News

May 20, 2020
As the demand for virtual event platforms continues to increase, LinkedIn has entered the game. The social media giant has brought two of its offerings together — LinkedIn Live and LinkedIn Events — to create LinkedIn Virtual Events.  The virtual event functionality allows brands to stream video content to their LinkedIn page, targeting followers or event attendees. One benefit the company is touting is a new video tab, making it easier for brands to share and archive their video content in an accessible manner. For video streaming, LinkedIn is partnering with third-party broadcasting… more
May 19, 2020
The Food Processing Suppliers Association, owners of PROCESS EXPO, has tapped the North American subsidiary of Frankfurt, Germany-based Messe Frankfurt to handle all aspects of the show’s management including sales, marketing, operations and sponsorships.  Set for October 12-15, 2021 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, PROCESS EXPO is the U.S.’s largest biennial food equipment and technology trade show for the food and beverage processing industry. The event attracts approximately 15,000 food and beverage processing and packaging professionals, as well as 500 exhibitors displaying the latest in… more
May 18, 2020
At least a third of event organizers have postponed all events to 2021, according to the latest report by CEIR. It makes sense, given the fact that many Americans are experiencing a growing hesitation to travel again. Data from the U.S. Travel Association and MMGY Travel Intelligence shows that as the pandemic continues, travel plans that were once postponed are increasingly being canceled. However, as industry stakeholders like hotels, convention centers and airlines are stepping up to announce new cleanliness protocols, they’re also aiming to convince travelers that it will be safe to… more
May 13, 2020
Global Exhibitions Day (GED) 2020 is only three weeks away - June 3. This year, the focus of our industry’s global day of awareness and advocacy is the critical role exhibitions play in getting business and economies back on track. The theme for GED 2020 is “exhibition are key to rebuilding economies.” The 5th annual edition of GED is actively supported and promoted by 41 partner associations, UFI, and members of these associations, throughout the world. GED 2020 is a unification of the industry, an occasion to share hope and optimism, and a focus on the important role of exhibitions in… more
May 13, 2020
Event software company CadmiumCD has launched eventScribe Live, an expanded version of its existing eventScribe event management and attendee engagement platform, to support digital events including hybrid, virtual and on-demand (pre-recorded). According to company officials, the new LIVE platform takes the best of eventScribe and packages it with new features that allow event planners to collect, manage and share digital conference and trade show content.  “We’ve been talking with clients about their needs during this transitional time in our industry, and we have a platform based on the… more
May 12, 2020
The Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) announced support for Go LIVE Together, a coalition dedicated to enabling essential safety guideline and protecting the trade show and live events industry in the wake of COVID-19. In addition to joining the coalition, SISO announced it is investing $250,000 to aid with legislative advocacy efforts to support industry recovery and to help government officials understand the true impact events have on economies and job creation. “SISO and Go LIVE Together will provide the industry with a stable platform and strong voice so that when it’s… more
May 12, 2020
ASAE has canceled its face-to-face 100thAnnual Meeting & Exposition, originally set for Aug. 8-11 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. A virtual version of the show will take place instead. The association will deliver its first-ever Virtual Annual Meeting & Exposition the week of Aug. 10 and is working with scheduled speakers, sponsors and industry partners to create a reimagined digital experience. Registration information, exact dates and industry partner opportunities will be announced to the ASAE community by the first week of June, while the ASAE Board of… more
May 12, 2020
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau has appointed Gregg Caren to the position of president and CEO. Caren most recently served as the executive vice president of sales and strategic business development for ASM Global (formerly SMG), operator of more than 350 venues worldwide. He also served in various senior leadership positions while with SMG for 20-plus years. Caren has more than three decades of industry experience and will join the PHLCVB on June 8. “Gregg brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership from many facets of our industry, including prior sales, marketing and… more
May 11, 2020
Just over a week after announcing the creation of the APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force, the Events Industry Council has released a full list of task force members. Chair Paul Van Deventer said the EIC is seeing a number of industry-wide efforts focused on developing standards to ensure the safety and wellness of attendees and protocols essential to reinforce attendee confidence in attending live business events. “The work of this task force is crucial to curate those efforts and present them in a comprehensive way that translates into practical solutions for professionals across… more
May 08, 2020
There have been several recent big steps taken that give an indication of a path forward here in the United States for the trade show industry to start up again soon. Amongst the many initiatives, big hotel brands such as Hilton outlined new cleanliness standards and ISSA’s GBAC STAR accreditation program for venues to fight COVID-19 was released. Overseas, the news is even more encouraging, with governments in both Germany and China paving the way for trade shows to open. In addition, UFI, The Global Association for the Exhibition Industry released guidance on re-opening trade shows and… more
Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.