News
Apr 04, 2022
More than 2,700 independent grocery retail professionals and leaders recently converged in Las Vegas for The NGA Show, the premier annual trade show and conference for the independent supermarket industry. Held Feb. 27-March 1 at CAESARS FORUM, the bustling in-person show brought together independent retailers, wholesalers, food retail industry executives, food manufacturers and service providers from across the U.S., resulting in a nearly 20% increase in attendance from previous years.
Produced by the National Grocers Association (NGA) and Clarion Events as part of its Food & Beverage… more
Apr 01, 2022
The metaverse is upon us, and The Toy Foundation is one of the latest companies to bring one of its events into the new world of virtual interactivity and participant engagement. For its recent Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards after-party, the Toy Foundation leveraged the immersive event platform of NewSky XR for a cutting-edge virtual experience.
NewSky XR took this year's TOTY to the next level by hosting an after-party for winners, Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees and event attendees in their New York Rooftop location in the metaverse.
After the winners were announced, event… more
Mar 31, 2022
After two challenging years, there’s no doubt that the meetings and events industry could use an industry-wide celebration to commemorate and honor the return of in-person experiences. And what better way to celebrate the industry’s renaissance than by joining Meeting Professional International (MPI)’s fifth annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID): Virtual Experience, broadcasting live April 7 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT.
As an annual international day of advocacy that shines a light on the positive impact that conferences, conventions and trade shows have on people, businesses and the… more
Mar 29, 2022
Global Experience Specialists (GES), a leading global provider of exhibition services, brand experiences and live event services, debuted Spiro, an integrated marketing solutions agency that aims to deliver uniquely elevated experiences for the new era of events, including virtual, hybrid and in-person formats.
“The past two years have reinforced the critical value of events and experiences in connecting people,” said Jeff Stelmach, global president of Spiro. “[Today], it’s not about meeting people with similar interests in a single location—it’s about people with similar interests meeting… more
Mar 29, 2022
It is no longer possible to deny the fact that climate change is happening all around us. With each passing year, we are seeing the environmental impacts of a warming planet becoming more evident, and though many of us may be doing our part to lessen our environmental impacts, we simply cannot reduce, reuse or recycle our way out of this global predicament.
Like it or not, we also know that the trade show and events industry generates massive amounts of carbon and waste. While event-related organizations, venues and businesses have made promising strides toward a greener future, such as… more
Mar 28, 2022
The trade show industry’s hiring and promoting trend continues its forward trajectory as event-related organizations throughout the U.S. appoint new executives, elevate top-performing staff and welcome new team members. Take a look!
Choose Chicago
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Choose Chicago have tapped Lynn Osmond as the CVB’s new CEO, effective May 9. As the first woman to helm the city’s tourism agency, Osmond brings deep knowledge of Chicago’s tourism and hospitality community to her new leadership role, most recently serving as president and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center… more
Mar 25, 2022
He's worked alongside some of the world’s top chefs, but Eric Vaughn’s fondest culinary memories are of his childhood, creating delicious Sunday meals with his parents and sister and learning how to bake with his grandmother.
“It was our family tradition, and we learned a lot, especially how much fun we were having together discovering new dishes and ingredients,” he said. “It was the start of my fascination with food, touching it and seeing how it was affected by heat, and working with some of the most unique things I had ever seen food-wise—cooking things like chicken strudel with phyllo… more
Mar 25, 2022
The 69thPGA Show reunited the global golf industry in person for the first time in two years, and while it was smaller in scale than previous events due to COVID-19, it drove big business for those who attended during a time of strong growth for the sport.
Held Jan. 25-28 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and the Orange County National Golf Center (OCN), the show drew nearly 15,000 PGA Professionals, golf leaders, industry executives and retailers to source new products from more than 600 participating brands, attend industry presentations, learn timely business solutions and… more
Mar 24, 2022
Event tech and marketing wizard Dahlia El Gazzar is on a mission to empower event professionals with intel that helps them create next-level experiences. It’s the very reason she has been so passionate about the events industry since diving into it more than 10 years ago.
“What first got me interested in event tech is the ability the solutions have to help catapult event organizers' desires to create better experiences for their stakeholders, their events and their internal teams,” she said. “And yet it's an enabler, and I found that strategizing about how to use tech and combining it with… more
Mar 22, 2022
The North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) has been acquired by newly established trade show platform Trifecta Collective LLC, a partnership between leading private equity firm GreyLion and trade show industry veterans Rick McConnell and Jennifer Hoff.
Nick Curci, president and founder of Corporate Solutions, served as NATDA’s financial advisor for the transaction, the terms of which were not disclosed.
Founded in 2007 by Amy and Andy Ackerman, NATDA is the only North American professional business association serving light and medium duty trailer dealers. It comprises a… 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 on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.