News

Feb 06, 2024
Last August, Freeman announced a rigging safety initiative that impacted exhibitors and event organizers with hanging signs, video walls that have overhead support and all other tie-offs. The rigging rule could have potentially affected thousands of exhibiting companies and events across the U.S. with higher costs and longer timelines.  In response, Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA), The Exhibitor Advocate and Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA) collaborated with Freeman to roll back some of the requirements, making it faster, easier and cheaper… more
Feb 05, 2024
After almost seven decades of operating at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Tropicana Las Vegas will close its doors on April 2, just two days shy of its 67th anniversary. The 1,470-room resort is slated for decommissioning and demolition to clear the way for a $1.5 billion, 30,000-seat professional baseball stadium and integrated resort, according to Bally’s Corporation, which has owned the Rat Pack-era hotel-casino since 2022. The proposed ballpark will serve as the new home of the city’s first Major League Baseball team – the Oakland Athletics, which are relocating to Las Vegas… more
Feb 02, 2024
What’s new in San Diego in 2024? In January, the San Diego Tourism Authority hosted a media tour for event and trade show industry press that included four stops. Here’s what corporate event organizers need to know about what’s new and trending in this popular destination.   San Diego International Airport During a behind-the-scenes tour of the $3.4 billion construction project at the San Diego International Airport, Chief Development Officer Angela Shafer-Payne said the 661-acre airport currently serves 550 flights per day.  Context: The existing Terminal 1 opened in 1967 while Terminal… more
Feb 01, 2024
U.K.-based creative communications agency DRPG has expanded its global footprint with the acquisition of The Special Event Company (TSEC), a live and virtual event agency based in Apex, N.C., near the bustling Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park area. Founded in 1987 by Sally Webb, TSEC designs and produces myriad types of corporate events, including conferences, sales and leadership meetings, trainings and continuing education events, galas and award ceremonies, incentive trips, appreciation events, ground breakings, grand openings, expos and trade shows, product launches and town halls… more
Jan 30, 2024
Destination and event management company CSI DMC, Inc. has appointed a new president. The company tapped 28-year events industry veteran Hope Valentine to take the helm after serving as an integral part of CSI DMC’s senior leadership team for 12 years, most recently as chief sales officer. A Florida native based in the Greater Orlando area, Valentine has built a successful career developing and managing large, complex programs for FORTUNE 500 companies, including Ford, Procter & Gamble, CVS, Honda and Wells Fargo, in a variety of roles spanning proposal development, sales and event… more
Jan 29, 2024
Have you ever considered sponsoring restrooms at an event? At PCMA Convening Leaders 2024 (CL24) in January, Montreal Business Events worked with Les Cabinets for the fourth year in a row to deliver a unique and memorable activation in one of the women’s and men’s bathrooms at the San Diego Convention Center. We caught up with Les Cabinets Co-Founder Patrice Marier to get an inside look at the women’s bathroom activation to find out more about how his team manages the sponsorship and optimizes the attendee experience for events. Here’s what you need to know: How it worked: Montreal… more
Jan 26, 2024
Hilton recently expanded its Georgia portfolio with the opening of its first Signia by Hilton property in the Peach State: the 976-room Signia by Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta’s largest ground-up hotel development project in four decades. Owned by Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), the new 42-story property forms part of the Authority’s Championship Campus, which includes the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Centennial Olympic Park. The hotel conveniently offers direct access to the GWCC via a pedestrian walkway, allowing convention guests prime access… more
Jan 25, 2024
In its first deals since the $4.6 billion acquisition by Blackstone last year, Cvent has acquired Jifflenow, a B2B 1:1 and group appointments scheduling solution, and iCapture, a lead capture solution. With these acquisitions, Cvent’s goal is to offer enhanced capabilities to enable sales and marketing teams to improve trade show performance and ROI through automated appointment scheduling and universal lead capture.  Related: Blackstone to Acquire Cvent for $4.6 Billion “Over the past nearly 25 years, we’ve helped power global meetings and events programs, and these acquisitions highlight… more
Jan 24, 2024
Exclusively sponsored by Honeycomb Strategies. Start here: Take our 5-question carbon quiz! Test what you already know about carbon emissions, then scroll down to read more about our answers. 1. Freight logistics  Question: Which method of shipping to an event is the most carbon intense?  Correct Answer: Airplane.  This answer may not surprise you, but maybe you don’t know about the alternatives. Freight via container ship is 94% less carbon-intensive than air, and rail shipping is even less, though they require more transit time. For final-mile transportation, local electric fleets and… more
Jan 23, 2024
On Jan. 10, American Psychological Association Senior Director, Meetings and Events Desirée Knight, who served as 2023 PCMA Chair, officially passed the gavel to Visit Indy President and CEO Leonard Hoops on on the main stage at Convening Leaders 2024 (CL24) in San Diego.  Hoops, the first destination marketing organization (DMO) leader to chair the association, addressed the audience, which peaked at more than 4,200 during the three-day annual event – the largest ever, according to PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat.  Prior to taking the stage, Hoops sat down with us at the Visit Indy… 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