News

Kathleen Thomas, who has worked for several high-profile investment banking firms in the business-to-business exhibitions and conferences space, was named managing director at New York City-based JEGI, effective immediately. Thomas will further expand JEGI’s global leadership across the global media, information, marketing, software and tech‐enabled services sectors, according to company officials. “We are delighted to welcome Kathleen on board,” said Wilma Jordan, founder and CEO of JEGI. Jordan added, “She and Richard Mead, our long‐tenured managing director and B2B specialist, together… more
The seven-year-old Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre continues to record healthy growth in all business segments, despite headwinds from the United States and Europe. Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, KLCC hosted 1,258 events, a 15-percent increase, compared with the 1,097 held in the previous corresponding period, serving 1.37 million delegates and visitors. Here are some of the more notable events: The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 81st Annual Scientific Congressin May, which saw 1,250 delegates come together during five days, making this the largest multi-disciplinary surgical meeting… more
When the American Psychiatric Association Heart Rhythm Society recently held their annual meetings, they decided to leave a lasting impact and give back to the local host communities. The APA’s meeting was held May 5-9 at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Convention Center and the association made a pledge to make a group donation to the Philadelphia Mental Health Center at the culmination of the event. Donations were made throughout the convention, and the APA matched every dollar that was donated by attendees. The APA 2012 Meeting also featured host Edward M. Kennedy, Jr. as the… more
Messe Düsseldorf India concluded the 2017 edition of Medical Fair India in April and just recently published key statistics from the event. The exhibition ran from 6th to 8th April at the Pragati Exhibition Center in New Delhi. The three-day event featured 519 exhibitors. According to the organiser, a total of 13,480 trade visitors attended the fair, which represents an increase of 15% compared with the 2016 edition. The space occupied by exhibitors grew by 16% year-on-year. Medical Fair India is held alternately between New Delhi and Mumbai. The 2018 edition will be held at the Bombay… more
Aromatherapy, easier group transportation booking, language interpretation and a cloud-based event management platform were some of the meeting tools vying for the top prize at this year’s Society of Independent Show Organizer’s Event Battlefield. The competition was held during SISO’s Leadership conference, Aug. 1-4 in Philadelphia, at which just under 200 attendees voted for one of five companies. The top company was EventBots by Sciensio, which is a technology that allows attendees at an event to text any question they have about it to the EventBot tool and receive an immediate answer… more
The American Thoracic Society selected Sherpa Solutions to deploy its indoor positioning system at the ATS 2017 International Conference, which is on tap May 19-24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The system will be deployed on multiple floors in all public spaces, including meeting rooms, ballrooms, exhibit halls and poster sessions. “The Sherpa indoor positioning system is the only one of its kind. It’s like providing participants with their very own GPS, accurate to 6’, so they can accurately find their way within the venue. They can locate and meet with the people who… more
At the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo, held Feb. 8-11 in Orlando, attendees had the opportunity to try out something new - a2z, Inc.'s ChirpE Photo Booth. At the booth during the show,  not only did people have fun dressing up and sharing photos through social media, it also created a lot of buzz during and after the show. The ChirpE Photo Booth is an easy-to-use iPad-based Photo Booth with robust social media capabilities. The ChirpE Photo Booth enables event attendees to take their own picture, add a quote or testimonial and post it to their Facebook Page… more
Four show managers have been selected to receive The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year (SMOTY) award for excellence in serving their attendee and exhibitor communities. Since 2000, The Expo Group has honored unsung heroes committed innovation and service. “The Expo Group SMOTY awards program is one way we give back to the industry, and we are proud to honor people adopting new ideas and creating change,” said President and COO of The Expo Group Randy Pekowski. He added, “These honorees are not our clients, they are simply show managers doing great work that should be recognized.” 2017 The… more
In mid-April, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) concluded its Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and International ICT Expo. The concurrent fairs ran from 13th to 16th April, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), attracting more than 3,500 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions. The Electronics Fair, is positioned as the largest spring electronics event in Asia, showcasing more than 2,900 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, with new exhibitors from Singapore and Spain. New at this edition is a Tech Hall with four themed zones, Connected Home… more
According to an industry review released by the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), Penang hosted 1,251 events and generated RM 808 million (US$182 million) in 2016, the first full year of the Penang bureau’s operations. The PCEB supported 37 international and national business events, featuring an estimated 29,000 participants. The majority of international business events originated from Singapore and South Asia. In terms of the incentive segment, 82% were domestic groups, while 16% were groups from Singapore. The average number of participants per congress and corporate event… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites. Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation. Reinvented Luxury Experiences The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes. New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May. Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.  A “New Wave  for Mandalay Bay A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay. Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center  is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options. From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.