Aug 05, 2022
The IMEX Group is looking to a renowned, 20-plus-year industry veteran to remodel the professional learning offerings at its two annual shows: IMEX America and IMEX Frankfurt. The group appointed Tahira Endean, author, event instructor and event producer celebrated for her expertise in experience design, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and event tech, as its newly created head of programme.
Vancouver-based Endean comes to the IMEX Group from the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), where she was head of events since 2018, to embrace a role that signals a new era for IMEX… more
Aug 02, 2022
While the U.S. economy may be slowing down, that hasn’t stopped meetings and event-related organizations—particularly destination marketing companies—from hiring fresh talent and placing new and experienced leadership at the helm. Check them out!
Visit Baton Rouge
Jill Kidder, current president and CEO of the Louisiana Travel Association (LTA), the primary voice for Louisiana’s tourism industry, has been tapped to become the new president and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge. Selected by the Visit Baton Rouge Board of Directors June 30, she will replace current President and CEO Paul Arrigo, who is… more
Jul 25, 2022
It can be daunting to be the “first.” But for Lynn Osmond, the new president and CEO of Choose Chicago, being the very first woman to helm the city’s official destination marketing organization is an exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Just two and a half months into her new role, Osmond has hit the ground running, laser-focused on promoting the U.S.’s third-largest city on the national and global stage. And she is more than prepared to pull this mission off successfully. She possesses an intimate knowledge of the Windy City, its tourism and hospitality community and DMO following… more
Jul 11, 2022
When it comes to achieving true sustainability, the meetings and events industry has a lot of work to do. For decades, many planners have been touting the “green” practices they’ve been carrying out at events such as going paperless, recycling, reducing waste and reusing signage, all with good intentions. But when faced with the hard, cold fact that the industry by its very nature creates temporary experiences in an extremely wasteful way, producing massive amounts of carbon emissions in the process, are those low-hanging-fruit-type practices really enough? The answer is obvious.
It’s time… more
Jul 06, 2022
As the meetings industry continues its steady journey out of the COVID-19 pandemic, event-related organizations across the U.S. and abroad are tapping new executives, promoting staff and welcoming new team members in preparation for clearer skies ahead. Here are the latest exciting new people developments you need to know!
OVG360
After taking over management of American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, full-service venue management and hospitality company OVG360 has revealed its local leadership team.
Industry veteran Brian Martin has been tapped as general manager of the facility,… more
Jun 29, 2022
As meetings and conferences continue their steady return to face-to-face, convention centers are happily welcoming back event participants. However, for the events industry and the myriad venues that support it, the post-pandemic era hasn’t turned out to be synonymous with a return to business as usual. Attendee priorities have changed, and it’s not just event organizers who are having to work harder than ever to lure audiences back to their events, venues are also having to adapt, working harder and faster to meet ever-changing needs in order to fill their exhibit halls and meeting rooms. … more
Jun 23, 2022
Three is not a crowd when it comes to the leadership team at Huntington Place. While female executives and general managers are becoming more and more common at convention centers across North America, few U.S. facilities can claim an all-female leadership team made up of three dynamic industry veterans: Lisa Canada, chairwoman of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and the DRCFA Arts Committee; Karen Totaro, general manager; and Becky Bixby, assistant general manager. Bringing decades of experience to their roles, the powerful trio has made Detroit’s downtown… more
Jun 17, 2022
Having been at the helm of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) since 2013, Paul Van Deventer has steered the biggest and most vibrant meeting and event industry association on the globe through both challenging and triumphant times over the years. Yet 2022 is turning out to be one of the most celebratory for him and the MPI community at large.
“This year is MPI’s 50th anniversary, an anniversary shared with Disney World and National Public Radio, among others—a lot was going on in 1972!” he said. “It’s thrilling to be able to celebrate this benchmark for the association, but even more… more
Jun 16, 2022
In their quest for recovery and growth, event technology providers, CVBs, hotels and other event-related organizations have been busily tapping new executives as well as filling director and management positions with experienced professionals. Check out all the hard-working individuals moving up in the corporate events industry across the U.S. this month!
JUNO
Corresponding with its Community solution expansion, digital engagement platform JUNO has promoted event, community and relationship-building expert Megan Martin to director of engagement. In this newly created, multi-faceted role,… more
May 30, 2022
From expanding leadership teams to newly created positions designed to better position organizations for accelerated growth and scale, the meetings and events industry remains a plentiful source of expansive opportunities for hard-working professionals seeking career advancement. Take a look at the latest people moves!
Spring continues to blossom with a slew of new hires and promotions at trade show and event-related organizations across the U.S. and abroad. Here’s the latest news about professionals in the trade show industry that you need to know!
Visit Salt Lake
Visit Salt Lake recently… 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