Taking place each February, Black History Month is an ideal time to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black people in the events industry and beyond and renew our commitment to continue fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Corporate Event News checked in with six industry leaders to find out how their organizations support the Black community and get their advice on championing DEI.
 

Are attendees at your trade show registering later than they did pre-pandemic? Don’t panic, you are not alone. According to a study conducted in February by our sister publication, TSNN, 98 percent of show organizers reported that attendees are registering later for trade shows, compared with pre-pandemic times. 

Following an incredibly challenging period of unprecedented, pandemic-inflicted hardships, the hotel industry is making promising strides toward recovery.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announced a formal three-year extension and expanded community offerings with the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP). 

Since October 2020, the partnership has focused primarily on a joint membership offering that has resulted in 53 members across both organizations having taken advantage of the opportunity to be part of MPI and NCBMP.  

Global events agency Freeman has partnered with Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), an Explori-backed initiative and professional global community for senior corporate event leaders to share ideas and industry insights, discuss issues and engage in powerful, actionable conversations that lead to progress.

Denver is readying for a future boost in meetings and conventions business, with vertical construction of the $233 million expansion of the Colorado Convention Center recently culminating in a commemorative “topping out” ceremony, as the project remains on schedule for a late 2023 opening.

As the meetings and events industry continues its robust return to face-to-face in 2023, a plethora of industry events are happening this year that event professionals won’t want to miss. As we in the events industry well know, not only are industry conferences an excellent source of professional development, with plentiful educational opportunities on tap to inform and inspire, they’re also a wonderful way to convene with peers and make new business connections, all under one roof.

In 2022, in-person events enjoyed a steady comeback, event-related organizations went on hiring and promoting sprees, and industry professionals expressed a tone of optimism that hadn’t been heard since before the COVID-19 pandemic, even during ongoing economic challenges. How is the industry feeling about the future in 2023? 

Corporate Event News checked in with several leading organizations for their outlook on the year ahead and which key trends event professionals should be paying attention to in 2023 and beyond.

Tarsus Group, parent company of Corporate Event News and its sister publication, TSNN, is growing its team with two new hires. Long-time trade show journalist Danica Tormohlen has joined as Vice President of Content for Tarsus Media (encompassing TSNN and Corporate Event News), and Bridgett Maddux has joined as National Sales Manager for Tarsus Media.

“I have known Danica for a long time, and she is bar none one of the most passionate people covering the trade show industry,” said Tarsus Media President Rachel Wimberly.

After closing 2022 with positive gains in visitor numbers year over year, the Las Vegas business community is poised for continued growth in 2023 with the addition of thousands of new hotel rooms, the opening of the new one-of-kind MSG Sphere and its first Formula 1 Grand Prix.