News
Jun 30, 2020
Event managers handling events for academia, science, medicine and other professional fields now have a new online platform option for planning virtual conferences and events.
Underline, a live-streaming conference platform and digital repository, has been custom-built to handle scientific, technical and academic events, helping planners and organizers to execute virtual events as well as aggregate content from those events in a digital library.
Alex Lazinica, founder and CEO of Underline and a former robotics and artificial intelligence scientist, was inspired to start the company after… more
Jun 29, 2020
With many people working from home and attending more videoconferences and virtual events than ever before, boosting attendee morale and engagement while combating digital fatigue has become a big area of focus for event organizers. That’s where teambuilding activities such as virtual escape rooms come in. These digitized versions of the popular in-person puzzle-solving games make for fun and engaging additions to any virtual event. Along with spurring collaboration and creative thinking, the interactive mind-benders also promote learning, networking and a spirit of play.
“It’s more… more
Jun 26, 2020
The global event tech exhibition and conference Event Tech Live is taking a new approach for its 2020 event — and perhaps no one is better equipped to go (partially) digital, due to their depth of knowledge with event technology.
This Nov. 2-6, Event Tech Live will take a hybrid approach, expanding its typical two-day trade show (which will still take place in person, Nov. 4-5, at The Old Truman Brewery in London, incorporating procedures overseen by health consultants to ensure safety for all attendees) to include five virtual days of content, as well.
“ETL introduced a virtual element… more
Jun 26, 2020
The first facilities to earn the new GBAC STAR accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of ISSA—The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, are scheduled to be announced by the end of June. To achieve accreditation, applicants must demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 elements covering cleaning, disinfecting and infectious disease prevention.
In less than two months after the launch of the GBAC STAR program on May 7, thousands of facilities committed to the program — from large hotel chains, convention centers and arenas to small restaurants, bowling… more
Jun 25, 2020
While this summer’s hiring news isn’t as busy as in other years, companies in the events industry are expanding where they can to help gain a cutting edge for events as they begin to return. Here’s the latest news.
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On June 22, Meet AC, Atlantic City’s group sales and marketing organization, named industry veteran Larry Sieg as its new president and CEO. He replaces Jim Wood, who departed the agency at the end of 2019. Bringing nearly three decades of tourism, sales and hospitality experience to his new role, Sieg will officially take the reins on July 13.
"Being someone who lives… more
Jun 24, 2020
Bogus attendee list vendors may think twice before soliciting PACK EXPO exhibitors again. In early June, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, belatedly announced its Feb. 23 lawsuit victory against Data Marketers Inc. for trademark infringement, false association advertising and unfair competition. Operating under the name LogiChannel, the data and marketing services company illegally used PACK EXPO’s logo in email solicitations a month prior to the September 2019 Las Vegas trade show in attempts to sell fake attendee lists to the show’s exhibitors.
PMMI decided… more
Jun 23, 2020
As a meeting planner for more than 15 years and co-founder of the Association for Women in Events (AWE), Carrie Abernathy understands the importance of diversity and inclusion in the events industry. She is currently the lead meeting planner for Altria Group Distribution Company and has served in a variety of leadership roles in the industry.
Abernathy recently started a weekly half-hour “talkcast” with fellow planner and PCMA board member Derrick Johnson called “Events: From Black to White” — and launched a new website called A Woman With Drive. Here, she shares more about these projects… more
Jun 22, 2020
While some major convention centers transformed into temporary medical relief centers as the pandemic took hold in early spring, one large venue has made the most of its empty exhibit halls and kitchens by caring for the community’s homeless individuals.
For the last 10 weeks, the San Diego Convention Center has served as a temporary regional homeless shelter for approximately 1,200 people as part of the City of San Diego-funded Operation Shelter to Home initiative, designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the city’s homelessness population. The SDCC is sheltering and feeding… more
Jun 19, 2020
Destinations International recently announced its new “We’re Here to Help” recovery campaign, which aims to unify the meetings, events and travel industry by demonstrating that CVBs play a critical role in recovery when the unexpected happens.
“There is no substitute for people working together to overcome dramatic and difficult challenges,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of DI. “This campaign shows the resilience of our industry and how when we come together, great things are possible.”
He continued, “CVBs are the community connectors and will continue to be an essential extension of… more
Jun 18, 2020
Lippman Connects recently sold out the first of its new Digital Summits, which were created to facilitate the peer-to-peer exchange of information among event professionals in a virtual setting. Sam Lippman, president of Lippman Connects, organized and facilitated the event, which was capped at 15 exhibition and convention professionals.
At the first Digital Summit on May 29, participants looked at the topic of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected meetings and events, and highlighted what some of the next steps might be for the industry. According to Lippman, the event professionals taking… 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 Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites.
Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation.
Reinvented Luxury Experiences
The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes.
New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May.
Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.
A “New Wave for Mandalay Bay
A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay.
Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options.
From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.