Jan 10, 2023
PCMA announced several major acquisitions, alliances and partnerships designed to forge a path forward for the global business events industry while furthering its role as a leading platform for meeting and trade show professionals. The announcements were made on the first day of Convening Leaders 2023, taking place Jan. 8-11 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. At a press conference, PCMA and CEMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat outlined the association’s strategic plan, which is based on four foundational pillars supported by various key initiatives.
“As of today… more
Jan 05, 2023
Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), a newly established peer-to-peer network of senior corporate event professionals, and The Opus Group, a global agency network and partner for some of the world’s most influential brands, announced a new sponsorship deal that will provide ELX members with an agency perspective on experience design and strategy, and The Opus Group with insights from the ELX community.
“We’re thrilled to be part of this community of global event leaders,” said Kim Kopetz, president and COO of The Opus Group. “Our agency network is built for the modern era of marketing, in which… more
Dec 12, 2022
The Las Vegas Convention Center has become the second facility following Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) where unionized Sodexo food service workers have voted 100% to authorize a strike if a contract is not reached through ongoing negotiations.
The announcement was made late Friday, Dec. 9 by Culinary Workers Union Local 226, affiliate of UNITE HERE!, following two days of voting by cooks, dishwashers, banquet servers, concessions cashiers and other workers employed by Sodexo and working at the LVCC, claiming that their wages are not enough to keep up with the cost of… more
Dec 06, 2022
As the meetings and trade show industry continues its post-pandemic rebound, Sodexo convention center workers in five major convention markets are warning of looming labor disputes over what they describe as poor working conditions and stagnant wages. The potentially impacted venues include the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Huntington Place in Detroit and the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, Calif.
On Nov. 21, cooks, dishwashers, banquet servers, concession… more
Dec 05, 2022
The recovery of the meetings and events industry is moving forward on a positive trajectory, with venues reporting continued growth in event volume levels, according to the latest IACC Meeting Room of the Future Barometer (MRoTF). Released on Nov. 28, the barometer is the latest in an ongoing series of IACC quarterly reports combining research and insights into the recovery of IACC venues, demand cycles, staffing influences and important trends being seen as venues work to return to 2019 operating levels.
Research for the MRoTF was accessed via a survey, conducted in Oct. 2022, and includes… more
Dec 01, 2022
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is ushering in the next generation of global business event professionals with the selection of 20 people for its annual “20 in Their Twenties” program. The class of 2023 represents business event strategists, suppliers and destinations from the North America and EMEA regions.
Supported by the PCMA Foundation and Experience Columbus, the class of 2023 will be honored at PCMA Convening Leaders 2023, set for Jan. 8-11 in Columbus, Ohio.
“These 20 leaders represent the future of the global business event industry, as they are making a… more
Nov 29, 2022
Global hospitality leader Sodexo Live! has launched a milestone initiative focused on mental health, career advancement and increasing diversity among its workforce of more than 40,000 employees. Aptly named “People Ambition,” the venue management company’s progressive new Employer Value Proposition (EVP) will include additional resources, training and mentorship opportunities in an effort to attract, retain and grow its ranks of premium hospitality providers.
Based on quantitative yearlong findings from more than 50 surveys of current employees across all roles at the company, from… more
Nov 23, 2022
To create a collective effort demonstrating its commitment to the people and places where it operates, ASM Global launched its first "Global Month of Giving," which provides opportunities for team members internationally to dedicate their time, talent and “treasure” through volunteering, giving back and engaging in local community initiatives.
“ASM Global operates hundreds of stadiums, convention centers and arenas around the globe, which boost local economies, employ area residents and provide meaningful opportunities for the communities we call home,” said Ron Bension, president and CEO of… more
Nov 22, 2022
Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards, recently unveiled its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) pilot program, “Tourism for All.” Announced at the 2022 Destinations International Advocacy Summit, held Oct. 26-28 in Bloomington, Minn., the new initiative is designed to support CVBs in being more inclusive, welcoming and accessible to prospective visitors and tourism businesses.
Launched in partnership with the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau in… more
Nov 18, 2022
Collaboration, commitment and consistency emerged as key themes, as a comprehensive roadmap for the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative was announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 6-18.
The ambitious initiative, launched in 2021 through an alliance between the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) and the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), is the events industry’s global campaign to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the new roadmap outlines exactly how the industry can achieve the goal.
Supported by… 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