Giving Back

TSNN is shining a bright, well-deserved spotlight on event companies that are #GivingBack to make a positive impact in their host and home communities.

Is your company #GivingBack? Tweet us using the #GivingBack hashtag to @TSNN_com_us and we’ll feature what your company is doing to help make the world a better place!

Feb 12, 2019
As part of its ongoing partnership with the American Heart Association’s Orange County Division, Visit Anaheim has donated eight life-saving CPR kits to two more high schools in its local community. Launched in November 2017 in conjunction with the AHA, the CVB’s multi-year Heart-to-Heart campaign was created to give back to local residents by providing more than 15,000 Anaheim high school students with life-saving CPR skills and education.  “Inspired by American Heart Association’s decision to host their 2017 Scientific Sessions at the Anaheim Convention Center after a 16-year absence and… more
Feb 04, 2019
By Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director Firstly a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored me for the Boston Marathon. I really appreciate it, and it will go a long way to help the charity achieve its goals this year.  For the first time, I’ve got corporate sponsors and a huge thank you to them - details of my various supporters are below - you have gone above and beyond. Finally, a big thank you to Rachel, Brian and Jeffery for their Herculean efforts on the fundraising - a fantastic team effort. Training in January hasn’t quite gone to plan. I’ve picked up a hip injury -… more
Jan 31, 2019
MGM Resorts International has re-established its MGM Resorts Scholarship Program for Children of Employees with an initial gift of $1 million.  Offering scholarships up to $2,500 to selected children of MGM Resorts’ full-time domestic employees (excluding executives) through a highly competitive application process, this philanthropic program is intended to help high school graduates increase their access to post-secondary opportunities, including universities, community colleges and recognized certification programs. Although the scholarships will be funded by MGM Resorts, the program… more
Jan 23, 2019
In an effort to help Southern Nevada’s vulnerable populations, Caesars Entertainment has launched The Shared Future Fund, a first-of-its-kind investment model that will be used to create long-term positive change for adult and child victims of human trafficking.  The new fund will be controlled and managed by ImpactNV, a Southern Nevada nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing cross-sector leadership to address pressing social needs and building a better community. Created as a self-sustaining model designed to catalyze solutions to core regional issues via grants, loans and investments, The… more
Jan 18, 2019
As the American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” We are seeing Mead’s words come to fruition in many aspects of our society, including the global business community, as more people and companies are taking the lead in creating positive change via corporate social responsibility programs.  The events industry is no exception to this, with many companies and individuals doing their part to set up programs and campaigns to help make a difference in… more
Jan 09, 2019
As part of its new vision that business events can be the drivers of social positive change, PCMA has committed to combat child exploitation by signing The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.  In partnership with ECPAT-USA, the leading U.S. policy organization that works to end the commercial, sexual exploitation of children around the world, The Code is the only voluntary set of business principles that companies and organizations in the travel, business travel and tourism industries can implement to prevent and eradicate human… more
Jan 07, 2019
By Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director I strongly believe that we as an industry need to do more to give back to our communities. To practice what I preach, this year I will be running the Boston marathon on behalf of a local Boston charity that does a fantastic job for the Newton community – NWW Committee for Community Living. HERE is a link if you would like to support my running on behalf of this great non-profit! I’m planning to write a monthly blog on my challenge, which will go out on TSNN.com and on social media. So here is my first-ever blog!The year 2018 ended as it… more
Dec 20, 2018
While many exhibition venues may choose the holiday season to carry out acts of service that help their local communities, the San Diego Convention Center has made corporate social responsibility a year-round labor of love. According to Barbara Moreno, SDCC executive director of communications and outreach, the San Diego Convention Center Corporation has a long-standing commitment to giving back to its Southern California community. “We believe in being good neighbors and for years have worked together with event meeting planners to connect them with non-profits and charities that they can… more
Dec 11, 2018
Leaving a destination better than one found it isn’t just a theme that’s been resonating with many events lately – it’s been inspiring some convention and visitors bureaus to do their part, too. Case in point is the Barcelona Convention Bureau (BCB), which teamed up with 13 of its partners for a Volunteer Day consisting of a full-day park clean up at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah prior to IMEX America, held last October in Las Vegas. With corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives a top priority for BCB and its partners, the activity was created to showcase BCB’s CSR initiative… more
Dec 04, 2018
Speak with Tammi Runzler for just a few minutes and it’s obvious she’s one of those special individuals with a deep passion for making a difference. A 30-year veteran of the meetings, events and destination marketing industries, Runzler recently co-founded CSRconnections, a corporate social responsibility program planning company that connects organizations with customized CSR opportunities designed to engage attendees while positively impacting the destinations that host their events.  As an enthusiastic proponent of CSR at events, I was excited to sit down with Runzler to hear about her… more
Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact