Jul 03, 2023
Skilled trade unions are critical to the successful execution of meetings and trade shows at convention venues across the U.S. While working with organized labor such as teamsters, carpenters, electricians, stagehands and sound technicians at event venues can come with their fair share of complexities, these groups of skilled professionals can also serve as valuable partners in ensuring a successful event experience for exhibitors and attendees alike.  In its ongoing mission to be a leader in the meeting and convention venue space, Detroit’s Huntington Place has been busy launching proactive… more
Jun 29, 2023
Located near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park about 50 miles west of the Asheville Regional Airport, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina opened the Cherokee Convention Center in 2021, adding 85,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space. Owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Harrah’s Cherokee is managed by Caesars Entertainment.  In May, Corporate Event News joined Caesars Entertainment for a trip to the property to find out what Harrah’s Cherokee has to offer corporate event planners. Here are some of the highlights in this photo recap. A… more
Jun 26, 2023
On June 15, the uniquely luxurious Hôtel Swexan opened its doors in the heart of Dallas’ popular Harwood District, a flourishing walkable art, entertainment and culinary neighborhood. Fusing its Swiss heritage with Texas hospitality, the 134-room boutique, family-owned hotel was designed to offer the myriad amenities corporate meeting and event planners seek in a high-end hotel, including world-renowned design, five independent food and beverage concepts, a private social club, an expansive rooftop infinity pool, panoramic rooftop views and high-end meeting and event space. Exuding European… more
Jun 20, 2023
Nashville, Tenn.-based Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, from Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT), a perpetual-life, institutional quality real estate investment platform, for $800 million. According to officials from Ryman, a leading lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that owns the Gaylord-branded hotels and resorts across the U.S., Ryman’s acquisition of the meetings and leisure resort property gives the hospitality and entertainment… more
Jun 19, 2023
Who doesn’t love a sweet treat at a business meeting or conference, especially after a long day of educational sessions and back-to-back engagements with clients or colleagues? Besides being pleasing to the palate, desserts, whether served at a sit-down meal or at an interactive buffet station, help create a fun and relaxed environment for attendees to mingle and network, breaking the ice, encouraging conversation and contributing to a positive and memorable event experience. And by offering a variety of sweet dishes or bites, event organizers can cater to different preferences and dietary… more
May 30, 2023
Two big convention cities — Salt Lake City and San Francisco — recently unveiled new hotel properties offering meeting planners and event groups more premium options in guest rooms, flexible event spaces, amenities, price points and convenience. Check them out!  Le Méridien, Element and Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City Following the announcement of its best booking year ever, Visit Salt Lake is welcoming more than 1,000 premium hotel rooms to its vibrant downtown convention district.   In April, Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown and Element Salt Lake City Downtown, the first dual-pad project… more
May 29, 2023
Las Vegas tourism and business leaders officially broke ground on a $600 million renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) on May 9. Work will continue through 2025, with construction designed to accommodate and minimize disruption to scheduled trade shows. As part of the renovation project, a newly designed parking lot outside of the Central Hall will feature a Vegas Loop station to transport convention goers to and from Wynn and Encore Las Vegas when the completed project debuts in Spring 2024.  The renovation will extend the contemporary design, architecture and customer… more
May 24, 2023
In keeping with its progressive sustainability initiatives, the Overland Park Convention Center (OPCC) recently took a major step toward combatting large-scale event food waste and hunger in its local community. Last month, the Overland Park, Kan.-based facility announced it had formed a partnership with Pete’s Garden, a food recovery organization based in Kansas City, Mo. that recovers surplus prepared foods from local caterers, restaurants and food service operations, then repackages and redirects the food as healthy take-home meals for families needing assistance in the greater Kansas… more
May 22, 2023
On April 24, Michigan Central Station, the highly anticipated development in Detroit, celebrated the official grand opening of Newlab Detroit, a high-tech startup ecosystem that has already attracted 25 companies, located in the restored Book Depository. Built in 1936, the Albert Kahn-designed Roosevelt Warehouse, a three-story building next to the old train station, is open again after sitting vacant since a fire in 1987. Inside the Book Depository, a 2,000-square-foot event space and a 200-seat space overlooks an 11,000-sq.-ft. robotics and prototyping facility, while the second and third… more
May 17, 2023
Event professionals now have two new property options by Omni Hotels & Resorts to take advantage of for meetings and events: Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas, and Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU in Tempe, Ariz. Omni PGA Frisco Resort Spread over 660 acres, Omni Frisco Resort offers 500 guest rooms and suites, as well as numerous amenities. Two championship courses designed by architects Gil Hanse and Beau Welling anchor the resort, in addition to 13 restaurant and bar concepts; a world-class Mokara Spa; four pools; retail and entertainment; and 10 exclusive four-bedroom ranch houses… 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