News
Aug 07, 2023
After more than nine years of planning, including a three-year feasibility period demonstrating significant demand from convention clients, the city of Indianapolis is about to get a larger convention center and a new 800-room headquarter hotel.
On Aug. 1, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Visit Indy President and CEO Leonard Hoops were joined by community leaders, project representatives and some of the city’s largest convention clients for a groundbreaking celebration of the sixth expansion of the Indiana Convention Center (ICC) and construction of a new Hilton convention hotel.
Key… more
Aug 04, 2023
Oak View Group (OVG), which takes over venue management for Chicago’s McCormick Place on Oct. 1, named veteran convention and hospitality executive Samuel Thomas Jr. as senior vice president and general manager of the campus, which includes McCormick Place, featuring 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space, the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena and the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater.
Thomas, who will relocate to Chicago from Washington, D.C., where he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Events DC, will begin his new role the first week of September.
McCormick Place… more
Aug 03, 2023
Bizzabo, the Event Experience Operating System (OS), unveiled “The State of In-person B2B Conferences: Analyzing Organizer and Attendee Insights on Today's Most Impactful Gatherings,” a comprehensive report underscoring the value of face-to-face events.
Despite a year of headlines about economic uncertainty and layoffs, in-person events are thriving, according to the survey,” said Alon Alroy, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Bizzabo.
In June 2023, Bizzabo conducted the extensive survey of more than 4,000 event organizers and attendees to gain deeper insights into the current… more
Aug 01, 2023
The Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) has earned Gold Level certification for the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards for venues, part of a collection of eight standards developed to assess events and industry suppliers on specific criteria for producing and delivering environmentally and socially responsible events.
These criteria include organizational management; marketing, communication and engagement; climate action; water management; materials and circularity; supply chain management; diversity, equity and inclusion; accessibility; and social impact.
The… more
Jul 31, 2023
Across the U.S., hospitality companies have been busy acquiring and rebranding hotel and resort properties, as well as completing renovations, to up their game as they compete for pre-pandemic levels of meetings and leisure business. Here’s a roundup of recent hotel developments.
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Chesapeake Bay, Md., recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation that has transformed the 400-room waterfront resort’s more than 37,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event spaces. … more
Jul 28, 2023
Event technology continues to rapidly evolve, providing the industry with inventive strategies for marketing and producing the most successful, engaging and efficiently run gatherings. Check out some of the latest solutions aiming to make the event experience easier and more rewarding for organizers, marketers and attendees alike.
NoteAffect
NoteAffect, an AI driven software learning and workflow management platform for conferences, launched Event-Ace, a new platform specifically created for the events industry. Based on the company’s award- winning platforms Note-Smart for education and… more
Jul 27, 2023
Following an extensive and competitive RFP process, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) has selected global sports and live entertainment company Oak View Group (OVG) as the new private management and food service partner for Chicago’s McCormick Place, Wintrust Arena and Arie Crown Theater.
Beginning Oct. 1 and running through Sept. 2028, the management and F&B contracts were awarded to OVG360 and OVG Hospitality, respectively, following a unanimous vote by the MPEA Board.
“I am thrilled to welcome OVG360 and OVG Hospitality to our campus,” said Larita Clark, CEO of… more
Jul 25, 2023
While some industries are known for slowing down in the summer months, the corporate event industry has been doing anything but resting idle, as evidenced by the extensive array of event-related organizations and suppliers continuing the industry’s ongoing hiring and promoting trend. Read on for all the latest People News you need to know!
Associated Luxury Hotels International
Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI), a luxury global sales organization catering to the hospitality industry, has appointed Jim Perrin as vice president of sales for the Mid-Atlantic region. Boasting an… more
Jul 24, 2023
Destinations International (DI), the leading global resource for official destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), recently announced significant growth in its membership. The organization now represents 26 countries and territories, with more than 700 members worldwide.
The announcement was made on July 18 at the Destinations International Annual Convention by DI President and CEO Don Welsh, who highlighted the importance of a strong member community and the power of travel in fostering connections across the globe.
“Destinations International exists for the… more
Jul 22, 2023
Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has become a vital aspect of organizing events – from hiring speakers to creating event content to securing sponsors and more. But what about designing the food and beverage offerings at events?
We checked in with Tracy Stuckrath, founder and president of thrive! meetings & events and host of the Eating at a Meeting podcast, who offered some keen insights on the importance of DEI in event catering.
Inclusivity is what inspired Stuckrath to start her business in 2010, when a personal health journey changed the course of her career.
“I was… 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