New Business Contracts: Experient, CDS, Info Salons Group, Sherpa and More Sign Deals

Summertime is heating up, and so are new and renewed business contracts between shows and a bevy of suppliers.

Experient recently renewed its contract with Emerald Expositions through 2023. With this new six-year deal, which officially begins in 2018, Experient will provide registration, lead retrieval and its EDGE marketing platform for Emerald’s 74+ shows each year, as well as housing services for select shows.

Emerald, the largest operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States, has been working with Experient since 2012.

The Booth Mom’s Hot Button: Why a Business Card is NOT a Lead

I was recently reading a trade show industry blog and one of my pet peeves jumped out and grabbed me. My blood pressure immediately shot up. It was an article on how an exhibitor enticed attendees to drop off their business cards in a bucket at their exhibit to win a TV and how wonderful it was to get so many more trade show leads. The only problem is, the cards – that they called “leads” – had no known connection whatsoever with the card owner having any interest at all in their product.

Candy Adams

Candy Adams, aka “The Booth Mom®,” is a hands-on trade show exhibit project manager and trainer. She helps exhibitors maximize the return on their exhibit investment using the best strategic, tactical and training practices. 

Festival of Trees 2017

Maryland State Fairgrounds
November 24th, 2017 - November 26th, 2017
http://festivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org/

Keynote Speakers Unveiled for 2017 Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Annual Convention

More keynote speakers have been unveiled for the 2017 Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Annual Convention in Montréal, Canada July 11‐14.

“We are thrilled to have assembled such a diverse and respected group of speakers for the Annual Convention,” said DMAI President and CEO Don Welsh.

He added, “We look forward to inspiring and equipping our members with education sessions as well as giving them the unique opportunity to connect with industry peers in Montréal.”

Here are a few of the new keynotes:

The Importance of the Second-Year Event Quotient “2YQ”

Organizers are constantly looking for any edge to grow their shows. But those who plan and consider the Second-Year Quotient can experience a big difference – both to the bottom line and attendee satisfaction. “2YQ” can be strategic planning factor that is based on the likelihood first-time attendees will return to the same event in the future.

Driving return attendance is a hot button issue for event organizers and it has a lot to do with a

first-timer having a good experience. There are many ways to ensure first-timers have a good

Sharon Enright Appointed President & COO of NXT Events Media Group

Sharon Enright has joined NXT Events Media Group as its president and COO. 

After serving in top operations management positions at Conference Management Corporation and Reed Exhibitions, Enright moved to Business Journals Inc. in 1997 as its director of operations, where she rose to the ranks of EVP of the company’s Trade Show Division.

As the second person in BJI’s 90-year history to earn this prestigious title, Enright helped build the company’s event portfolio from three to 27 annual shows, managing virtually all facets of the portfolio for more than 18 years.

6 Tips for an Unforgettable (and Affordable) Trade Show Display

Each time you sell your products at a trade show display, you put in a lot of effort, time and money. It is, therefore, paramount to find all ways of maximizing that investment.

Your primary objective should be on how to create an attention that will remain even after the show, no matter how small your budget might be.

Custom trade show displays do not have to be very expensive, but they have to be creative, smart and memorable. Here are some tips you can follow to ensure that you have an affordable and fruitful custom trade show display.

Marketing Firm mdg Expands Its Footprint with Chicago Office Opening

Trade show marketing firm mdg has expanded its foorptint by opening a new office in Chicago to service several clients based in the area.

The downtown office will be led by Leana Salamah, account strategist and executive director, who has experience on both sides of the client/agency relationship.

Salamah was proactively recruited by ownership to serve as a strategic lead for existing Chicago clients and to be a resource for other association and for-profit event clients looking for audience acquisition solutions.

Unconventional Inspiration: Breaking Through Beyond Best Practices

Most of us have heard a variation of this question at some point in our lives: if everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do the same?

The point of this rhetorical question was meant to drive home the concept of exploring your own path rather than following in the footsteps of others. It was great advice but as marketers, many of us find ourselves following the industry pack and landing on the hard ground of unoriginality.

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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.   
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