News

Jun 05, 2018
SPIN:Senior Planners Industry Network is encouraging meeting planner “veterans” to apply for SPIN:40 Over 40 2018, which recognizes and honors planners who are industry role models, influencers, innovators and pioneers. SPIN is the world’s largest association for senior-level planners. All hospitality professionals who have at least 10 years of experience are eligible to join. SPIN:40 over 40 was introduced in 2017, and the inaugural list of honorees was announced at SPINCon 2017. Nominations are being accepted from Jun. 1 to Jun. 25, 2018. Applicants must be at least 40 years old, have… more
Jun 04, 2018
A “pep rally,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is an event before a school sports event that is meant to get students and fans excited and to encourage the team to win; also: a similar event in which speakers try to get a group of people excited and enthusiastic about something. Meeting Professionals International (MPI) drew upon both of those definitions when designing its 2018 World Education Congress (WEC), held in Indianapolis. Indianapolis, or Indy as it is affectionately called, is of course known for sports. The conference Pep Rallies replace the traditional keynote with… more
Jun 01, 2018
Have you been focused on creating better attendee experiences and changing the physical design of your events to do so? If so, you aren’t alone: those are two of the main issues venue operators and agencies reported that they have been facing this year, according to the June 2018 IACC Meeting Room of the Future report. While return on investment (ROI), education and networking are still top-of-mind, attendee engagement, satisfaction and personal development are becoming more and more important. From customizing menus to ensure dietary needs are managed to personalization of experiences,… more
May 31, 2018
Bringing a brand story to life within a physical location is the ultimate goal of all corporate events. Bespoke, a custom fabrication and full-service production support shop recently launched by SET Experience Group, aims to do just that. SET Experience Group is a full-service brand experience agency that also includes SET, SET Live, and ASK. Launched in partnership with New York-based Project Visual, Bespoke was created to address clients’ growing needs for a fabrication shop that includes services such as project management, production, digital experiences and installation all under one… more
May 30, 2018
International virtual marketing and communications incubator, Event Tech Lab, is continuing to do its part to mentor and develop the next generation of event technology companies by growing its start-up partnerships.  “There is a global remit to work with start-ups worldwide that specialize in production and logistics technology, marketing and management technology and attendee engagement technology – three areas that cover almost all event technology types,” explained James Morgan, who founded UK-based Event Tech Lab in January of 2015 as a partnership community for event tech providers and… more
May 29, 2018
The Summit, a Dolce Hotel opened in Cincinnati in April 2018. The brand new 239-room hotel is the latest addition to the Wyndham Hotel Group’s Dolce Hotels and Resorts brand. The Summit offers 32,600 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, with an emphasis on group conferences and collaborative spaces. The modern Madisonville Ballroom, a rooftop terrace and 17 customizable meeting rooms with built-in tech and lighting provide ample options for meeting planners to creatively utilize the space. In addition to meeting and event facilities, guests at the hotel have access to… more
May 25, 2018
In the wake of movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp, every industry must act to end sexual harassment and create positive, lasting change. The exhibitions and meetings industries are no exception. A new coalition recently was formed to eradicate sexual harassment in the events industry and workplace; a task force that will identify tools and develop new resources to assist in educating individuals and the events industry about sexual harassment.  Comprising leaders and executives from organizations including the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE); Association for Women in… more
May 24, 2018
The Corporate Event News Event Expert Profile series shines a spotlight on some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive. This month, I spoke with Aila (pronounced “Eye-la”) Brookins. Brookins has been in the events industry for more than 20 years. She got her start as an executive assistant with a supportive vice president for a boss. He saw her potential and encouraged her to move into marketing. While learning the ropes as a marketing coordinator she had the opportunity to assist with the company’s trade show participation – and got hooked. As she… more
May 23, 2018
Audio-visual and event services company, Staging Connections, has launched Cumulus, its latest mobile event app that allows clients to create a tailored solution with a range of features to streamline their management process and maximize event ROI. With Cumulus, event organizers can manage their own event-specific content via a user-friendly interface so that they can make changes instantly, while event attendees have easy access to important event information from their smartphone or tablet. Event information accessible on Cumulus includes venue details, floor plans, maps, event program,… more
May 21, 2018
On Apr. 25, 2018, AC Hotels by Marriott opened its first Canadian property: AC Hotel Montréal Centre-Ville. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Montreal on Boulevard René-Lévesque, just steps away from the Palais des congrès de Montréal (Montreal's convention center), the Quartier des Spectacles (entertainment district), and two city blocks from Old Montreal. AC Hotel Montréal Centre-Ville is situated on the first twelve floors of a 35-story dual-use high-rise that also includes luxury apartments. The property offers 169 guestrooms with hardwood floors, large walk-in showers,… 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