SMG Continues Win Streak with Two New Venue Contracts
October 11, 2012
SMG has two new feathers in its cap, scoring venue management contracts for Miami’s James L. Knight Center and South Dakota-based Sioux Falls Convention Center.
Both contracts previously were held by Global Spectrum and mark the 6th and 7th straight RFP convention center wins for SMG, according to Gregg Caren, SMG’s senior vice president of strategic development.
“From a company standpoint, wins are always great when these (RFPs) only come out a few within a year,” Caren said. “It validates we are a real leader for convention center management and marketing.”
The Miami City Commission approved by a unanimous decision SMG’s takeover of the James. L. Knight Center contract effective Oct. 24.
“As we transition this important downtown asset, we will immediately seek to improve service levels and key relationships with strategic partners, including local hoteliers and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau” Caren said.
He added, “By providing staff with additional resources, we will help grow market share in both the meetings and entertainment sectors served by the Knight Center.”
The Knight Center includes the Miami Conference & Conference Center, 28,000 square foot Riverfront Hall and a 4,600-seat proscenium theater
“We are very pleased to see The Knight Center join the SMG network,” said Henry Torre, director of public facilities for the City of Miami.
He added, “SMG has an incredible legacy of more than 30 years of first-class management, commitment to its clients and employees, and highest quality service standards. We look forward to working with SMG and their team as they take Knight Center to the next level.”
In Sioux Falls, SMG already managed a theater, a smaller arena and a larger arena that’s on the way, and beginning Jan. 1, they also will be in charge of the city’s convention center.
These two new contracts are the latest in a string of wins for SMG that began with Detroit’s Cobo Center in 2010, Caren said.
Other recent contracts include Chicago’s McCormick Place, Jamaica’s Montego Bay Convention Centre and Syracuse, N.Y.-based Oncenter, comprised of the War Memorial Arena, Civic Center Theaters and the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center.
“These wins are always important to expand our network of facilities,” Caren said.
He added, “The more we can expand our distribution network, the better it is for our venues and our clients.”
Partner Voices
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates.
Water Stewardship Efforts
MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship.
In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step.
MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas.
MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.
From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts.
Caring for One Another
MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include:
Unserved perishable prepared foods from events
Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens
Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses
The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community.
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To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.
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