Apr 07, 2021
Always a great opportunity to celebrate the importance of face-to-face gatherings big and small, Global Meetings Industry Day takes on added significance this year. Just as last year’s all-virtual celebration was a reflection of the pandemic’s beginnings, planned meetings this Thursday, April 8, offer a preview of the future.
Created by the Meetings Mean Business Coalition in 2016, GMID 2021 “represents a milestone in the safe return of major in-person events and for the people, communities and cities who rely on them,” according to Coalition representatives. Events will occur on three… more
Mar 29, 2021
On March 24, New York’s Javits Center hit an important milestone for the health of its community. Since opening its doors on Jan. 13 as a mass COVID-19 vaccination site, the Manhattan convention center has distributed more than 250,000 vaccines at the record rate of more than 14,000 per day.
Considered the largest vaccination center in the U.S., according to Javits officials, the site is a massive effort carried out in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health and the New York National Guard. Hundreds of medical, military and civilian teams have worked in tandem to establish… more
Mar 18, 2021
As the events industry readies to turn the page on the COVID-19 dark times with a seemingly speedy recovery, a final chapter recording the final ugly numbers from 2020 is coming together.
The U.S. Travel Association released a report on Wednesday indicating the U.S. economy lost out on $1.1 trillion dollars from travel. Along those same lines, the data shows travel-supported jobs fell by 5.6 million in 2020 (16.7 million to 11.1 million) while the industry’s footprint shrunk by 42%. As proof that the pandemic disproportionately hurt the travel and hospitality world, 65% of all lost American… more
Mar 15, 2021
New eased restrictions in Nevada on large gatherings, including meetings and conventions, entertainment venues and large group gatherings, allow capacity up to 50%. The welcomed news became official on Monday after Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced the move on Friday night.
The state also will streamline the process for submission and approval of large gatherings.
The new directive is another step toward re-igniting the meetings and events industry. The announcement comes on the heels of the governor also expanding vaccine eligibility to hospitality and food service workers yesterday.
“… more
Mar 08, 2021
While a faculty member at East Carolina University, Dr. Alleah Crawford taught courses in event management. She joined the Association for Women in Events as a board member to build connections for her students.
The association may no longer exist, and Crawford is now professor and associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University in Alabama, but the work done by both remains of utmost importance to an industry trying to match its talk about diversity and inclusion with action.
Specifically, there remains a need to elevate women to leadership… more
Feb 24, 2021
It goes without saying that the past 12 months have been an incredibly challenging and stressful time for event professionals. To lend a hand to fellow #eventprofs who may be suffering from job losses and mental health challenges, mark your calendars for the first-ever Event Relief 2021, a 24-hour global “vodcast” marathon created to raise funds for event industry professionals experiencing personal and financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Set for Wednesday, March 3, the event is organized and hosted by events and exhibitions professional, Dan Assor, creator and host of The Dan… more
Feb 23, 2021
Marriott International on Tuesday began the painstaking effort of moving on from the death of company legend Arne Sorenson, naming Anthony “Tony” Capuano and Stephanie Linnartz. Both internal promotions are effective immediately.
Capuano was previously group president of Global Development, Design and Operations Services. During Capuano’s time in that role, Marriott grew from more than 3,200 properties in early 2009 to more 7,600 properties by 2020’s end.
He joined Marriott in 1995, and in 1997 began leasing development efforts in the Western U.S. and Canada. In 2005, Capuano became senior… more
Feb 16, 2021
Arne Sorenson, the third CEO in Marriott International’s history, died unexpectedly on Monday, the hotel giant announced. Sorenson was diagnosed in May 2019 with pancreatic cancer and earlier this month took a leave of absence to battle the disease’s resurgence. He was 62 years old.
Among Sorenson’s largest accomplishments was the 2016 completion of the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which immediately made Marriott the world’s largest hotel chain, with more than 5,800 properties and 1.1 million rooms in more than 110 countries.
“During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Sorenson was… more
Feb 01, 2021
The coronavirus understandably caught the events industry flat-footed last spring. Who can predict a once-in-a-century disease? But nearly a year into the pandemic, there’s been time to experiment, learn, adapt and develop better strategies going into 2021.
Live events are going on, and will only pick up toward the second half of the year. That doesn’t mean COVID-19’s effects will disappear anytime soon. Almost all considerations that event planners, trade show organizers, exhibitors and attendees face are related to health and safety measures or economic challenges related to the pandemic… more
Jan 29, 2021
Louisville Tourism is about to get a new president and CEO. Cleo Battle, the CVB’s current chief operating officer, will assume his new role upon the forthcoming retirement of current president and CEO Karen Williams, who will close out her 30-year tenure at Louisville Tourism June 30.
This is Battle’s second time filling Williams’ shoes. The 34-year hospitality veteran was appointed executive vice president in 2013 before being named COO in 2019.
Prior to coming to Louisville, Battle spent 12 years as vice president of sales and services for the Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau… 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