Jun 24, 2019
Eldorado Resorts has agreed to acquire Caesars Entertainment in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $8.58 billion, creating a mega-casino company in the United States.
The combined company will provide its guests with access to approximately 60 domestic casino–resorts and gaming facilities across 16 states.
“Eldorado’s combination with Caesars will create the largest owner and operator of U.S. gaming assets and is a strategically, financially and operationally compelling opportunity that brings immediate and long-term value to stakeholders of both companies,” said Eldorado CEO Tom Reeg… more
Jun 18, 2019
Michael Dominguez has been named president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International. The well-known, well-liked industry veteran previously served as senior vice president and chief sales officer for MGM Resorts International for the past seven years. He also directed sales development for Loews Hotels as vice president of global sales prior to MGM.
Colleagues say Dominguez’s strategic leadership, innovative business development, hands-on sales oversight and implementation of effective sales strategies in both the MICE and transient segments will lead him to be successful in his new… more
Jun 14, 2019
What if we told you that approximately half of all delegates attending large-scale, urban conventions are booking outside the designated room block? You might go into full-on panic mode — or, nod knowingly, as this has likely affected your meetings. And this is the new reality for meeting planners, according to a study conducted by Kalibri Labs and Prism Advisory Group.
The “Room Block of the Future," released in April, aimed to better understand room booking behaviors within the business events industry. The longer-term goal is to use this data to develop a system that better suits both… more
Jun 13, 2019
Event technology giant Cvent has once again expanded its reach, this time through the acquisition of San Francisco-based mobile app provider DoubleDutch. Over the past decade, Cvent has grown its portfolio and technology base through acquisitions of companies including Social Tables, Passkey and Kapow along with merging with Lanyon.
Cvent officials say that the company’s acquisition of DoubleDutch expands its commitment to the onsite experience, helping it accelerate its investment in mobile event technology. Cvent’s mobile and web application portfolio already includes CrowdCompass and… more
Jun 10, 2019
Adding a page to the comeback story of Puerto Rico, Connect announced it has selected the destination as host of Connect 2021.
Formerly known as Collinson Media & Events (and also now owned by Corporate Event News’ parent company, Tarsus Group), Connect is known for its national marketplace-style shows for meeting planners in the corporate, sports, diversity, association and faith sectors.
Connect 2021 is expected to bring 3,500 planners, suppliers and other industry leaders to Puerto Rico for face-to-face meetings, education, networking and its signature lively receptions.
“We are… more
Jun 05, 2019
Does your salary reflect what you think you’re worth? If you’re like most corporate event professionals, the answer is probably no (more on that below); yet the forecast for our industry in this area is looking at least partially sunny.
Nearly 75 percent of business event organizers received a raise over the past year, averaging a 7-percent increase, according to PCMA’s annual Salary Survey, released this week.
While that 7-percent increase is more than twice the average raise for North American workers across all industries, only half of the 550 respondents in PCMA’s survey reported… more
May 29, 2019
“Hey Alexa, what’s next in new technologies designed to support the exhibition industry?”
That’s the question Freeman poses in its winning submission for the annual UFI Digital Innovation Award. The award, which recognizes new technologies designed to support the exhibition industry, was captured by Freeman for its artificial intelligence-powered chatbot services.
Freeman VP of Innovation, Wilson Tang“Innovation comes from a lot of different places,” says Wilson Tang, who was recently promoted to the role of vice president of innovation for Freeman. The idea for an Amazon Alexa-powered event… more
May 21, 2019
Is face-to-face marketing still relevant, and are there plans to use it moving forward? What is the image of the business-to-business exhibition channel today? A new report from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research aims to answer those questions — and more — from the perspective of marketing leaders.
The first in the new “Head of Marketing Insights” series, “Overview of Marketing and Sales Approaches, Most Urgent Objectives, and Brand Image of the B2B Exhibition Channel to Support Needs” examines the perception of B2B exhibitions as a marketing channel.
The report draws from survey… more
May 16, 2019
Hard on the heels of Uber’s vouchers offering launch, Hilton has announced a new travel and hospitality partnership with rideshare provider Lyft. Now, Hilton Honors members will be able to earn points for riding with Lyft within the United States and Canada.
This partnership may make Hilton even more attractive for planners looking to keep their attendees within the host hotel or room block. Hotel brand loyalty is a powerful tool, as meeting attendees will often choose where to stay based on loyalty status and points earned.
“What makes this partnership unique and different is the… more
May 10, 2019
The new “State of Inclusion in Meetings & Events” research report from Meeting Professionals International shows that improvement is needed across all facets of event planning. The report discusses how event professionals plan for inclusivity and diversity, highlights knowledge gaps and offers best practices for planners to create inclusive experiences.
Driven by MPI’s inclusion initiative, which involves offering education and tools to make meeting experiences more welcoming, the association partnered with New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch School of Hospitality to conduct a… 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