Oct 04, 2024
Dreamforce made headlines last month after the now-viral moment when comedian John Mulaney roasted Salesforce’s “imminently replaceable” workforce for wearing “fleece vests” and embodying all of the other corporate tech bro stereotypes.
“The fact that there are 45,000 ‘trailblazers’ here couldn’t devalue the title any more,” Mulaney added during his 45-minute set, throwing in that the Salesforce workers filling the audience around him looked “like a group who looked at the self-checkout counters at CVS and thought, ‘This is the future.’”
The reality is that hiring a comedian for an event… more
Oct 03, 2024
As IMEX America 2024 approaches, IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer joined CEN’s VP of Group Content Danica Tormohlen for an insightful preview of what attendees can expect at this year's event, which will be held Oct. 7-10 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Bauer told us she expects this year's IMEX America to surpass last year's success in terms of both size and attendance. The event's app, equipped with advanced navigation features akin to Google Maps, will be integral in helping attendees navigate the expansive show floor.
Related: IMEX DEBUTS GROUNDBREAKING DIGITAL WAYFINDING… more
Sep 27, 2024
With a national-park campground theme and a focus on artificial intelligence’s uses and benefits, Dreamforce ’24 was a hot ticket, drawing more than 45,000 people to the Moscone Center in San Francisco from September 17 to 19.
In between the keynote sessions featuring high-profile players such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and California Governor Gavin Newsom (see photo below), attendees walked an indoor and outdoor show floor featuring a combination of high-tech and low-tech activations designed to capture their attention.
Here are three Dreamforce activations that planners could easily… more
Sep 26, 2024
Looking for professional development training for emerging talent and seasoned professionals? A new coaching cohort program has been launched by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Visit Fort Worth, with 20 participants completing the inaugural six-week online program in August. The Fall session is currently taking applications, and planners can apply here.
The partnership between MPI and the Texas CVB matches event planners with coaches to help industry professionals define their career trajectories. The inaugural program brought industry professionals together to learn, grow,… more
Sep 12, 2024
Learning. Innovation. Community. Those are the key words cloud-based CRM software company Salesforce uses to describe its annual flagship conference, Dreamforce, touted as the world’s largest AI event and enterprise tech conference. Hosted every year in San Francisco and set for Sept. 17-19 at Moscone Center, Dreamforce is considered an essential business gathering for the global Salesforce community, aka “Trailblazers,” that attracts thousands of attendees worldwide for three days of learning, networking, innovation sharing, philanthropy, and fun.
In 2023, the 21st annual event drew an… more
Sep 10, 2024
At this year’s Connect Marketplace in Milwaukee, it wasn’t just the deal-making and networking that had the 3,000 attendees buzzing. The 2024 iteration of Connect’s largest event upped the game when it came to experiential moments—and they might’ve even stolen the whole show (hey, Lil Jon!).
In late August, event planners and suppliers spent three days exploring a lively trade show floor, participating in one-on-one appointments, sitting in on valuable education, and enjoying after-hours fun in Brew City. And each of those cornerstones came with its own creative, innovative experiences,… more
Sep 09, 2024
In general, attendees go to conferences based on content, potential contacts, and convenience, not the attributes of the host convention center. However, the conference experience, which is strongly influenced by the venue, can be an important factor in an attendee’s decision to return to that event in the future.
So, what do attendees want and expect in a conference experience?
Convention center management company ASM Global recently explored that question, specifically looking at preferences of Millennial and Gen Z attendees. The growing under-40 audience, ASM says, represents 42… more
Sep 06, 2024
Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2024, Ace Hardware Corp. hosted its largest Fall Convention in history, attracting more than 18,000 retailers, employees, and vendors to McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, according to Ace. Held Aug. 8-10—just prior to the Democratic National Convention—the Ace Hardware Fall 2024 Convention not only set records in total attendance but also in total representation from retailers and stores.
As the company turns 100, Ace continues to grow—not shrink—the number of retail locations. "During the quarter, we added our 5,000th store and are on… more
Aug 30, 2024
From LED dance floors and AI Ping Pong to branded bar carts and immersive floral walls, event activations are a powerful way to engage attendees and create memorable experiences that are also Instagram-worthy.
At the recent corporate event hosted by Shepard Expositions, SandboxLIVE attracted 150 industry partners, speakers, customers, and prospective customers. Established in 1905 in Atlanta, the employee-owned trade show contracting company brought these activations and more to life July 15-17 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in midtown Atlanta.
Taylor Elliot, Shepard“It's all about getting… more
Aug 23, 2024
Corporate event planners are constantly challenged with going above and beyond their last event, especially when it comes to creating more immersive environments designed to deepen attendee engagement and foster brand recognition. In this never-ending quest to generate a more profound “wow” factor at face-to-face events, planners can look to their staging and production partners to create innovative experiential activations and environments via the latest technology.
To get the inside scoop on what’s trending in creative technical production innovations for events, we consulted Ariane… 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