Apr 16, 2024
Approximately 2,000 attendees, including 800 hosted buyers gathered at The Venetian in Las Vegas for Connect Spring Marketplace April 2-4. Owned by Informa, the event connects meeting buyers and suppliers for one-on-one conversations, but also weaves in educational opportunities; a trade show featuring destinations and fresh experiential ideas; and after-hours networking events.
Here are some of the fresh ideas and classic events that made Connect Spring Marketplace a success.
More Cowbell!
The eTourism Summit, an event for destination marketers co-located with Connect Spring Marketplace,… more
Apr 15, 2024
While exhibition rates are more broadly aligning with inflation this year, specific areas, such as material handling rates, continue to outpace inflation, according to the findings of the Annual Survey of Exhibition Rates. The Exhibitor Advocate — a non-profit organization dedicated to providing industry stakeholders with expert advice, research and tools to amplify the voice of exhibitors — has released its latest survey that analyzes labor and equipment costs across 24 major U.S. cities.
This year’s report demonstrates that while corporate events continue to be a valuable sales and… more
Apr 12, 2024
What are the top trends expected to have the biggest impact on the meetings and events industry in 2024 and beyond?
Meeting planners are expecting live event attendance to grow over the next three years, but they are also facing rising costs, a wider impact on destination selection due to politics and a growing importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) of meeting attendees and speakers, according to the 7th Annual State of the Meetings & Convention Industry.
Conducted by creative insights firm Future Partners in collaboration with travel and tourism strategic marketing… more
Apr 02, 2024
As an annual international day of advocacy that showcases the incredible and undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses, communities and the global economy, Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) will once again gather event industry professionals virtually and in person on Thurs., April 11 to communicate and celebrate the importance of the events industry.
An initiative of Meetings Mean Business (a division of U.S. Travel), the event is again being hosted virtually by Meeting Professionals… more
Mar 29, 2024
For organizers who are truly serious about sustainability and lowering the environmental footprint of their trade shows, meetings and events, incorporating plant-forward menus is more than a culinary trend — it’s a strategic choice that aligns with broader societal shifts, especially among younger generations. By making this change, event organizers can not only enhance the attendee experience but also cut carbon and costs while contributing to a more sustainable and equitable world.
The demand for plant-based options is growing steadily, driven by a combination of health concerns,… more
Mar 18, 2024
How do you take your corporate event from good to great? The first step is understanding your audience, advised Senior Event Marketing Leader Kimberly Kee — who has managed event programs for MCI, Hughes, Boeing, Arrow and TeamViewer — during a session at EXHIBITORLIVE 2024.
“Be prepared to ask a lot of questions to find out where you need to focus your planning priorities,” she said. “Understand both objective and subjective data by using online survey tools combined with more personal tactics.”
Here’s an overview of nine more steps for planning a great corporate event.
1. Event branding… more
Mar 11, 2024
If your trade show or event organization works with independent contractors, it’s important to know how a new employment rule that takes effect on March 11 could impact labor costs for businesses that rely on contract labor or freelancers, such as trucking, manufacturing and more.
The industry sector most likely to be impacted: general service contractors, AV companies, freight companies and other suppliers that rely on independent contractors.
Why it matters: Increased costs for suppliers could be passed on to event organizers or exhibitors, who were already facing increases of 7%-30% for… more
Mar 07, 2024
As the corporate meetings and events industry moves into full recovery mode this year, there are myriad industry events for event professionals to take advantage of. After all, not only are industry conferences an excellent source of professional development with plentiful educational opportunities designed to inform and inspire, but also they’re a great way to connect with peers and make new business contacts, all in one place.
Here, we’ve curated a short list of upcoming U.S.-based events that meeting and event professionals should consider adding to their schedules in 2024.
Connect… more
Feb 27, 2024
What experiences do event attendees value most? During the Women in Exhibitions Network North America session, “New Audience Insights From Freeman,” on Feb. 16, Freeman Senior Vice President of Strategy Ken Holsinger provided a deeper dive into the 2024 Attendee Intent and Behavior, which garnered 3,200 respondents across a blend of events.
The one-hour online meeting covered the full report, but here are the top 11 things that attendees want from in-person events, according to the Freeman survey. When planning your event or exhibit and budgeting your spend, it’s helpful to know what… more
Feb 26, 2024
Online corporate events are here to stay, so how do event organizers make them more effective and enjoyable? Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering, published the Virtual Gathering Guide, which offers seven steps for meeting hosts to create moments of connection in the online event space.
Here are excerpts from the guide that are most relevant for corporate event managers.
1. Clarify the purpose of your virtual gathering. “Don’t assume your digital gathering shares the same purpose as your in-person one,” she advised. Ask: “What is the most important need for this group and how might… 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