News

Sep 15, 2015
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events unveils this year's recipients of its individual awards program, which recognizes professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the exhibitions and events industry. The recipients will be honored during Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition Dec. 1-3 in Baltimore, Md. "We were very impressed with the nominations we received this year and congratulate these very deserving honorees," said 2015 IAEE Awards Committee Chairperson Randy Bauler, CEM. He added, "It is very fulfilling to the Awards Committee to know that… more
Sep 14, 2015
Three different entities have teamed up to launch ProFood Tech, a new event that will focus on processing technologies serving the food and beverage industry. ProFood Tech will make its debut April 4–6, 2017, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The event will be jointly produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, Koelnmesse and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). PMMI is the owner and producer of the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows and represents North American manufacturers of equipment, components and materials for processing and packaging.… more
Sep 13, 2015
Smart City Networks, an event telecommunications and technology services company for the convention industry, has been awarded a new contract with the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, which manages, markets and operates the San Diego Convention Center, following a competitive bid process. The 10-year deal will allow Smart City to provide additional services and upgrades for the venue. Smart City has served as the SDCCC’s technology provider since May of 2000.   The agreement, which went into effect July 1, includes a design established for 800 new Cisco 3702 access… more
Sep 13, 2015
Smart City Networks, an event telecommunications and technology services company for the convention industry, has been awarded a new contract with the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, which manages, markets and operates the San Diego Convention Center, following a competitive bid process. The 10-year deal will allow Smart City to provide additional services and upgrades for the venue. Smart City has served as the SDCCC’s technology provider since May of 2000.   The agreement, which went into effect July 1, includes a design established for 800 new Cisco 3702 access… more
Sep 12, 2015
Organizers for Emerald Expositions’ Surf Expo, the largest boardsports and beach lifestyle trade show, will launch a new event focused on the needs of the surf marketplace. Preview Days by Surf Expo will be held June 23-24, 2016 in Orlando. Serving the needs of the core surf market’s buyers and manufacturers, Preview Days by Surf Expo’s goal will be to provide a platform for East Coast Spring orders. “Preview Days will offer surf manufacturers access the top East Coast retailers in a simple, turnkey environment,” said Surf Expo Show Director and Senior Vice President Roy Turner. He added, “… more
Sep 10, 2015
In just a few days, C-level trade show organizers, suppliers to the industry, financial experts, invest banking firms and media will gather Sept. 16-17 in Chicago for the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s (CEIR) Predict – Annual Exhibition Industry Outlook Conference. The past couple of years, the conference typically was broken up into experts talking about specific market sectors, but this year, led by Britton Jones, president and CEO of Business Journals Inc. and CEIR’s board chairman, the program has been redesigned. “We are very excited about our 2015 program. We took a deep dive… more
Sep 10, 2015
Trade show mergers and acquisitions are in full swing, with two big organizers – Urban Expositions (recently bought by Clarion Events) and Marketplace Events – scooping up more shows for their rapidly expanding portfolios. Hot on the heels of the first acquisition, Womens Wear in Nevada, under the Clarion ownership, Urban Expositions also bought Hamptons Expo Group. The New York-based show group founded and produces ArtAspen, ArtHamptons, Houston Fine Art Fair and Palm Springs Fine Art Fair. Rick Friedman, former owner and president of Hamptons Expo Group, will continue his involvement in a… more
Sep 09, 2015
ibtm events (www.ibtmevents.com), an event that brings together hosted buyers and  suppliers for the meetings and events industry, has confirmed that Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau is to become the official ibtm events Global Partner across its portfolio of events on five continents.   As a result of the partnership, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau will benefit from global visibility, access to business and a powerful network of connections to support their positioning as a leading destination for meetings, conventions, incentives and events.   The… more
Sep 09, 2015
As a key part of the German Convention Bureau’s (GCB) already announced plans to step up its efforts in the international meetings market and specifically in China, the GCB has appointed Henghong Yang to head its new Beijing office, which opened Sept. 1. "Our new team member Mr. Yang brings just the experience we need to solidify our marketing and relationship development work in China. The Chinese market holds great promise and we are delighted to have the office up and running under Mr. Yang’s leadership," added Matthias Schultze, managing director of the GCB. This new China office joins as… more
Sep 09, 2015
Asia’s fair for the home textiles industry recently was held, with new records set for exhibitor, visitor and exhibition space figures. More than 43,000 trade buyers (2014: 43,189) attended Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition 2015, which was held for the first time at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) across 170,520 square meters (2014: 150,400). The 1,402 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions (2014: 1,334) that took part was also a new high point in the fair’s 21-year history. “We’re delighted that our first edition in this new venue was such a… 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.