Aug 16, 2024
This summer, event planning companies, hotels, and suppliers blazed hot with talent acquisitions and promotions, attracting experienced industry professionals and young talent alike as they prepare for a robust fall season.
CEN’s take on the biggest move in July: Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide welcomed Lauren Parr as its chief meeting and exhibits officer, responsible for overseeing Optica meetings and events. Bringing a robust background in scientific program development, instructional design, and event strategy to her new role, Parr boasts more than 20 years of experience… more
Aug 15, 2024
Thousands of union workers, many at meetings-focused hotels, could walk out within weeks—or sooner, as some labor contracts have already expired.
More than 50 hotels in Boston, Honolulu, and San Francisco are facing the possibility of a labor stoppage after more than 10,000 members of labor union Unite Here voted almost unanimously to allow for a strike. Union members’ goal: To secure contracts with better financial terms and working conditions than their previous contracts, which were negotiated in the pre-pandemic era.
Hotel employees represented by Unite Here include front-desk workers,… more
Aug 13, 2024
We're just two weeks out from Connect Marketplace—a corporate conference where attendees can get a week's worth of business done in two days while dancing to Lil Jon or crushing it on the trade show pickleball court. Yep, this isn't your average conference.
At Connect, attendees can expect a B2B event that, above all, values one-on-one appointments and purposeful education—but planners and partners who take time out of their schedule to attend deserve an experience too. That's where lively networking events and other perks come in.
Wondering what's on the docket for Connect Marketplace 2024… more
Aug 12, 2024
Workday Rising 2024, an annual corporate event produced by human capital management software company Workday with $7.3 billion in revenues in fiscal 2024, will culminate in the annual Customer Appreciation Party at Allegiant Stadium, featuring a live performance by rock star Gwen Stefani.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our rock star customers than with a REAL rock star performance,” said Workday's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Emma Chalwin in a blog.
Scheduled for Sept. 16–19 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, this year’s conference is set to bring together… more
Aug 09, 2024
Two major convention centers established and expanded agreements with service providers while a Midwestern destination previewed its expanded outdoor offerings for meeting and convention groups alike.
ASM Global Tapped to Operate Reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center, Extended Its Contract to Manage Detroit’s Huntington Place
Full-service venue management company ASM Global has been awarded the contract by the City of Cincinnati to launch and operate the reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC), which recently closed its doors for renovation on July 1.
Currently undergoing a $240… more
Aug 08, 2024
In the wake of the devastating wildfires that leveled the city of Lahaina, Maui, on Aug. 8, 2023, there has been a growing curiosity about the island's recovery and readiness to welcome back group business one year later.
At the DMC Network Exchange on Aug. 1, we had the opportunity to sit down with Josh DeSilva, president of DeSilva Meeting Consultants, to get an update on the current situation in Maui, how the recovery process is unfolding, and what organizers can expect when planning their events.
Here are highlights from our conversation. Watch the full interview here.
Backstory:… more
Aug 07, 2024
On July 30, event-furniture rental giant CORT Events invited 200 industry leaders and tastemakers to a five-hour, garden-themed open house event on the 9th floor of New York City’s iconic Rockefeller Plaza. The to-do drew inspiration from the venue’s adjacent alfresco event space—where a foliage-filled oasis was a reprieve from the traffic below—and boasted setups throughout of different seating, table-and-chair, and decor arrangements for guests to both ogle over and mingle in.
Here are the five noteworthy trends that CORT chose to display, plus insights the company’s executive director of… more
Aug 06, 2024
It's been a busy summer for Milwaukee. Since this year's opening of Baird Center—a $456 million expansion of the Wisconsin Center—in May, the city has played host to high-profile gatherings like the Republican National Convention and the Northwestern Mutual Annual Meeting. And later this month, the new facility will welcome attendees of Connect Marketplace, taking place Aug. 27-29.
"The RNC used every inch of the Baird Center, and then the minute they were out, Northwestern Mutual brought in 12,000 people," said Claire Koenig, vice president of communications and advocacy for Visit Milwaukee… more
Aug 05, 2024
With 5% to 16.5% of attendees who have symptoms associated with sensory processing challenges and 1 in 45 adults in the U.S. with autism, more venues and destinations are committed to making sure autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors feel welcome and supported while attending meetings and events.
The Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) is the latest venue to receive Certified Autism Center (CAC) designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a global organization that provide professional autism and neurodiversity training and… more
Aug 02, 2024
A ruling by the United States Court of Appeals in July upheld a group's right to apply a hotel contract’s force-majeure clause and cancel a 1,200-attendee meeting without penalty. While the specifics of the case relate to COVID-pandemic restrictions, the ramifications could be broader.
“Not only was this a federal case, but it went to the Court of Appeals for the area, one rung below the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Joshua Grimes, Esq., Grimes Law Offices. “The next time there's a force-majeure cancellation lawsuit, other federal courts and even some state courts will look to this case. It… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.
At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident more