News

Oct 03, 2024
As IMEX America 2024 approaches, IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer joined TSNN’s VP of Group Content Danica Tormohlen for an insightful preview of what attendees can expect at this year's event, which will be held Oct. 7-10 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.   Bauer told us she expects this year's IMEX America to surpass last year's success in terms of both size and attendance. The event's app, equipped with advanced navigation features akin to Google Maps, will be integral in helping attendees navigate the expansive show floor.  Related: IMEX DEBUTS GROUNDBREAKING DIGITAL WAYFINDING… more
Oct 02, 2024
CompuSystems, a registration and lead-retrieval provider for a number of the largest U.S. trade show organizers, has taken its systems offline in response to a network disruption, impacting major trade shows like SEMA, AAPEX, and PRI. These show organizers alerted their exhibitors and attendees about the outage via their websites.  CompuSystems acknowledged the disruption on its website: “We have identified a network disruption that is affecting some of our systems.”   We reached out to CompuSystems with several questions about when the disruption started, what shows are impacted and when… more
Oct 02, 2024
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is welcoming a new CEO on Jan. 1: Chris Skeith, OBE, who is the current CEO of the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), an association for organizers of trade and consumer events in the UK, which he has led for 10 years. He will assume the UFI helm from Kai Hattendorf, who has served as the organization’s CEO since 2015.  With his extensive events industry leadership experience and excellent business track record, Skeith is uniquely qualified to take on UFI’s CEO role, said UFI President Geoff Dickinson.  Context: UFI directly… more
Oct 01, 2024
Author: Russell Greenway, President, Nth Degree  The key to a successful trade show exhibit is drawing people in, creating a memorable brand experience, and ultimately making the sale. The challenge: Ever-shrinking attention spans leave mere seconds to captivate your audience.  Without a magic wand to conjure razzle-dazzle, let’s seek inspiration from retailers — the experts in audience engagement and salesmanship — for secrets and tactics to create the magic on the trade show floor. Attract and engage your customers with visual merchandising. Retailers use innovative arrangements of… more
Oct 01, 2024
Ask most trade show industry professionals why they chose their line of work, and most will tell you that they “fell into” the business rather than intentionally chose it as a profession. Jenn Heinold is no exception to this story. After graduating with a journalism degree with the intention of becoming a newspaper reporter, Heinold’s first job out of college was at a local non-profit handling media relations for her hometown of Cape May, NJ, where she still lives to this day. A National Historic Landmark city, Cape May hosts numerous events for visitors and locals such as Food & Wine… more
Sep 30, 2024
As the flagship event produced by global B2B e-commerce platform Alibaba.com, Alibaba CoCreate bought together more than 2,000 e-commerce and supply chain industry experts, celebrity entrepreneurs, Alibaba.com users, manufacturers, and small to mid-sized e-commerce businesses to explore current trends, including the new developments in artificial intelligence (AI) that are driving the e-commerce space. The Chinese technology company’s event grew attendance by 53.8% year-on-year. For the quarter that ended June 30, Alibaba generated revenues of $33.5 billion--a 4% year-over-year increase.   … more
Sep 27, 2024
The top three global exhibition organizers by 2023 revenue remain unchanged from 2022, with Informa and RX holding firmly onto the first and second spots while Clarion maintained its presence in third place, according to the annual Top 20 Ranking of Exhibition Organizers released by Stax on Sept. 6.   The combined 2023 revenue from the Top 20 increased 47% compared to the previous year, a clear sign of the continuing recovery of the industry in 2023, according to Stax. Most organizers achieved double-digit growth, except for a few of the European organizers due to biennial show cycles. … more
Sep 26, 2024
Making a big impact with a smaller exhibit space can be a formidable challenge. Recently, we discussed a solution for this challenge with MaryBeth Gieser, account director at Hamilton Exhibits, an experiential and event marketing agency with a 75-year legacy. Our conversation centered around the iNTERFACEWARE booth at the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, held March 11-15 at the Orange County Convention Center  in Orlando, Fla. The project exemplified a masterful balance of innovative design, digital integration, and strategic planning. Here are highlights from our… more
Sep 25, 2024
Selling an events business is one of the most significant and complex decisions a trade show industry entrepreneur can face, particularly after investing years of passion, creativity, and hard work into building an event that deliver value to attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and stakeholders.   Whether one is the founder of a trade show, conference series, or virtual events platform, the event sale process requires careful planning, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the industry’s unique challenges to maximize value and ensure continued success under new ownership.  To assist… more
Sep 24, 2024
Creativity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of convention centers, known for their cavernous, utilitarian spaces. But these meeting meccas have long promoted public artwork. In the last decade especially, convention center designs have aimed to be more than just functional and now strive to inspire and reflect cultural values. Their expansive lobbies, atriums, and outdoor plazas also make prime locations for large-scale works. Below, we highlight a few standout pieces and collections from convention centers around North America, from British Columbia to Miami.… more
Partner Voices
  MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.  At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident in several key areas:  Protecting Natural Resources  MGM Resorts is home to industry-leading recycling, renewable electricity and water conservation programs. Some highlights include a cogeneration power plant at ARIA, producing ultra-efficient electricity; one of America’s largest contiguous rooftop solar arrays atop the convention center at Mandalay Bay; and onsite wells that provide water for the celebrated Fountains of Bellagio, avoiding reliance on precious Colorado River water. These efforts and many more save on natural resources while boosting attendee satisfaction.  Committed to Community  Always striving to be good neighbors, MGM Resorts works to avoid food waste and combat food insecurity with the Feeding Forward program. In partnership with local food banks, they safely divert unserved food to food insecure members of the community. Since 2016, over 5 million meals have been provided, highlighting MGM Resorts' commitment to minimizing food waste and addressing community needs.  MGM Resorts supports clients in their responsible-meetings efforts, not only with efficient venues but also waste-reducing décor and signage; sustainable food and beverage options; and outreach to help planners communicate sustainability efforts to attendees. What’s more, they offer a Mindful Meetings series that puts attendee wellness first—through fitness and mindfulness activities, and in give-back events with local charity organizations.   Fostering Diversity & Inclusion  To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.  MGM Resorts offers unparalleled service and venue options while standing out for its proactive approach to sustainability and community engagement. Choosing MGM Resorts for your next meeting means aligning with a company that values social responsibility, efficiency, and attendee satisfaction, ensuring a meaningful and impactful event experience.