Apr 05, 2024
After a nearly 10-year tenure at NYC Tourism + Conventions, Fred Dixon has been appointed president and CEO of the U.S.’s official destination marketing organization, Brand USA, effective July 15. He is succeeding Christopher Thompson, who announced his retirement in July 2023 and has held the role of president and CEO since 2012. Bringing more than 30 years of experience along with a proven track record of leadership in the travel industry to his new role, Dixon currently serves as president and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions, New York City’s official destination marketing organization, a… more
Apr 01, 2024
As wellness comes to the forefront for some corporate leaders, planners may be tasked with producing a retreat for their organization.  In fact, the corporate wellness market was valued at an estimated $61 billion in 2023, and this number is expected to rise to $85 billion by 2030, according to Fortune Business Insights. Where are companies spending on wellness? In 2024, employers are anticipating a greater investment in mental health solutions (91%), stress management and resilience tools (66%), telemedicine (65%), mindfulness and meditation programs (55%) and lifestyle spending accounts… more
sphere
Mar 28, 2024
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) President and CEO Antonio Neri will be the first corporate leader to deliver a keynote address at Sphere in Las Vegas during HPE Discover 2024. On June 18, Neri will take the stage for the company’s gathering that kicks off on June 17 at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center.  Backstory: Since opening in Las Vegas in September 2023, Sphere has hosted concerts like U2 and Phish, as well as films like Postcards From Earth. Since then, UFC announced plans for the first sporting event inside the Sphere in September. HPE’s session will be the first corporate… more
Mar 26, 2024
Meeting and convention facilities across the country and around the globe have been inking new deals with leading hospitality and management providers, upgrading technology infrastructure and launching new premium spaces to accommodate the ever-growing demand from event organizers. Smart City Networks Completes Network Upgrade at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Smart City Networks, provider of utilities, technology and telecommunications services for convention centers and hospitality venues, completed an almost $1 million network upgrade for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention… more
Mar 15, 2024
What’s new for events in Anaheim? The Southern California city is expecting to host nearly 1 million attendees in 2024, said Visit Anaheim Senior Vice President, Sales & Services Ronnie Collins. The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) is home to a number of major conventions, including the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show, Natural Products Expo West, WonderCon, VidCon, D23 and more.  Visit Anaheim, the city’s official destination marketing organization (DMO), has confirmed 148 conventions, meetings and events for 2024, which are projected to generate 610,000 room nights… more
pit building
Mar 05, 2024
What’s the latest in Las Vegas? We spent a few days in Vegas in January, and here are some of the highlights about what’s new and trending for events in the ever-popular desert city.   Fountainbleau Fontainebleau Las Vegas officially opened its doors Dec. 13, 2023. Located across the street from the West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Fontainebleau Las Vegas features a 150,000-square-foot casino with 42-foot ceilings and 3,644 hotel rooms and suites. Staying here: The 67-story resort features a bevy of high-end amenities, including a six-acre elevated pool deck, a 14,000 sq. ft… more
Feb 23, 2024
The Events Industry Council (EIC) awarded a water quality trade show and an events destination with its highest level of the Sustainable Event Standards for environmental and social responsibility within the global events industry. Created by the EIC Sustainability and Social Impact Committee in partnership with industry professionals and leading sustainability practitioners, the EIC Sustainable Event Standards are a collection of eight specific standards that assess events and industry suppliers on a wide range of sustainability criteria, including organizational management, marketing,… more
Feb 21, 2024
Hotels across the country are renovating their meeting spaces while a new boutique hotel brand recently made its debut outside of Atlanta.  W Boston W Boston completed a multi-million-dollar renovation of its 5,438-square-foot (sf) meeting and event space, which began in June of last year. The renovated spaces, which include eight event rooms and five breakout rooms, feature large-scale, graphic artwork, along with organic textures, wood and granite elements, and standout features including state-of-the-art technology, a wired business center and 80-inch wireless TVs with built-in… more
tommy bahama
Feb 20, 2024
What’s new in Palm Springs, Calif.? We’ve got the scoop on five new venues for events, including: The world’s first-ever Tommy Bahama resort that opened in November 2023 The Palm Springs Surf Club that opened in January The Thompson Hotel Palm Springs that’s slated to open in Q2 The Spa at Sec-he that opened in April 2023 The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum that opened in November 2023 If you are looking for a sunny locale in Southern California for your next event, Palm Springs, Calif., averages more than 350 days of sunshine and only five inches of rain each year. Located in Coachella… more
Feb 15, 2024
A destination marketing organization (DMO) and global venue management company kicked off the new year on a positive note by launching and expanding programs designed to inspire, grow and support the next generation of hospitality, tourism and live event industry professionals. Visit Anaheim  Visit Anaheim, the official DMO for Anaheim, Calif., launched a new program designed to develop the future tourism and hospitality workforce. Unveiled on Feb. 6, the DMO’s Workforce Development initiative was created to inspire local high school students to pursue careers in tourism and hospitality.… 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