Association Show News

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Jul 31, 2019
International Association of Exhibitions and Events and exhibitions organizer Informa Markets have partnered on a voluntary workforce development training program that will enable Informa employees to receive a Certificate in Exhibition Management.  “We are excited to offer our extensive knowledge in exhibition management with a global leader like Informa Markets,” said David DuBois, president and CEO of IAEE. “This is the first-ever agreement IAEE has entered into with another company to extend knowledge in core competencies of exhibition management.” Built on the U.S. Department of Labor’… more
Jul 29, 2019
ILEA Live 2019 will bring together event professionals in Minneapolis, Aug. 8-10. The International Live Events Association’s annual educational conference is focused on business strategies, leadership, inspiration and trends. The goal for the conference is to provide a forum where attendees can strengthen their creative output, sharpen their business strategies and find inspiration along what ILEA officials refer to as “the event horizon.” For meeting and trade show professionals, that means taking the opportunity to learn how event planning and production works in other industries, and… more
Gary Shapiro
Jun 25, 2019
International Association of Exhibition and Events has announced Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, as the recipient of its prestigious 2019 Legend of the Industry award. He’ll officially be recognized at the Krakoff Leadership Institute event, planned for Aug. 5-6 at Lowes Miami Beach Hotel in Florida. This honor recognizes an IAEE member who’s demonstrated remarkable innovations and leadership in the industry. KLI attendees will have the opportunity for face-to-face conversations with Shapiro at the event. In his role at CTA, which he has held for 28… more
National Restaurant Association Show
Jun 20, 2019
From the latest healthy snacks to new car wash technologies and trends in tile, May was a busy month for trade shows and associations. Here’s a recap of five that posted great numbers last month. National Restaurant Association Show The centennial year of National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, one of the most anticipated events in the foodservice industry, was one to remember — not least for the 23-foot-tall, 1,200-pound birthday cheesecake in the middle of the show. The event drew more than 42,557 attendees to Chicago’s McCormick Place from May 18-21, including… more
Jun 10, 2019
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research reported that the recent growth of the exhibition industry continued during the first quarter of 2019. The CEIR Total Index, a measure of exhibition industry performance, posted a decent year-over-year gain of 1.8 percent, even though it under-performed the inflation-adjusted GDP. “The performance during the first quarter shows the resilience of the exhibition industry despite a government shutdown through most of January and uncertainties surrounding trade negotiations with China and slowing world economic growth,” said CEIR Economist Allen… more
Jun 04, 2019
Tarsus Group and Association for PRINT Technologies are collectively launching a new event called Brand Print Americas, which will take place in lieu of PRINT 2020. The show is being planned for Sept. 15-17 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, and will be co-located with the 2020 edition of Labelexpo Americas, the second-largest Labelexpo event after Labelexpo Europe. We are delighted to collaborate with the Association for PRINT Technologies on the first Brand Print Americas,” said Lisa Milburn, managing director for Labelexpo Global Series and Brand Print. “By… more
PCMA EduCon
May 22, 2019
PCMA EduCon 2019 will take place June 25-28 at JW Marriott Los Angeles LA Live. Known among PCMA’s portfolio of events for taking a more focused, practical approach to learning through small-scale, collaborative education sessions, the conference will bring in around 800 attendees (compared to PCMA’s annual Convening Leaders events, which draws 4,500). “At EduCon, each person will be able to tailor programs specifically for her own needs, in the format that best suits his learning style,” said Tonya Almond, PCMA’s vice president of knowledge and experience design. The conference will… more
Salt Lake City
May 14, 2019
American Society of Association Executives enjoyed Salt Lake City so much during its annual conference in 2016, it has selected the destination as its host city for its Great Ideas Conference in 2020, 2021 and 2022. A flagship event for association professionals around the world, ASAE’s Great Ideas Conference will bring together 500 attendees in a retreat-like setting at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The first iteration of the event here will take place March 1-3, 2020. “The Great Ideas Conference raises the collective capacity for innovation in the association community and… more
XDP
Apr 30, 2019
The third annual Xperience Design Project hosted by ASAE took place at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside Washington D.C. on April 11-12. Known for being a conference that challenges the status quo of the industry, the two-day event attracted 1,654 attendees from 40 states and eight countries. One major change implemented at this year’s event was a new pricing structure. Attendees registered for XDP for free while on-site in Chicago for ASAE’s Annual Meeting & Exposition last summer, then were asked to pay what they felt the event was worth after attending XDP.… more
Apr 17, 2019
Toronto’s Vantage Venues and The Globe and Mail Centre played host to the 38th edition of IACC’s Americas Connect conference April 10-11, which brought in 230 delegates. The theme of this year’s event was “Radical Innovation —Change Everything!” and as such, the education and networking opportunities took a new form. For example, organizers banned speakers from having PowerPoint slides with more than one word. In his address, Keynote Pablos Holman, a former computer hacker turned inventor, encouraged attendees to be disruptors of the events industry.. “We vowed to be different, and I… 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.