IAEE Holds First Virtual Women’s Leadership Forum, Honors Nancy Walsh
September 15, 2020
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events(IAEE) held its first fully virtual Women’s Leadership Forum, featuring education sessions for women at all stages of their career, on Sept. 9.
This year’s program included sessions like “Truths Female Leaders Need to Know,” “Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Be the Innovator and Leader Your Team and Clients Need When Times Are Uncertain,” Cultivating Connectivity, One Step at a Time” and “BrainSHIFT: Mindful Leaders Rise Above the Panic.”
“Since its inception in 2013, the Women’s Leadership Forum has become a must-attend event for industry professionals seeking a deeper level of inspiration and motivation that they can use both personally and professionally to take their career to the next level,” said IAEE Executive Vice President and COO Cathy Breden. “The program is tailored to the unique perspective that women bring to the industry and offers powerful tools delivered by dynamic presenters from diverse areas of expertise.”
The program also included the announcement of Nancy Walsh, president of Informa Markets’ fashion portfolio, as the recipient of the 2020 IAEE Woman of Achievement Award. Walsh joined Informa Markets in January 2020 from Freeman, where she held the position of senior vice president of brand experience. Previously, Walsh had a 32-year career with Reed Exhibitions.
“Nancy’s career has been an outstanding exercise in professionalism, dedication and accomplishment that deserves recognition on many levels,” said Kellie Shevlin , IAEE awards committee chair and executive director of Craft Beverage Expo. “As a woman in the exhibitions and events industry, she acts as a role model for future female leaders of our industry to emulate, and she embodies the merits that the IAEE Woman of Achievement Award is intended to honor.”
Learn more about the Women’s Leadership Forum here, or register for this month’s regional half-day forum in Dallas on Sept. 24 here.
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.
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