
Sep 01, 2015
Once a year, National Retail Federation staff members and key stakeholders gather together and brainstorm on how they can not only solve challenges they have with their trade shows – Retail’s BIG Show and Shop.org Annual Summit, but also talk about how to make them a more personal experience for attendees.
They call the sessions “Blue Sky Meetings”, according to Eric Olsen, NRF’s vice president of education strategies, at which they discuss “anything under the blue sky you could think of” in regards to improving the shows.
“We get an agenda beforehand, so that we’re prepared on what the goals… more

Sep 01, 2015
The Professional Convention Management Association Nominating Committee, chaired by Johnnie White, 2014 past Chair of the Board, met Aug. 20 in Chicago and reviewed, in detail, a number of nominee applications for the 2016 open board officers and directions positions.
After careful due diligence and deliberation, the committee offers the following slate of candidates for leadership positions on the 2016 PCMA Board of Directors.
According to the PCMA Bylaws, this official announcement of the proposed slate is to be sent to the membership by Oct. 1.
The nominating process, according to… more

Sep 01, 2015
After a big increase in the first quarter of this year, the performance of the business-to-business trade show industry, as measured by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Total Index, remained relatively strong during the second quarter of 2015, posting a year-on-year gain of 3.8 percent.
This growth is the second highest rate since the second quarter of 2007 and also marked the 20th consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.
"The second-quarter results are very promising,” said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates.
He added… more

Aug 27, 2015
Trade Show News Network is excited to announce the five finalists for our TSNN “Best of Show” awards. We asked the shows to simply tell us why they felt their show was ‘best’, and the ones below exemplified innovation in the trade show industry.
Now, they need all of YOU to vote for which one you think deserves to be named the overall BEST show. The overall winner will be announced at the TSNN Awards in Atlanta Nov. 7.
The TSNN Awards honors the top 50 fastest-growing shows in the U.S. during a three-day weekend celebration.
The deadline to vote is Oct. 1.
Below are the amazing shows… more

Aug 24, 2015
Several companies scored new or renewed business contracts as the summer months came to a close, including Convention Data Services, Spargo and ConvExx.
The international society for optics and photonics has renewed their contract with Convention Data Services, their preferred registration partner for the past 20 years.
The contract calls for CDS to provide registration and lead retrieval services for SPIE’s events: Photonics West, Advanced Lithography, DSS, Optics & Photonics and Optifab.
"SPIE is pleased to once again renew our contract with CDS as they provide a commitment to our… more

Aug 20, 2015
Trade Show News Network (TSNN) has unveiled the TSNN Top 50 Canadian Trade Show list of rankings.
Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top 50 trade shows held last year ranked by net square footage in Canada. The full list can be found at: http://www.tsnn.com/toplists-cdn.
Snagging the No. 1 spot once again was Regina Exhibition Association’s Canada's Farm Progress Show, with a whopping 1,232,670 net square foot showfloor at Evraz Place in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The show, held last year in June, also drew 852 exhibiting forms, 5,368 exhibiting… more

Aug 18, 2015
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events completed its Krakoff Leadership Institute and Krakoff Advanced Leadership Institute, held Aug. 15-18, at the Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Fla.
Each two-day program provided a highly interactive curriculum that develops participants' leadership skills through group participation.
In addition, IAEE selected a "Legend of the Industry" whose contributions, innovation and leadership have been truly unique and remarkable.
An informal setting then allowed each participant face-to-face interaction with this industry leader.
This year… more

Aug 18, 2015
Exhibition industry leaders from across Latin America are heading to Mexico at the end of August for two major industry events: Reed Exhibitions Mexico’s ICOMEX, and the AMPROFEC annual congress.
ICOMEX, a part of Reed’s global IBTM business event series, takes place Aug. 24-26 at Centro Banamex, Mexico City. It will be followed by the 18th edition of the Mexican Association of Professionals of Fairs, Expositions and Conventions’ (AMPROFEC) annual congress in San Luis Potosi Aug. 26-29.
The Latin American Chapter of global exhibitions association UFI will meet… more

Aug 17, 2015
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events has entered into a reciprocity agreement with the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs.
The agreement further demonstrates IAEE's and RUEF's commitment to the international exhibitions and events industry, and it provides additional global opportunities for IAEE and RUEF members to connect to develop new exhibitions and face-to-face events.
"We are excited and enthusiastic about entering into this agreement with our friends and colleagues at RUEF to offer a new benefit and community for IAEE members,” said IAEE President and CEO… more

Aug 13, 2015
Detroit recently savored the long-overdue limelight when 5,300 attendees took in all that the city has to offer at the 2015 American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE) 2015 Annual Meeting & Exposition, held Aug. 8-11 at the newly renovated Cobo Center.
“(Fifty-three hundred attendees) is a great number for us,” said ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham, IV, FASAE, CAE. “The number is consistent with the past five years. We are delighted!”
From the opening night party at The Henry Ford Museum that was filled with automotive history and music from acts like “The… 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.