News
Sep 15, 2020
On Sept. 9-10, Connect Sports, a live business conference and reverse trade show for sporting event planners and those in the sports travel and tourism industry, held its first-ever online event, Connect Sports Virtual. The two-day online conference attracted 180 participants — 90 attendees and 90 suppliers — seeking to gain industry insights, make professional connections and generate new business.
In the digital event’s new virtual appointment lounge, 3,912 one-on-one marketplace appointments were conducted with the help of Connect’s matchmaking platform. Suppliers who attended indicated… more
Sep 14, 2020
The annual TechWatch Awards at this year’s IBTM World, set for Dec.1-3 at Fira Barcelona in Spain, will have a new concept for 2020. Aptly named TechWatch Live, the new format will feature live pitching on-site as well as a new judging panel chair.
Designed to showcase the best event technology, TechWatch Live will provide five technology business owners with the opportunity to pitch their product or service to a live audience and judging panel for the chance to become the 2020 TechWatch Live Award Winner. Held on Day 2 of IBTM World, the TechWatch Live Awards enable event tech start-ups to… more
Sep 11, 2020
In one of the most uncertain summers the event industry has ever experienced, events are still taking place, albeit a little more under the radar than usual. TSNN talked with two event organizers — one from a prestigious student basketball tournament and one from the East Coast’s largest consumer pet show — to learn why and how they carried on, and how they made each event not only possible, but also successful.
Game Time for Tournament of Champions
The Tournament of Champions and associated events are considered to be among the most competitive and prestigious interscholastic and club… more
Sep 10, 2020
On Aug. 27, Informa Markets Fashion launched the Informa Markets Fashion for Change (IMFC) Incubator Program, a new initiative in partnership with wholesale e-commerce platform NuORDER, created to elevate and support emerging design talent within the Black fashion community. This new and ongoing initiative marks the company’s first step toward reducing barriers to entry and furthering equal opportunity within the fashion industry.
“With the Black Lives Matter movement in early June and the resulting dialogue and introspection, we too, like many other businesses, realized we needed to do more… more
Sep 09, 2020
U.K.-based Tarsus Group successfully has delivered seven exhibitions over the course of just six weeks in China – a key territory for the business where it is one of the largest trade show organizers in operation.
The safe running of numerous face-to-face events across key verticals in the wake of Covid19 has been heralded as a positive indicator for a wider recovery in the global events industry, while also clearly demonstrating the capacity for live business events to be run in a safe and compliant way.
“The health and safety of our customers, attendees and staff guided every decision… more
Sep 09, 2020
Event producers wanting to know the most important issues they’ll be facing over the next six months will want to check out the fall season schedule for Digital Summit, a live virtual information exchange series kicking off Sept. 11.
Produced, hosted and facilitated by Sam Lippman, president and founder of Lippman Connects, the upcoming series will feature seven 90-minute live video chat sessions via Zoom. Held on Fridays between 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET, the forward-thinking discussions feature up to 20 event executives, managers and seasoned professionals sharing user experiences, discussing… more
Sep 08, 2020
While live events continue to be overwhelmingly preferred, digital event elements have a role to play going forward, according to data from the ongoing Global Recovery Project conducted by event research company Explori in partnership with UFI.
Supported by SISO and comprising responses from more than 9,000 respondents in 30 countries, the findings indicated that both visitors and exhibitors rated live events more highly in almost all aspects. This was especially true when it comes to networking, with 77 percent of exhibitors and 83 percent of visitors stating that face-to-face events were… more
Sep 03, 2020
Although it was decidedly smaller and quieter, the 2020 Summer Las Vegas Market delivered positive results with a modified format and extensive safety measures. Held Aug. 30–Sept. 3 at the World Market Center Las Vegas, the biannual gift, home décor and lifestyle event also provided a much-needed opportunity for industry interaction while taking an important step for future events in Las Vegas.
According to officials from International Market Centers, the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for furniture, gift, home décor, rug and apparel industries, the event’s showroom-only… more
Sep 03, 2020
Cincinnati-based Fern, a national marketing support and trade show services provider, is partnering with ShareMy.Health, a healthcare technology developer, on Fern Health Check. Available to all trade show and event organizers, this digital platform will allow for consumer-controlled sharing of health data.
While the return to live events will require a combination of many factors, individual safety and comfort levels will be at the foundation. Until there is a vaccine with widespread availability and coverage – and likely for an extended time thereafter – self-assessment, testing and… more
Sep 02, 2020
If events are held responsibly through strict implementation of health and safety guidelines, will people feel safe to attend in-person trade shows and events during a pandemic? That’s the question event organizers continue to struggle with, yet new data from event marketing and planning company GES sheds some light on the answer.
In a survey of more than 1,300 attendees in June and July, GES research uncovered five distinct groups of show attendees based on their COVID-19 perception of risk assessment and mitigation requirements, including temperature checks, mandatory face masks,… 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.