Jun 17, 2020
Facing the fact that COVID-19-related global travel restrictions will likely continue over the coming months, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has shifted the format of its 87th annual UFI Global Congress to smaller regional gatherings instead of a large face-to-face event in one location in November. “Resilience” will be the 2020 theme of the event, known as the exhibition industry’s largest global annual meeting that attracts more than 50,000 industry professionals from across the world.
According to UFI officials, the association is committed to preserving the event… more
Jun 16, 2020
Since the coronavirus pandemic brought face-to-face events to a halt, larger event industry suppliers such as major convention centers, general service contractors and product manufacturers pivoting to parallel industries or side businesses have garnered much attention. While smaller, independent suppliers may not be capturing all the headlines, they, too, have been trying to switch gears, sometimes with mixed results.
We talked to three independent contractors in the events industry to find out how they’re managing their businesses during this challenging time in our industry and world.… more
Jun 15, 2020
Las Vegas officially welcomed back guests in early June after more than two months of being shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking care to comply with directives from Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and public health authorities — including guidelines set by the CDC and WHO — the city is among the first to strongly promote its reopening to travelers.
“Las Vegas is a city built on hospitality, and we are thrilled to open our doors on June 4 and welcome visitors from around the country,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO, Las Vegas Convention and… more
Jun 10, 2020
With major cities starting to reopen and some face-to-face events preparing to get back to business, we’re all seeking guidance on how to slowly and safely resume business as usual. Three leading event industry organizations have released complementary health and safety guidelines to assist show organizers, general service contractors and venue operators in safely planning and producing exhibitions during and following a global health crisis. Take note of these resources:
IAEE
On June 5, IAEE released “Essential Considerations for Safely Reopening Exhibitions and Events, Version One.”
“… more
Jun 08, 2020
Growth of the exhibition industry plunged more than 15 percent during the first quarter of 2020 during which 72.6 percent of events originally scheduled for the second half of March were canceled, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.
The remaining 27.4 percent of the events were postponed and some of those events may eventually be canceled as well.
The massive negative growth was tracked by the CEIR Total Index, a measure of exhibition industry performance, which also reported a modest 0.3 percent year-over-year gain of inflation-adjusted GDP.
The GDP results had… more
Jun 08, 2020
The unjust killing of Black American George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 by a police officer has sparked nationwide protests over civil injustice. Amid a time when the events industry was already struggling with great change, due to forced event cancellations and reorganization of many companies during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations are now also questioning their own approach to diversity. Few are more qualified to speak to this important topic than Jason Dunn, chairman of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals and an industry diversity leader as group vice president of… more
Jun 05, 2020
Even a pandemic couldn’t stop the exhibitions and events industry from gathering to observe the seventh annual Exhibitions Day, held virtually for the first time on June 3. Instead of a 100-person delegation of event colleagues traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators and policy influencers, the online day of action drew in more than 1,600 participants.
Produced by IAEE and the Exhibitions Mean Business campaign, the one-day event is designed to mobilize industry professionals to raise awareness with elected officials of the $101 billion industry’s impact on local, national and… more
Jun 04, 2020
As the country slowly opens back up for business, plans for safely restarting events are shaping up. Yesterday, June 3, Orange County Convention Center in Orlando presented its Recovery and Resiliency Plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force, focusing on its three-pronged strategy to safeguard clients, attendees and employees at events.
Developed in accordance with policy recommendations from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Orange County Government, and state and federal mandates, the OCCC’s Recovery and Resiliency Plan relies on the best available data, science… more
Jun 03, 2020
Connect, the Atlanta-based producer of live events for meeting planners and the travel and tourism industry, has stepped out as a leader in creating contingency plans to meet the industry’s needs as it recovers from the COVID-19 crisis. The company’s latest announcements include robust health and safety protocols as the launch of a new digital platform — Connect Express — for suppliers unable to attend Connect Marketplace 2020, which is set for Aug. 17-19 at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Due to travel restrictions, budget concerns and other challenges facing many event… more
Jun 03, 2020
Global DMC Partners, the largest global network of independent destination management companies, has released the results of its most recent Meetings & Events Pulse Survey, which sheds light on the widespread impact the COVID-19 global pandemic has had on the MICE industry.
Conducted April 27-May 4, the survey polled 374 respondents from the meetings and events industry, of which 93 percent were event planners versus vendors or suppliers. Participants included third-party planners (30 percent; independent meeting planners (16 percent); associations (13 percent); and planners in the… 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.