News
Jul 15, 2020
Orange County Convention Center in Orlando is getting back to business safely by welcoming a trade show and conference designed to help the live events industry do the same.
Set for July 24, the Together Again Expo will offer attendees and suppliers the opportunity to learn about new industry best practices, strategies and tools for safely and responsibly reopening live events, conventions and trade shows.
A collaboration between the OCCC and Alliance Nationwide Exposition, a nationwide general services contractor, the face-to-face event is open to all event professionals and suppliers… more
Jul 14, 2020
As exhibitions and events grapple with how they are going to lay out their exhibit floors, meeting rooms and banquet areas, The Expo Group released a Crowd Density Calculator that can be used by anyone seeking to better understand their attendee-to-square-footage capacity.
A free widget also has made available to the industry.
“As we start moving forward together with industry guidelines, our team saw an opportunity to ease the way for others in the industry with these online calculators,” said Randy Pekowski, The Expo Group’s president and COO.
He added, “We invite everyone to try it out… more
Jul 13, 2020
The road back to hosting live events is hitting speed bumps, according to a recent survey conducted by New York City-based Engine Insights. The findings of its July 5 “Pulse of the Consumer & COVID-19” found the surge in cases of the coronavirus continues to impact people’s willingness to attend events — with just 15 percent of those polled indicating they would be willing to attend a large scale indoor event such as a convention or concert.
“With more than 80 percent of Americans concerned about the recent spike in coronavirus infections and more than three-quarters of the opinion that… more
Jul 10, 2020
The immediate impact of COVID-19 has been dramatic for the meetings and events industry. However, a new international survey of 500 senior B2B marketers conducted by Space Global Strategy, a London-based strategy and M&A advisory firm, shows there is light at the end of the tunnel.
While B2B events spend in Q2 2020 was down 80 percent year over year, most marketers expect initial re-engagement with events to be feasible within the next three to four months (albeit with restrictions), according to survey results. Marketers from China and Italy were most optimistic about a quick re-opening… more
Jul 09, 2020
“We’re ready to welcome you back safely, when you’re ready,” reads the new tagline on the Mohegan Sun website. The resort and convention complex in Uncasville, Connecticut, began reopening in phases on June 1 and welcomed its first meeting last week.
The measured reopening of the 5.5 million-square-foot property followed the implementation of many new health and safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidance for these came from a variety of sources: the CDC; Connecticut State Department of Health; and the Chief Medical Officer and Tribal Health Department of the Mohegan… more
Jul 07, 2020
Although the travel restrictions and continued fear surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a rise in virtual events, the desire for face-to-face meetings and incentives has not decreased. This is among the key findings from the Q2 Meetings & Events Pulse Survey recently conducted by Global DMC Partners (GDP).
While 97 percent of the nearly 400 meeting planners surveyed responded that their 2020 and 2021 programs had been impacted by COVID-19, 64 percent predicted they would host a live event between August 2020 and January 2021. The planners reported that the general fear of COVID… more
Jul 06, 2020
Self-service event app and event data management company Attendify has launched a new offering, Attendify for Virtual Events, that aims to transform the in-person, virtual and hybrid event experience.
According to company officials, Attendify’s goal for its new platform is to help make the industry resilient. Whether it’s a future economic shock, another health crisis or a major industry strike, the event industry can’t be as susceptible to future shocks that are completely out of an organizer’s control. Through Attendify for Virtual Events, event organizers can build out a modern virtual… more
Jul 02, 2020
Derrick Johnson, director of event strategy at Talley Management Group, has been appointed to a newly created role of chief diversity officer at the New Jersey-based company. In this new dual position, he’s at the forefront of two of today’s top issues in the event industry: the increasing digital events due to COVID-19 and the push for more diversity and inclusion coming out of the Black Lives Matter protests.
In addition to his work at TMG, Johnson is on the PCMA board and facilitates their Digital Event Strategist Certification Course. Most recently, he was named board chair for the LGBT… more
Jun 30, 2020
Construction on Las Vegas Convention Center’s new underground transportation system, the Convention Center Loop, hit a milestone last month when Elon Musk’s The Boring Company completed excavation on the second of two 4,500-foot vehicular tunnels.
In May 2019, The Boring Company was selected by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority board of directors to design, construct and operate the unique “people mover.” The $52.5 million project is the company’s first commercial endeavor and also includes three stations, one of which will be underground and is currently being excavated.… more
Jun 29, 2020
The global event tech exhibition and conference Event Tech Live is taking a new approach for its 2020 event — and perhaps no one is better equipped to go (partially) digital, due to their depth of knowledge with event technology.
This Nov. 2-6, Event Tech Live will take a hybrid approach, expanding its typical two-day trade show (which will still take place in person, Nov. 4-5, at The Old Truman Brewery in London, incorporating procedures overseen by health consultants to ensure safety for all attendees) to include five virtual days of content, as well.
“ETL introduced a virtual element… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more