News
May 04, 2020
While this year’s IMEX flagship Frankfurt event was canceled back in March, members of the IMEX community will still have opportunities to come together virtually over the next several months. The virtual PlanetIMEX platform aims to keep the spirit of IMEX alive by allowing visitors to explore content, reconnect, talk about future business and continue learning in the company of friends and colleagues.
Designed in collaboration with Cvent, PlanetIMEX will feature three 3-D, interactive “islands” as destinations within the platform. Each island will have its own theme (community, education… more
Apr 30, 2020
The Events Industry Council has created a new task force that will work to develop recommendations, guidelines and resources needed to support the industry’s recovery globally.
The APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force will be led by co-chairs Michael Dominguez, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International, and Kristin Horstman, senior director of strategic events at Salesforce.
“The strength of our industry has always been in our ability to work together,” said Dominguez. “There has never been a greater need to give confidence to the meetings and events community that… more
Apr 29, 2020
Conference management service and software provider eventPower has launched new services and tools to help planners with live, virtual and hybrid events. Clients can choose from fully managed solutions (working with eventPower’s meeting planners) or software as a service tools.
“We wanted to improve the efficiency of the existing sales process and create a software that ultimately seeks to increase revenue for our existing and future clients,” said Laurie Powell, eventPower’s vice president of business development, in reference to the new exhibit selection and management tool.
Frank Powell… more
Apr 28, 2020
As June draws closer and many states and counties extend their lockdowns while others start to reopen business, MPI has postponed its annual World Education Congress to November. Originally scheduled for June 6-9 in Grapevine, Texas, WEC will now take place Nov. 3-6 in the same location.
In a message to registered attendees, Annette Gregg, senior vice president of experience for MPI, said the association had been working through dozens of scenarios to find the appropriate way to recreate its signature annual event.
“Using a filter of prudence and possibilities, we are creating a live… more
Apr 28, 2020
The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority is moving forward with its $557-million, five-year capital improvement plan. Approved in 2018, the plan includes internal and external upgrades to Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, a new 7.5-acre pedestrian park and 1,200-room headquarters hotel, and funding to ready an adjacent piece of land for a mixed-use development.
After soliciting responses in late 2019 from qualified master developers to create a comprehensive development plan and strategy for a mixed-use project on the 39-acre parcel, the Authority short-listed five… more
Apr 24, 2020
Obviously, times are tough for the events industry right now. It’s something we’re all experiencing, feeling and grappling with as we wake up each morning. So many article direct us all to keep the faith or put on a happy face, but there are some days when we just don’t feel capable of doing that — and that’s OK. One thing you can focus on during this time, however, is working on your own leadership qualities that will help you and your teams emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than before. Angela Raub, CEO of Leadercast, shares her insights on not only surviving this crisis, but also… more
Apr 22, 2020
To bring a smile to your face during challenging times, read on to learn about event organizations, venues and companies that are setting a positive example of human compassion and charitable giving in-action.
GPHA Launches Hospitality Workers Relief Fund
The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association is seeking donations to assist with purchasing gift cards for local grocery stores and pharmacies to distribute to Philadelphia hotel, Pennsylvania Convention Center and Independence Visitor’s Center hourly employees who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
The program’s goal is to raise a minimum… more
Apr 21, 2020
One-third of all jobs lost in the U.S. due to COVID-19 were lost in the travel industry, and the country is experiencing a total impact nine times greater than the 9/11 attacks, according to a new report by the U.S. Travel Association and analytics firm Tourism Economics.
Declines in travel are projected to cause 8 million jobs to be lost (out of 24 million for the entire U.S. economy) by the end of this month, according to the report. Travel spending losses are also on track to top half a trillion dollars by the end of 2020.
While the news is devastating from all angles, industry… more
Apr 20, 2020
One positive that has emerged during this time of physical distancing is the upsurge in virtual learning and networking opportunities. We've put together a short list of upcoming free virtual events and webinars designed for event marketers:
April 21The Show Must Go On
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. CT
In this virtual event from Sendoso, representatives from leading SaaS companies share how they are filling demand generation gaps and driving customer engagement during this critical time. You’ll get tips on how to drive revenue growth with unique and meaningful engagement, technologies successful… more
Apr 17, 2020
With so much uncertainty in the world, and with most of us isolating in our homes and feeling concerned about the future, there is no time like the present to establish a meditation and mindfulness practice. While the idea of sitting still and trying to quiet your mind while breathing deeply may seem challenging for many, there are incredible benefits to be had from a regular meditation practice. As many long-time meditators (including yours truly) can attest, a regular practice not only helps relieve stress, increase focus and improve sleep, but also enhances one’s self-awareness and overall… 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