Mar 15, 2021
New eased restrictions in Nevada on large gatherings, including meetings and conventions, entertainment venues and large group gatherings, allow capacity up to 50%. The welcomed news became official on Monday after Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced the move on Friday night.
The state also will streamline the process for submission and approval of large gatherings.
The new directive is another step toward re-igniting the meetings and events industry. The announcement comes on the heels of the governor also expanding vaccine eligibility to hospitality and food service workers yesterday.
“… more
Mar 09, 2021
A financial incentive program created by the Utah Office of Tourism paid off with the booking of 30 events to be held in Salt Lake City in 2021. Visit Salt Lake projects that the events will fill 28,000 room nights, a remarkable feat as the country battles through the pandemic.
The bookings include myriad meetings and events among all sectors of the industry. While quite a few are sports competitions, including returning clients like USA Fencing and USA Weightlifting, there are also large expos, association meetings and medical/pharmaceutical gatherings on the books.
“I was surprised we had… more
Mar 08, 2021
While a faculty member at East Carolina University, Dr. Alleah Crawford taught courses in event management. She joined the Association for Women in Events as a board member to build connections for her students.
The association may no longer exist, and Crawford is now professor and associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University in Alabama, but the work done by both remains of utmost importance to an industry trying to match its talk about diversity and inclusion with action.
Specifically, there remains a need to elevate women to leadership… more
Mar 02, 2021
International travelers are used to presenting passports to enter foreign countries. Event attendees may very well have a similar requirement going forward — one tracking health status.
Sharemy.health is quickly establishing itself as the go-to platform for major organizations to ensure safety while bringing back face-to-face events. With clients including the U.S. Olympic Committee, Major League Baseball, universities and live events, the cloud-based software’s offerings include a digital passport providing proof of vaccinations.
The offering comes as the Centers for Disease Control and… more
Mar 01, 2021
As the heart of South Padre Island’s meeting and event business, the South Padre Island Convention Center is accustomed to hosting an array of year-round corporate and consumer events. These range from fishing tournaments to quilt shows to college basketball tournaments.
Tourists and event groups alike are drawn to the island for obvious reasons. Situated on the coastal tip of Texas, along the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the barrier island destination boasts 34 miles of white sand beaches, clear emerald waters and 300 days of sunshine per year.
But during the recent polar vortex… more
Feb 24, 2021
It goes without saying that the past 12 months have been an incredibly challenging and stressful time for event professionals. To lend a hand to fellow #eventprofs who may be suffering from job losses and mental health challenges, mark your calendars for the first-ever Event Relief 2021, a 24-hour global “vodcast” marathon created to raise funds for event industry professionals experiencing personal and financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Set for Wednesday, March 3, the event is organized and hosted by events and exhibitions professional, Dan Assor, creator and host of The Dan… more
Feb 23, 2021
Marriott International on Tuesday began the painstaking effort of moving on from the death of company legend Arne Sorenson, naming Anthony “Tony” Capuano and Stephanie Linnartz. Both internal promotions are effective immediately.
Capuano was previously group president of Global Development, Design and Operations Services. During Capuano’s time in that role, Marriott grew from more than 3,200 properties in early 2009 to more 7,600 properties by 2020’s end.
He joined Marriott in 1995, and in 1997 began leasing development efforts in the Western U.S. and Canada. In 2005, Capuano became senior… more
Feb 16, 2021
Arne Sorenson, the third CEO in Marriott International’s history, died unexpectedly on Monday, the hotel giant announced. Sorenson was diagnosed in May 2019 with pancreatic cancer and earlier this month took a leave of absence to battle the disease’s resurgence. He was 62 years old.
Among Sorenson’s largest accomplishments was the 2016 completion of the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which immediately made Marriott the world’s largest hotel chain, with more than 5,800 properties and 1.1 million rooms in more than 110 countries.
“During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Sorenson was… more
Feb 01, 2021
The coronavirus understandably caught the events industry flat-footed last spring. Who can predict a once-in-a-century disease? But nearly a year into the pandemic, there’s been time to experiment, learn, adapt and develop better strategies going into 2021.
Live events are going on, and will only pick up toward the second half of the year. That doesn’t mean COVID-19’s effects will disappear anytime soon. Almost all considerations that event planners, trade show organizers, exhibitors and attendees face are related to health and safety measures or economic challenges related to the pandemic… more
Jan 29, 2021
Louisville Tourism is about to get a new president and CEO. Cleo Battle, the CVB’s current chief operating officer, will assume his new role upon the forthcoming retirement of current president and CEO Karen Williams, who will close out her 30-year tenure at Louisville Tourism June 30.
This is Battle’s second time filling Williams’ shoes. The 34-year hospitality veteran was appointed executive vice president in 2013 before being named COO in 2019.
Prior to coming to Louisville, Battle spent 12 years as vice president of sales and services for the Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau… 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