Louisville Tourism, PMMI Foundation, Centerplate and IAEE Give Back This Fall

October 5, 2020

It goes without saying that the events industry could use more positive news right now. Here’s what several DMOs, venues and organizations are doing to help those who need it most during this challenging time.

Louisville Tourism Sells Face Masks to Benefit COVID Relief Charities

For the past few months, Louisville Tourism has sold Louisville-branded face masks and donated a portion of the proceeds to local COVID relief programs: One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund and the Fund for the Arts’ Black Artists Fund 

Available for $10 each, the masks come in three styles: two with the city’s popular slogan, “Just Add Bourbon,” and a third bearing a small Fleur De Lis, the city’s emblem. The DMO has so far sold just under 700 masks, resulting in more than $4,000 in donations split between the two charities.  

“Louisville Tourism has created a fun way to adhere to the CDC and the Governor’s health guidelines while showcasing Bourbon City’s soul and authenticity,” said Karen Williams, president and CEO of Louisville Tourism. 

The initiative will continue until mask-wearing is no longer a health and safety necessity, she added. The masks are available for purchase online or in-person from the Louisville Visitor Information Center, located at 301 S. 4th St.

PMMI Foundation Awards $75K in Student Scholarships  

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, has awarded 15 students $5,000 scholarships from the PMMI Member Family Scholarship. Created to support immediate family members of member company employees who are pursuing packaging and processing as a profession, the annual scholarship program is funded by the PMMI Foundation. 

To qualify, students are required to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, have career plans in packaging and processing machinery manufacturing and be an employee or immediate family member of a member company in good standing with PMMI. 

Since 1998, the Foundation has awarded more than $200,000 in annual scholarships, according to PMMI officials. 

“Member Family Scholarships underscore PMMI’s commitment to our members and the future of the packaging and processing industry, paving the way for the next generation,” said Jim Pittas, PMMI president and CEO.

Centerplate at San Diego Convention Center Serves 615,000 Meals

Centerplate

Since pivoting from hosting live events to temporarily housing more than 1,300 homeless individuals from local shelters last April, the San Diego Convention Center and its Centerplate team have made sure its residents are safe and fed. The nearly six-month-long effort in partnership with the San Diego region and its Operation Shelter to Home initiative has resulted in a recent milestone of 615,000 meals that the culinary team has prepared so far for the SDCC’s hungry residents. 

Not only has this initiative allowed 69 Centerplate employees to keep working (in four independent teams working in two separate kitchens as a COVID-19 infection preventative measure), it’s also enabled the food and beverage provider to support the local economy by working closely with local food vendors.

While the culinary team’s daily meal volume has been dropping as more residents find permanent housing, the experience has been an unforgettable and humbling one for all involved, said Centerplate Executive Chef Daryl O’Donnell.

“My team and I [have been] grateful just to be working but happy and excited for the service we’ve been able to provide for our community” O’Donnell said. “For me, being able to recognize someone’s current state of mind and offer support or some comic relief is how I try to keep morale up and productivity going.” 

IAEE Announces 2020 Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grant Recipients

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events recently announced the 2020 recipients of the Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grant. Created in memory of beloved 51-year exhibition industry veteran and mentor Bob Dallmeyer, the fund was created to support exhibitions and events industry education and professional development.  

“Each year, IAEE awards grant funding to industry members who stand out because of their passion and commitment to enhancing their professional skills,” explained said President and CEO David DuBois. “This year, we are proud to recognize and reward these individuals for their ongoing pursuit of excellence in our industry.”

The 2020 grant recipients include Shannon Binger, senior manager of meeting services with American Thoracic Society; Dana Jasat, manager of exhibit sales with International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions; and Farirai Nandipa Muregi, owner of Zimbabwe-based Farirai Nandipa Events. 

  

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.