Feb 21, 2017
Thailand has won the business to host two prestigious global events in 2017; the Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA) Global Professionals Conference for the Asia-Pacific region will convene for the first time Aug. 28-31 in Southeast Asia in Bangkok and the Union of International Associations (UIA) will host their Round Table Asia Pacific, where approximately 100 association representatives will meet Sept. 21-22 in Chiang Mai. Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of TCEB said Bangkok delivered the strongest bid from Asia to win the PCMA’s prestigious event. “The… more
Feb 21, 2017
With such a wide variety of trade shows and events moving in and out of the Georgia World Congress Center on a weekly basis, it would make perfect sense for such a busy facility to devise a multi-faceted food and beverage venue able to satisfy all kind of culinary tastes and preferences. Enter Social Table, a flexible restaurant concept designed to suit the unique dining needs of individual trade shows and their attendees. “Each convention center event brings a new set of attendees who move, see and dine differently,” said Cindy van Rensburg, division president of Levy Restaurants, the GWCC’s… more
Feb 21, 2017
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML) made several recent appointments of three key senior management positions.   Thomas Tong and Jessica Wong have been promoted to Deputy Managing Director and Director of Venue Operations of HML, respectively with effect Jan. 1, while Dr. Stewart Wan has been appointed as Director of Facilities Planning & Operations on July 20, 2016. Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, said, “I am most delighted with Thomas, Jessica and Stewart… more
Feb 21, 2017
London-listed international exhibition organiser, Tarsus Group, has announced plans to expand its Labelexpo Global Series with the launch of Labelexpo Southeast Asia. Labelexpo Southeast Asia will be held May 10-12, 2018, at BITEC in Bangkok, Thailand. The new event will showcase the latest label and packaging solutions, new innovations and will feature some 200 exhibitors. According to Tarsus, Asian delegations are expected from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore as well as Japan, South Korea, Australia and Taiwan. Lisa Milburn, managing director of the… more
Feb 20, 2017
The 2017 Medical Design and Manufacturing (MD&M) West Conference brought manufacturing of the future into the present day at the Anaheim Convention Center. The exhibition and conference took place Feb. 7-9, with more than 30,000 manufacturing technology professionals, engineers, designers and executives engaging with more than 2,000 exhibitors on nearly 400,000 net square feet of exhibit space, the most exhibit space to date for the show.  “We have seen an increase in net square footage,” said Nina Brown, vice president of events for UBM. She added, “With an event like this, it’s… more
Feb 17, 2017
A few years ago, the 110-year-old Los Angeles Auto Show was at a crossroads: it could either keep having the same show it had been holding for a long, long time – or, in a sector that was in desperate need of a change, it could take a chance and switch things up. Fortunately, the show chose option No. 2, and after bringing on new management in 2012, it has taken big steps since to offer a more dynamic experience to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who attend each year. The show’s executive vice president and general manager, Terri Toennies, said of the initial step that was taken, “The… more
Feb 15, 2017
Imagine turning those sometimes awkward event networking experiences into more meaningful encounters that lead to valuable connections. Attendees at PCMA’s recent Convening Leaders had a chance to do just that with Braindates, an online matchmaking platform that puts like-minded people together to share knowledge face-to-face, one-on-one. Sort of like Tinder, but for peer-to-peer networking, Braindates was created five years ago by Montreal-based E-180 with the philosophy that everyone has a story to tell and lessons to teach.  Braindates is the brainchild of E-180 CEO Christine Renaud,… more
Feb 15, 2017
With winter almost over and springtime right around the corner, several suppliers to the trade show industry recently snagged new clients or re-signed existing ones. The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has selected Convention Data Services (CDS) as its new registration partner. Under the agreement, CDS will provide full registration, lead retrieval services, integrations and a full-service contact center for PLASTICS’ events — NPE: The Plastics Show, and the Re|focus Sustainability & Recycling Summit.  “PLASTICS has a strong focus on innovation and technology to create… more
Feb 15, 2017
In a joint announcement on the showfloor of the 52nd annual National Farm Machinery Show, Kentucky State Fair Board CEO Jason Rittenberry and Association of Equipment Manufacturers President Dennis Slater, shared with exhibitors and attendees that the two organizations have a verbal agreement on a future collaboration. NFMS currently is running Feb. 15-18 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Beginning with the 2018 show, AEM will assist with management and co-production of the show, as well as have an equity position in the future growth of the show.  “Every year,… more
Feb 14, 2017
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has launched its 2017 Next Generation Leadership (NGL) grant and is inviting talented events professionals from around the world to apply. UFI will award grants to up to five future leaders who have shown exceptional initiative in driving change and innovation in their area of the exhibition industry. Together, the winners will investigate the future of exhibitions, working closely with the team at UFI headquarters in Paris. They will present their findings in a special session at the 84th UFI Global Congress in Johannesburg (South… more
Partner Voices
One of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip just got an upgrade. Mandalay Bay has everything that your business needs from a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, to an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're looking for a venue that's both inviting and innovative, you have to be here. New Wave Experiences Mandalay Bay continues to invest in a new wave of enhancements both in the convention space and within the resort as a whole. New restaurant openings including Orla by Michael Mina, drawing inspiration from the award-winning chef’s childhood in Egypt and with flavors and décor inspired by the spices found in markets common to coastal Mediterranean towns, as well as Caramá by Wolfgang Puck, bringing the essence of Italy and spirit of Wolfgang into one concept, are recent additions. The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas also experienced a recent remodel of all 424 rooms. Swingers, a high-end, adults-only golf and entertainment concept will debut in Fall 2024. Enhanced Technology Creating a truly effective conference venue requires careful thought into what a business needs: the right technology, capacity, and inspiration to bring ideas to the next level. As part of the resort’s refresh, Mandalay Bay implemented state-of-the-art technology upgrades, installing cutting-edge Cat6A Ethernet cabling throughout the convention center. This advancement doubles the frequency of data transmission, enabling lightning-fast speeds up to 9400% faster. The convention center now boasts 11 dynamic digital walls, spanning up to 24' x 13', strategically positioned for brand placements, sponsorships and targeted event messaging. Additionally, attendees can benefit from 20 double-sided 55" mobile flexible display units, facilitating effortless navigation to meeting rooms and events. RFID locks were installed on all meeting room doors, and over 200 motion detection cameras have been placed throughout the space. Refreshing New Design & Fine Art The newly remodeled convention space provides a bright and vibrant atmosphere that complements Mandalay Bay's tropical-inspired brand. Featuring white-washed walls and ceilings adorned with bold floral patterns in cerulean and coral tones, the space is complemented by warm walnut accent walls. In addition to the redesign of all pre-function spaces, meeting rooms and ballrooms, Mandalay Bay's 1 million square feet of exhibit space has undergone a rejuvenation, including new paint, covered pillars and relocated strobe lights. Sustainable Spectacles Mandalay Bay is committed to Focused on What Matters and creating more responsible meetings. Refillable water stations all available around the resort, cutting unnecessary plastic usage from single-use bottles. The Mandalay Bay campus’ recent upgrades represent a bold step forward in redefining the Las Vegas experience. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and unparalleled service, Mandalay Bay sets a new standard for excellence in business hospitality. Whether you're seeking cutting-edge conference facilities, world-class dining options, or simply a luxurious retreat, an unparalleled meeting experience awaits.