Apr 28, 2020
The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority is moving forward with its $557-million, five-year capital improvement plan. Approved in 2018, the plan includes internal and external upgrades to Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, a new 7.5-acre pedestrian park and 1,200-room headquarters hotel, and funding to ready an adjacent piece of land for a mixed-use development. After soliciting responses in late 2019 from qualified master developers to create a comprehensive development plan and strategy for a mixed-use project on the 39-acre parcel, the Authority short-listed five… more
Apr 22, 2020
 To bring a smile to your face during challenging times, read on to learn about event organizations, venues and companies that are setting a positive example of human compassion and charitable giving in-action. GPHA Launches Hospitality Workers Relief Fund  The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association is seeking donations to assist with purchasing gift cards for local grocery stores and pharmacies to distribute to Philadelphia hotel, Pennsylvania Convention Center and Independence Visitor’s Center hourly employees who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.  The program’s goal is to raise a minimum… more
Apr 21, 2020
One-third of all jobs lost in the U.S. due to COVID-19 were lost in the travel industry, and the country is experiencing a total impact nine times greater than the 9/11 attacks, according to a new report by the U.S. Travel Association and analytics firm Tourism Economics. Declines in travel are projected to cause 8 million jobs to be lost (out of 24 million for the entire U.S. economy) by the end of this month, according to the report. Travel spending losses are also on track to top half a trillion dollars by the end of 2020. While the news is devastating from all angles, industry… more
Apr 09, 2020
While social distancing has taken hold throughout the world, many convention and visitors bureaus are innovating amongst the current crisis to continue to (tactfully) spread messages about their destinations. Across North America, CVBs and DMOs far and wide are shifting to digital to bring the best of their destinations to homebound audiences via virtual tours, live-streaming experiences, online classes and interactive content, as well as deliver encouraging messages of hope and reassurance. Check out some of the most creative offerings.  Experience Scottsdale Scottsdale’s CVB offers an… more
Apr 03, 2020
With travel slowed nearly to a halt around the world, this isn’t an easy time for anyone, let alone destination management organizations. While there is a silver lining to come, says Don Welsh of Destinations International, for now, CVBs around the country are doing what they can to assuage meeting planners’ fears by coming up with solutions for cancelled or postponed events and being a support system for destination partners. Nowhere is this more evident than in Florida’s Palm Beach County, where Discover The Palm Beaches is focused on an empathy-driven communications plan to help event… more
Javits Center Makeshift Hospital
Apr 02, 2020
After closing their doors to trade shows and events due to the coronavirus pandemic, many convention centers across the U.S. are taking on an entirely different role. This week, many are being converted into makeshift medical facilities to help relieve beleaguered hospitals and staff so they can provide better care for more serious and critical patients. Take a look.  Javits Center  The Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City – currently the epicenter of the U.S. pandemic as of press time – is one of the first U.S. convention facilities to be converted into a temporary medical station. This… more
Mar 27, 2020
The massive Las Vegas Convention Center project continued to move forward, with construction workers on behalf of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority beginning the extensive process of pouring 600,000 square feet of concrete flooring in the main exhibit hall in the new West Hall expansion. The process will take between four and five months to complete and is a major step forward in the expansion construction, which is now 77 percent complete. The 600,000-square-foot exhibit hall features 328,000 square feet of flexible space, the largest in North America. Upstairs, there’s an… more
Mar 17, 2020
In response to the growing health crisis in the U.S., large convention centers and hotel/casino properties across the country are temporarily suspending hosting events in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. This comes as the CDC issued guidance on March 15 discouraging any gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. Although this list is expected to grow in the coming days and weeks, here are some major facilities that have shuttered their event operations thus far: Anaheim Convention Center As of March 12, Anaheim Convention Center in California shut… more
Feb 28, 2020
Two major convention venues in the Southeast U.S. have been expanding their event spaces to accommodate more trade show business. Here’s how things are developing with Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center and Florida’s Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Georgia World Congress Center Completes Exhibit Hall BC Georgia World Congress Center’s new $55 million Exhibit Hall BC project has been completed ahead of schedule and under budget. With the 100,000-square-foot expansion creating more than 1 million square feet of contiguous exhibition space, the GWCC’s total exhibit space… more
Feb 26, 2020
As the importance of lessening the environmental impact of meetings, trade shows and events only continues to grow, here’s what two Midwestern convention centers are doing to help make sustainable planning easier. McCormick Place With nearly 3 million visitors each year, McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center, has a large environmental footprint. However, for more than a decade, the 2.6 million-square-foot facility has been actively creating a more sustainable campus. In the last few months, the campus has taken two major steps forward. With installation of the… 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