News
Jun 07, 2023
As the nation’s elected officials burned the midnight oil to pass a bill to raise the debt ceiling on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., trade show industry executives gathered a few blocks away at the Grand Hyatt Washington to connect and learn from their peers at the 22nd annual Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF), produced by Lippman Connects. Held May 30-31, the event attracted a record 237 industry leaders and suppliers, and corporate event professionals can glean several tips from key insights provided during ECEF 2023 sessions.
“There's a mix on the stage of association… more
Jun 06, 2023
When Larita Clark began her career at the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), owner of Chicago’s McCormick Place, she never imagined she would one day become its CEO. Since accepting her first position there in 1984 as assistant controller, the certified public accountant by trade went on to successfully hold an array of positions at MPEA, including director of finance and administration of McCormick Place, controller of MPEA and then its CFO, responsible for the financial and administrative operations of the massive McCormick Place campus, which includes four buildings: Hyatt… more
Jun 05, 2023
While the majority of meeting and event professionals are expecting favorable overall business conditions over the next year, they’re also facing new market challenges, according to Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) recently released 2023 Spring Meetings Outlook. A future-focused quarterly report that identifies new industry trends and innovations, the publication allows planners to budget and plan accordingly and ensures a strong foundation for building sound strategies that keep businesses on paths to success, according to MPI officials.
Supported in partnership with IMEX Group… more
Jun 02, 2023
The future is looking bright for the business events industry, according to the 2023 Global Economic Significance of Business Events study by the Events Industry Council (EIC) in partnership with Oxford Economics.
The 2023 edition of the study, which measured the full scope of the $1.6 trillion global business events industry, revealed its massive and far-reaching impact, its resilience following the pandemic — with global event spending expected to reach 2019 levels by 2025 — and the importance of face-to-face interaction.
“Business events have a GDP larger than many global economies,”… more
Jun 01, 2023
Event-related organizations, particularly CVBs and meeting and convention venues, have been busily appointing industry veterans to executive roles and promoting team members. Take a look!
Orange County Convention Center
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., has welcomed two industry veterans to its executive leadership team with the appointment of Anthony “Tony” Camarillo as the venue’s new general manager and Keri Burns as its new director of sales.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Camarillo brings a wealth of experience in sales, events and… more
May 30, 2023
Two big convention cities — Salt Lake City and San Francisco — recently unveiled new hotel properties offering meeting planners and event groups more premium options in guest rooms, flexible event spaces, amenities, price points and convenience. Check them out!
Le Méridien, Element and Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City
Following the announcement of its best booking year ever, Visit Salt Lake is welcoming more than 1,000 premium hotel rooms to its vibrant downtown convention district.
In April, Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown and Element Salt Lake City Downtown, the first dual-pad project… more
May 29, 2023
Las Vegas tourism and business leaders officially broke ground on a $600 million renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) on May 9. Work will continue through 2025, with construction designed to accommodate and minimize disruption to scheduled trade shows. As part of the renovation project, a newly designed parking lot outside of the Central Hall will feature a Vegas Loop station to transport convention goers to and from Wynn and Encore Las Vegas when the completed project debuts in Spring 2024.
The renovation will extend the contemporary design, architecture and customer… more
May 26, 2023
After nearly 18 months on the drawing board, IMEX Group’s bold new brand refresh went live at IMEX Frankfurt, which took place May 23-25 at Messe Frankfurt. The design incorporates elements of its legacy brand, while infusing it with a fresh concept that keeps inclusivity in mind and features the company’s first-ever sonic logo.
The brand review process was conducted by IMEX’s in-house design team, led by Design Manager Anna Gyseman, who was a seminal member of the team that launched Grazia magazine into the U.K. market. Gyseman recruited ex-colleagues Tony Chambers, former editor and… more
May 24, 2023
In keeping with its progressive sustainability initiatives, the Overland Park Convention Center (OPCC) recently took a major step toward combatting large-scale event food waste and hunger in its local community.
Last month, the Overland Park, Kan.-based facility announced it had formed a partnership with Pete’s Garden, a food recovery organization based in Kansas City, Mo. that recovers surplus prepared foods from local caterers, restaurants and food service operations, then repackages and redirects the food as healthy take-home meals for families needing assistance in the greater Kansas… more
May 23, 2023
As the events industry continues its robust recovery following the pandemic, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) Legislative Action Day will return to Washington, D.C., on June 1, bringing industry advocates and leaders to meet with members of Congress about important federal policy priorities.
“It will be great to have this event back in person after four long years,” said Tommy Goodwin, vice president of government affairs for ECA, adding that the last in-person International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Exhibitions Day was in 2019, with the 2020 event held… 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