elsewhere can create evenings to remember at these fine dining… more
Jul 13, 2021
When Josh Hotsenpiller developed the idea of a platform launching events into the virtual world, he sought a name that matched what he believed to be an out-of-this-world idea. Juno, the name of a satellite orbiting Jupiter, immediately jumped out.  JUNO, Hotsenpiller’s company, has been firing on all cylinders since launching in mid-2020. Already a successful entrepreneur through CrowdHub and three previous start-ups, Hotsenpiller saw there was space in the ever-evolving events industry to reach a new level of connection. He has not so quietly been building an all-star team to meet the… 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