Oct 28, 2022
Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), announced a Destination Booking Agreement (DBA) that includes a toolkit to establish mutually agreeable terms to protect both the destination and the business event professional. The announcement was made at the recent IMEX America show in Las Vegas, where Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International, and three representatives from Destinations International’s Large Market Roundtable were on hand to discuss the DBA’s importance to… more
Oct 25, 2022
When it comes to achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the global events industry has a lot of work to do, according to the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study. Released on Oct. 11 in partnership with EIC’s global Equity Task Force, created in 2020 to address systemic racism and all forms of discrimination in the business events and hospitality industry, the study signifies the critical first phase of EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan. While there is an ever-growing awareness and commitment toward equity in the industry, survey scores reveal widespread DEI… more
Oct 21, 2022
The soaring inflation rates that have plagued the U.S., let alone some other countries around the world, may not be subsiding any time soon. The Labor Department reported that the September consumer price index (CPI) rose 8.2% over the prior 12 months, which is higher than what experts had predicted. Increasing costs have taken a heavy toll on the business events industry, with inflation’s impact seen in the price of transportation, hotels, venues, food and beverage, guest speakers and several other aspects of events.    We checked in with four event professionals to find out how inflation… more
Oct 14, 2022
As the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas buzzed with the sounds of utility vehicles zipping by and booths being meticulously finished for the show floor opening of IMEX America the next day, Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, couldn’t have been calmer—or more excited. “Fantastic!” she said, when I asked how she was feeling ahead of the big day. Her joy—and that of the thousands of attendees who graced the show floor, educational sessions and networking events Oct. 10-13—was palpable. One overriding feeling seemed to prevail: The rebound is real. When all was said and done, the 11th… more
Oct 12, 2022
As Hurricane Ian recovery efforts kick off in Florida, community organizations, including event and hospitality industry entities, are stepping up to the plate to provide assistance to those impacted by the devastating storm. Throughout the state’s response to the hurricane, VISIT FLORIDA has been working closely with authorities and travel brands including Expedia, Airbnb and hoteliers throughout Florida to connect displaced citizens with resources for finding suitable short- and long-term accommodations. On Oct. 3, the state’s official tourism marketing organization learned of 23 families… more
Oct 05, 2022
Several days after Ian pummeled Southwest Florida as a Category 4 hurricane then slowly weakened as it barrelled through the middle of the state and on to the Carolinas, the hardest hit destination, Lee County, Fla., remains all but closed to visitors, while other areas throughout Florida and South Carolina have resumed normal operations and are welcoming visiting groups for events. Following is an update from several destination marketing organizations throughout the region. Lee County Packing winds of up to 155 mph, heavy rain and major storm surge, Hurricane Ian carved a path of… more
Sep 30, 2022
Effective Oct. 1, it became easier for international travelers to go to Canada, including those attending events, as the country officially removed all COVID-19 entry requirements as well as testing, quarantine and isolation measures for arriving visitors. Other COVID-19 travel restrictions were also dropped throughout the country. According to Canada’s Public Health Agency, the removal of the measures, which include its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, was prompted by several factors. Included in the list is modeling that indicates Canada has largely passed the peak of the recent wave fueled by… more
Sep 30, 2022
The American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation (AHLAF) announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps to lure its nationwide talent pool with immediate hotel employment. The alliance is the first of its kind for Job Corps and the hospitality industry at large. With 130,000 open jobs in hospitality around the country, the partnership will utilize engagement and retention initiatives to help fill the positions with the highly skilled, ready-to-work Job Corps students enrolled in hospitality and related training programs. The collaboration will provide Job Corps… more
Sep 29, 2022
The Events Industry Council (EIC) released the findings of its 2022 Q2 Global Business Events Barometer, which revealed a strong increase in its two major indexes: business event request for proposal (RFP) and group hotel room nights. According to the barometer, which monitors the changes within the market relative to pre-pandemic levels, the Q2 RFP activity index rose to 81% of 2019 levels and the Q2 group hotel room nights index jumped to 83% of 2019 levels. The barometer points to the fact that RFP activity for events with short lead times has recovered further than requests for events… more
Sep 23, 2022
The Events Industry Council (EIC)  announced the recipients of its annual Global Awards,  which celebrate and honor exemplary achievements within the global business events industry, concentrating on leadership at all levels and specific areas of focus. The EIC received a fantastic number of nominations for the Global Awards this year, according to Amy Calvert, CEO of the EIC. “All [of the nominations] show remarkable personal accomplishments and achievements on behalf of our industry,” Calvert said. “Recognizing, rewarding and celebrating the incredible leadership and innovation in our… 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