News

Jan 10, 2019
According to the Freeman Show Organizer Data Pulse Survey, 74 percent of show organizers use event data to inform their event strategy, event objectives and planning. Yet nearly half of non-profit show organizers find it challenging to get meaningful insights from their event data. “Research has shown that attendees go to an event to learn, network and have fun,” said Richard Maranville, chief digital officer at Freeman. “However, until now, the industry didn’t have an all-encompassing solution to compile metrics and data that ultimately could help increase audience acquisition, retention… more
Jan 09, 2019
2018 was a banner year for the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) — an industry-wide coalition focused on showing the value of face-to-face meetings — and this week, at the PCMA Convening Leaders conference, representatives shared plans for building on that success in 2019 and beyond. Julie Coker Graham, MMBC co-chair and president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, stated that in 2018, the coalition created deeper, more sustained engagements among industry economic influencers.   “To do this, we introduced a new advocacy strategy and tailored our… more
Jan 08, 2019
Washington D.C. has been a destination for events of all sizes for decades. Now, the city is in the midst of another growth spurt which is adding new hotels, venues and destinations of interest to corporate groups and leisure travelers alike. I recently spoke with Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, Washington D.C.’s official destination marketing organization. Ferguson talked at length about the exciting new developments that are continuing to make the city a hotspot for corporate events. One of the benefits of the redevelopment and new development projects, including… more
Jan 07, 2019
Happy New Year from the team at Corporate Event News! Whether you had a wonderful or less-than-stellar 2018, it’s our goal to help you have an even better 2019. In the spirit of new year, new beginnings, we’re starting out the year with a focus on personal and professional development. In January, we’ll be bringing you news and information on events to attend, content to consume, tips for staying healthy in both mind and body, ways to connect with peers and mentors, and suggestions to help you overcome the challenges that we all face. We’re beginning the year with some changes to our own… more
Jan 04, 2019
The Moscone Center expansion project, completed on schedule at the end of 2018, was celebrated with a grand opening gala event on Jan. 3, 2019. The $551 million expansion adds more than 157,000 gross square feet of flexible meeting space to Moscone North and South and increases the center's total exhibit space to more than 504,000 sq. ft. “Our two main goals have been to create contiguous space and flexibility for the Moscone Center,” said Lynn Farzaroli, senior director of the Moscone expansion for San Francisco Travel Association. “It’s a brand-new center with state-of-the-art everything… more
Jan 03, 2019
More than 3,600 event professionals will gather in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Jan. 6-9 for the 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders conference. [Update: preliminary attendance figures released onsite by PCMA on Jan. 7 up that figure to ~4,800.] While PCMA may officially be an association for professional convention managers, its reach extends further. Content at the annual Convening Leaders event may appeal to any member of the event industry.  And the good news is, even if you can’t make it to Pittsburgh, you can still participate online.   PCMA is offering complimentary access to select livestreamed… more
Dec 31, 2018
The new Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, opened Dec. 18, 2018, adds another option for large-scale meetings in the Denver area.  The Gaylord Rockies, the largest combined resort and convention center in Colorado, is the first Gaylord Hotels property to open in ten years and the fifth addition to the chain, which is owned by Marriott International.  The Gaylord Rockies, located in Aurora, Colo., is just 10 minutes from Denver International Airport and offers shuttle access to the A Line airport rail with service to the airport and downtown Denver. The resort boasts 1,501 guest… more
Dec 21, 2018
Meeting scheduling can be the bane of an event planner’s existence. Anyone who has ever tried to coordinate multiple schedules in order to book meetings or demos at tradeshows or conferences knows how difficult it can be — the phrase “herding cats” springs to mind. It’s equally difficult to show the value of these meetings, and how they influence sales pipeline and revenue generation. Jifflenow aims to solve both of these problems with its meeting automation platform (MAP). “Enterprises are looking beyond lead generation at events and have been asking for solutions to influence revenue… more
Dec 20, 2018
Not all that long ago, all meetings were conducted face-to-face. More recently, technology enabled virtual meetings. Today, a hybrid model allows for more participants spread across a wider geographical area, but the challenge has continued to be around engagement. How do you keep remote participants engaged and how do you keep and share the data generated within the meeting? Park MGM and Cisco have an answer: the new 7,000 square foot Ideation Studio. With the opening of the Studio, Las Vegas’ Park MGM is the world’s first hotel to offer groups Cisco Webex Boards and Cisco Webex Teams… more
Dec 18, 2018
Located 50 miles from Milwaukee and 80 miles from Chicago, the Lake Geneva area of Wisconsin is best known for its historic mansions, or perhaps for being the location of the first Playboy resort. Or — if you’re a gamer — for being the site of the annual Gary Con, a celebration of Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax. But, as I discovered first-hand in October, Lake Geneva is also a great location for corporate events. For an area whose total population is no more than 20,000 residents, Lake Geneva has a surprising number of resorts, activities and amenities. While the area is referred… 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