News
May 03, 2019
Last week, Center for Exhibition Industry Research released its 2019 CEIR Index Report, which analyzes the 2018 exhibition industry and provides a three-year economic outlook for the exhibition industry.
Among the findings detailed in the report: strong acceleration of the U.S. economy, rising from 2.2% growth in 2017 to 2.9% in 2018, representing nine consecutive years of growth.
In accordance with the U.S. economy growth, the exhibition industry’s performance finally surpassed its last peak, and is anticipated to break new ground performance-wise through 2021, according to the report. The… more
May 03, 2019
As publicly funded destination marketing organizations across the country face increased scrutiny over budgets and spending issues, some agencies are finding themselves under the microscope of state and local legislators questioning their ROI and very reason for existing.
Case in point: Visit Florida, which faced what appeared to be its imminent demise in the state legislature before receiving a nine-month reprieve earlier this week. The state’s tourism marketing agency will receive a $50 million budget through June 30 at the request of Governor Ron DeSantis, who asked that the agency stay… more
May 02, 2019
California-based Booster Technology Solutions has unveiled Event Boosterapp, a SaaS (software as a service) event technology platform designed to boost networking and sales opportunities at trade shows and events.
As an easy-to-use mobile app, Event Boosterapp enables attendees to network with each other and with exhibitors before, during and after events, as well as save products and expand information on speakers and experts. Meanwhile, show organizers can take advantage of advertising and promotional spaces to help generate income, and opportunities to boost loyalty.
“Event Boosterapp is… more
May 01, 2019
International events company dmg events is expanding its suite of hospitality brands and global reach by launching HI Design Americas in the U.S. and The F&B Summit in Oman. Both are niche hospitality sector events focused on connecting buyers and suppliers with personalized business meetings.
HI Design Americas will debut Sept. 9-11 at Omni Amelia Island Plantation in Fernandina Beach, Florida, while The F&B Summit will take place Sept. 23-25 at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa in Muscat.
The new shows complement the company’s existing exhibitions model, anchored by… more
May 01, 2019
Dallas-based sales and marketing tech provider Lead Liasion has released a host of updates to its B2B event lead capture and management software, GoExhibit!, designed to capture hot leads on-site at trade shows, seminars and conferences.
Developed in response to an uptick in users and user requests, the updates include:
Enhanced customization: Users can now change the app’s color, insert their logo and custom content sections for embedded content including maps and videos. When event managers give their reps access to the mobile lead-capture app, they can customize the invitation. Users… more
Apr 30, 2019
The third annual Xperience Design Project hosted by ASAE took place at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside Washington D.C. on April 11-12. Known for being a conference that challenges the status quo of the industry, the two-day event attracted 1,654 attendees from 40 states and eight countries.
One major change implemented at this year’s event was a new pricing structure. Attendees registered for XDP for free while on-site in Chicago for ASAE’s Annual Meeting & Exposition last summer, then were asked to pay what they felt the event was worth after attending XDP.… more
Apr 30, 2019
Last year was a monumental one for Informa, with the purchase of UBM in January 2018 forming the largest exhibition company in the world. Today the London-based company announced another big change: a new brand identity for one of its divisions. Going forward, Informa Exhibitions will be known as Informa Markets.
This new identity reflects the company’s ongoing development and expansion, along with its focus on enabling the success of its customers and the specialist markets in which they work, from health and nutrition to construction, pharma, agriculture and more.
Informa Markets consists… more
Apr 26, 2019
Event organizers and professionals who want to understand the environmental impact of the events they plan or attend now have a free and engaging new tool to help them do just that: My Event Footprint.
Developed by sustainable conference management agency MeetGreen, this web-based app for event organizers, attendees and sustainability professionals generates sustainability facts based on user data, to help drive decisions and quantify data.
With just 15 quick questions, a segment of a user’s environmental impact is measured in water, energy and emissions, with data displayed in a fun,… more
Apr 26, 2019
The global economic impact of exhibitions totals $325 billion in business sales annually, according to a new report from UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
Conducted in partnership with Oxford Economics and supported by Society of Independent Show Organizers, the report claims to be the first time this figure has been calculated.
“This new data will support us when we talk to stakeholders about our industry, especially as it’s broken down into the direct, measurable economic impact per exhibiting company, right down to the economic value of every single square metre of… more
Apr 25, 2019
Cleveland-based Marketplace Events, a producer of B2C shows in North America, has acquired nine home shows from Show Technology Productions of San Antonio.
This acquisition helps Marketplace Events venture into three new markets, with four shows in Austin, Texas; three shows in San Antonio; and one show in Lexington, Kentucky. The company has also acquired a show in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it already operates a home and garden show along with the Southern Christmas Show.
“These markets are of obvious strategic growth importance to Marketplace Events,” said Tom Baugh, Marketplace… 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.