News
Sep 09, 2022
Personify, a leading technology solutions provider for associations, nonprofits and event professionals, launched its first-ever A2Z Event Professionals Awards. The new awards program was established to celebrate the agility, creativity and innovation in today’s events and associations industries.
“So many awards are focused on revenue or square footage,” said Rich Vallaster, director of event marketing at Personify. “While those are critical components to an event’s success, recognizing the ideas of all sizes and the people and teams who have had a huge impact in the industry is why we… more
Sep 08, 2022
The IMEX Group unveiled details of its education program for IMEX America 2022, set to zero in on modern-day challenges and hot topics as industry professionals navigate a new normal for events.
In creating the education program for this year’s show, which takes place Oct. 10-13 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the goal was “radical simplicity,” according to Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group.
“We know meeting and event industry professionals are overrun, overwhelmed and seeking clarity, so this year’s learning sessions deliver bold content designed to cut to the heart of… more
Sep 07, 2022
Creating year-round community engagement has become one of the most important marketing goals for event professionals, and epIQ Creative Group, a marketing agency producing multi-channel systems that drive demand to brands, is aiming to help them achieve it through its latest acquisition.
The company has purchased Community Leaders Institute (CLI), a member-based organization representing thousands of community professionals, including those in the events industry, and plans to create new and exciting opportunities for members to engage and grow.
“CLI, as the foremost independent… more
Sep 06, 2022
Global trade show organizer Clarion Events tapped events industry veteran Lisa Hannant to become its new CEO, effective Oct. 1. Hannant joined Clarion in 2008 and in 2013 was appointed to its board as group managing director, responsible for driving international expansion, during which time the company grew significantly in key U.S., European and Asian markets. She also currently serves on the board of SISO as secretary-treasurer.
“It’s a huge privilege to be leading the company as it enters the next stage of its growth and evolution,” Hannant said. “Like the rest of the industry, we’ve… more
Sep 06, 2022
U.K.-based global events, data and media platform Arc has acquired its first U.S.-based business, HighQuest, producers of media and events for the global agribusiness sector.
Announced on Aug. 24, the transaction includes the events and media assets of Boston-based HighQuest and its annual summits held in the U.S., U.K. and Japan. These include Global AgInvesting (GAI), the world’s largest gatherings of agriculture investors and sector stakeholders; Unconventional Ag (UA); Ag Club; and Women in Agribusiness (WIA), a network platform at the forefront of women’s excellence in agribusiness… more
Sep 02, 2022
The Atlanta CVB has become one of the first destination marketing organizations to embrace the metaverse with the launch of a marketing platform designed to allow event professionals and prospective visitors to explore the city and its venues through a rendered 3D virtual experience.
Atlanta Meta World is a visually realistic virtual world representation of Atlanta that enables users to discover the city while interacting with other virtual visitors and representatives of venues and ACVB in real time, in addition to viewing presentations on and the latest developments in the city.
“If… more
Sep 02, 2022
IMEX Group has long been a leader in sustainable event initiatives, and the findings in the recently released IMEX America 2021 Sustainable Event Report are proving that its efforts are substantially paying off. With the impressive results from the 2021 show, in addition to the recent stark reminders of the increasing impact of climate change—record-high temperatures, wildfires and flooding—IMEX America 2022 is set to shine an even stronger light on the importance of green events.
“At IMEX, we’ve always set our sustainability sights high,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group. “For… more
Sep 01, 2022
Growing up in a culinary family in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Chef Lumarie Rodríguez-Soto initially avoided a career in the culinary arts. As a young woman, she tried pursuing other career paths, but her innate creativity and love for baking eventually led her back to the kitchen and then to culinary school at La Escuela Hotelera de Puerto Rico, where she honed her skills, grew her knowledge and perfected her craft.
“Almost everybody in my family—my grandma, my mom and my brother—works in a kitchen, [and] I saw the behind-the-scenes, non-glamorous side of the business, so I knew how hard… more
Aug 30, 2022
A leading exhibit builder and an event planning company recently launched new divisions in an effort to expand their business offerings and help clients boost the performance of their events.
Skyline Exhibits
Skyline Exhibits, a leading trade show exhibit company, unveiled a new live, virtual and hybrid events agency focused on synchronizing live event elements to increase reach and return on investment. Announced on Aug. 16, BrandSync is designed to help brands improve their business performance by joining with their top stakeholders to align messaging, values and direction, and by… more
Aug 29, 2022
Known for attracting buyers and retailers of all sizes who converge to source excess fashion inventory at up to 70% off retail prices, the biannual OFFPRICE Show has been historically known as the nation’s largest off-price fashion industry trade show. Held Aug. 6-9 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, the 55th edition experienced an uptick in participation, with attendees enthusiastically shopping from a cornucopia of apparel, beauty, home and gift products, as well as the show’s newest highlighted category section, Accessories.
Produced by Tarsus Group, the value-based apparel show takes… 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.