Dec 04, 2023
As a trade show and events industry newcomer and fresh employee of Hanley Wood, Elizabeth George remembers having to look up what “drayage” meant on the internet after sitting in an afternoon meeting with members of the former organizer’s operations team.
“Safe to say, over the past years I’ve learned and experienced a lot of what our events industry has to offer, and while it’s hard work, I love it,” George says.
Throughout the past nine years of her career, George has had a chance to experience many different sides of the industry, working on teams managing digital sponsorships,… more
Nov 29, 2023
U.S. trade show and event-related organizations, including CVBs and venues, have been picking up the hiring pace this fall.
San Francisco Travel Association
San Francisco Travel Association tapped 35-year convention and tourism industry veteran Scott Beck as its new president and CEO. He succeeds Joe D’Alessandro, who will retire in December after nearly 18 years leading San Francisco’s official destination marketing organization.
Beck brings a wealth of knowledge and proven expertise in attracting events, meetings and international and domestic visitors to destinations to his new role.… more
Nov 07, 2023
Throughout the U.S. and across the pond, trade show-related organizations are welcoming fresh leadership, placing industry veterans at the helm of venues, event production and technology companies and destination management organizations. Take a look!
Clarion Events North America
Clarion Events North America recently added to its leadership team with the appointment of Nicole Peck as executive vice president of the Digital Innovation Portfolio, which includes Clarion’s flagship technology innovation brand, InsureTech Connect (ITC Vegas) and the premier mobile app marketing event, Mobile… more
Oct 12, 2023
The U.S. trade show industry appears to be continuing its robust hiring momentum as summer turns to fall. Check out all the industry professionals getting hired and moving up at event-related organizations, companies and venues throughout the country.
Visit Salt Lake
Visit Salt Lake (VSL) recently welcomed two experienced industry professionals to its growing team: Stuart Webber as director of convention sales and Celina Sinclair as director of strategic alliances.
In his new role, Webber will pursue citywide conventions with 1,700+ attendees from the health, medical, public… more
Oct 09, 2023
It’s a familiar story within the events industry: Like many trade show professionals, Lisa Hannant fell into the industry by chance, realized she loved it and never looked back.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, only that I didn’t want to go into the city and finance, which is a path many of my peers pursued,” Hannant said. “I was fortunate to land a job with a family-owned U.K. exhibition organizer called Brintex. I started to work on their B2B fashion shows, and I loved it from day one.”
She continued, “I’ll never forget seeing my first show come together. The culmination of so much… more
Sep 18, 2023
Choosing to eat a more plant-based diet has been one of the biggest trends among consumers in recent decades, as it’s been proven to have health benefits and be better for the planet, offsetting the carbon emissions generated by the meat and dairy industry.
As event professionals grapple with catering to the various dietary needs and restrictions of attendees, one of the best perspectives to take is a plant-forward yet balanced view that is nutritious and inclusive to all attendees while also being sustainable and leaving the planet in a healthier place, according to Tracy Stuckrath,… more
Sep 04, 2023
For those keeping a close eye on gender equity within the U.S. trade show industry, this latest People News may serve as a beacon of hope. Check out all these female event professionals who are moving up and assuming senior and leadership roles at event-related organizations across the country.
EventsPass
Event ticket sales and marketing software and service partner EventsPass has promoted 20-year global event technology veteran Melissa Ooi to COO, responsible for leading the company’s next stage of growth.
Prior to joining EventsPass in 2022 as executive vice president – U.S.… more
Aug 17, 2023
Trade show and event-related organizations are continuing their growth trajectories by promoting staff, welcoming new team members and launching new departments headed up by experienced industry leaders. Take a look!
RX
Effective Sept. 1, Rachel Travers will take the helm of the RX UK Hub business unit, which includes the UK, Middle East, Turkey, South Africa and India, as its new president. She joins RX from sister company Lexis Nexis, where she most recently served as vice president and general manager of Law360 in New York, and prior to that, as managing director of Lexis Nexis New… more
Aug 04, 2023
Oak View Group (OVG), which takes over venue management for Chicago’s McCormick Place on Oct. 1, named veteran convention and hospitality executive Samuel Thomas Jr. as senior vice president and general manager of the campus, which includes McCormick Place, featuring 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space, the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena and the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater.
Thomas, who will relocate to Chicago from Washington, D.C., where he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Events DC, will begin his new role the first week of September.
McCormick Place… more
Aug 01, 2023
While some industries tend to slow down in the summer, the U.S. trade show industry has been doing anything but resting on its laurels, as evidenced by the plethora of event-related organizations and suppliers continuing the industry’s still-hot hiring and promoting trend. Here’s all the latest People News you need to know!
RX
RX has appointed Peter Lindsay as its new global chief strategy officer, responsible for formulating and executing strategies, leading corporate development activities, including mergers and acquisitions, and overseeing various projects and initiatives geared… more
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.