News
Feb 10, 2022
Look around at many organizations these days, and you’ve probably noticed a fair share launching corporate programs dedicated to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), an umbrella term for policies, programs, strategies and practices that promote the representation and participation of individuals of different ages, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations. But to drive an authentic culture of inclusion and belonging, it takes a special person who can not only lead the charge but also remain passionately committed to creating… more
Feb 09, 2022
U.S. Travel Association leaders outlined a path forward during the organization’s annual State of the Industry Address Feb. 2, highlighting the progress made since March 2020, while emphasizing critical areas of importance to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels—including business travel and face-to-face events.
“The worst of the pandemic is truly behind us, but there is a lot of work ahead,” said U.S. Travel President and CEO Roger Dow, underscoring the $730 billion in cumulative travel spending losses since the pandemic began.
While the domestic leisure travel segment has largely… more
Feb 07, 2022
Caesars Entertainment is gearing up to bring a renowned casino brand to the heart of the Las Vegas Strip this year. Starting this spring, Bally’s Las Vegas will begin its transformation into Horseshoe Las Vegas, an iconic, historic brand originally created by gambling magnate Benny Binion more than 70 years ago.
The multimillion-dollar project, which will take place in stages, will include a renovated exterior, new entertainment and food and beverage options and a reimagined casino floor and public areas. In keeping with the classic sophistication the Horseshoe brand is known for, the… more
Feb 04, 2022
Event Farm, a MemberSuite company and leading provider of event engagement and safety solutions, announced four new partnerships to expand its event safety offerings and provide event organizers with COVID-19 testing solutions to meet event entry requirements.
The new partnerships with Azova Health, EverlyWell, Prevent System and Qured are in addition to the CLEAR Health Pass and Event Farm partnership that was announced in June 2021 and accelerated Event Farm’s Safety Toolkit, a suite of purposely built applications to keep event staff and attendees safe at in-person events. With CLEAR… more
Feb 03, 2022
Will the deluge of promotions and new hires ever slow down? Not if the meetings and events industry continues its steady pace toward recovery! Check out all the recent appointments and transitions happening at event-related organizations throughout the U.S. and beyond.
New Orleans & Company
Prominent national tourism executive and long-time industry leader J. Stephen Perry, president and CEO of New Orleans & Company, has announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2022.
Perry took the helm of New Orleans & Company, formerly known as the New Orleans Convention & Visitors… more
Feb 01, 2022
Neurodiverse, autistic and sensory-challenged attendees now have a calming and comforting space to retreat to and regroup when feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated while attending events at the Overland Park Convention Center (OPCC) in Overland Park, Kan.
As the first convention center in the world to offer a dedicated space for attendees with autism, anxiety, dementia, PTSD or other similar conditions, the OPCC created its sensory-inclusive room in partnership with KultureCity, a leading national nonprofit that works to improve the quality of life for individuals with sensory needs,… more
Jan 31, 2022
Digitell, a leading virtual and hybrid event platform and full-service production company, has been purchased by BroadcastMed, a healthcare intelligence company specializing in groundbreaking clinical content for healthcare professionals.
Both companies have longstanding reputations in their respective spaces. Digitell has been an innovative trailblazer in digital events for the past 14 years and was named Best Hybrid Event Platform/Production Over 1,000 Attendees at the 2021 Event Tech Live Awards. BroadcastMed was the first company in the world to live-stream surgeries, and its many… more
Jan 28, 2022
Technology continues to evolve at mind-boggling speed, as the world becomes increasingly digital and attendees demand more engaging and creative ways to connect both in person and online. We checked in with four industry leaders to get their take on 2022 event tech trends: Julius Solaris, vice president of marketing strategy, events, Hopin; Cathy Song Novelli, senior vice president, marketing and communications, Hubilo; Josh Hotsenpiller, CEO, JUNO; and Sarah Soliman, president and CEO, Soliman Productions. Read on for their valuable insights!
Julius Solaris
1. Data to drive engagement… more
Jan 27, 2022
Following a pause in plans due to the pandemic, the Fort Worth City Council recently approved $52 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support the first phase of a planned expansion of the city-owned Forth Worth Convention Center (FWCC).
The downtown facility’s $500 million expansion, which had been in the planning stages for several years to attract and accommodate larger trade shows and meetings, was about to begin with robust funding from hotel occupancy taxes when the COVID-19 shutdown began in 2020, according to city officials.
“We had our first meeting with the… more
Jan 26, 2022
In February of last year, 28-year travel and tourism industry veteran Casandra Matej took the helm at Visit Orlando as the first female president and CEO in the destination marketing organization’s 37-year history. While assuming a leadership role during a global pandemic is no walk in the park, Matej accepted the challenge, focusing the organization’s energies on spurring the recovery of the powerful Orlando tourism industry, which, pre-pandemic, drew more than 75 million visitors to the region and supports approximately 41% of the local workforce. For Matej and her teams, failure was not an… 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