News
Sep 01, 2020
If events are held responsibly through strict implementation of health and safety guidelines, will people feel safe to attend in-person trade shows and events during a pandemic? That’s the question event organizers continue to struggle with, yet new data from event marketing and planning company GES sheds some light on the answer.
In a survey of more than 1,300 attendees in June and July, GES research uncovered five distinct groups of show attendees based on their COVID-19 perception of risk assessment and mitigation requirements, including temperature checks, mandatory face masks,… more
Aug 31, 2020
On Aug. 27, the Events Industry Council issued the Health and Safety for Hotels Accepted Practices Guide, the second release from the APEX Covid-19 Business Recovery Task Force.
The task force's hotel work group used various guides issued by hotel companies as well as resources such as the AHLA Safe Stay program to develop a baseline. This guide offers insights beyond those guidelines, focusing on four key areas:
Transmission barriers
Enhanced sanitisation
Health screening
Food and beverage guidelines
It also includes baseline and enhanced protocols, a curation of hotel practices via a… more
Aug 28, 2020
If you missed Weeks 1 or 2, start here to learn why event marketers need a personal brand in the first place, then read this to discover how to build your brand foundation.
You’ve set the stage for crafting your personal brand on the Internet, and now it’s time to execute. It’s important to remember that creating a personal brand takes time and effort, so consider it a long-term solution that will help you to yield the results you’re after — rather than a quick fix for a lay-off or furlough situation.
To create a successful personal brand online, you should be two things: consistent and… more
Aug 26, 2020
Following the implementation of a “back on track” reopening program that included new health and safety measures directed by a local task force, Indianapolis has seen a surge in meetings activity. In the four-week period following the July 7 reopening of Indiana Convention Center (ICC) — which recently spent $7 million on health and safety improvements — the city successfully hosted 18 meetings and events with a total of more than 40,000 attendees.
“With more than 50 percent of the nation’s population within a day’s drive of Indy, coupled with the health upgrades to our center, we’ve seen a… more
Aug 25, 2020
To showcase measures being taken to support the safe return of in-person meetings and events, the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) is enlisting corporate executives, policymakers and meetings industry leadership to engage in critical conversations in ongoing virtual discussions. The series, which premiered in July, will continue through this fall. Here are five highlights of conversations thus far:
1. Safety Comes First
The meetings and travel industry has been hard at work putting protocols in place so that those who want to meet in small numbers can do so safely, even now. Each… more
Aug 24, 2020
With a new report showing nearly one out of every four hotel commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) loans are delinquent, industry leaders continue to press Congress to enact the HOPE Act. This bipartisan piece of legislation was introduced by Representatives Van Taylor (R-Texas), Al Lawson (D-Fla.), and Andy Barr (R-Ky.) to provide assistance to small businesses operating in the commercial real estate market.
As part of the push to pass the legislation, nearly 4,000 hotel industry leaders — including those from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Asian American Hotel… more
Aug 21, 2020
In an effort to update event professionals on the processes for meetings and events that have been redefined in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott International has published a series of new materials on its Marriott Bonvoy Events site.
Part of Marriott’s “Commitment to Clean,” the new digital content highlights the latest sanitation guidelines, operational training for associates and conference technologies the company’s hotels have implemented to ensure groups can gather when they are ready. Included in the new materials are an informational video, customer stories and other… more
Aug 19, 2020
As she watched organizations continue to transition their events from live to virtual, Liz Lathan, CEO of Austin, Texas-based Haute Dokimazo, noticed the increasing importance of creating real human connection and conversation within a digital platform. From there, the Age of Conversation Summit was born.
Scheduled to take place on Sept. 9 with a registration fee of $20, the summit will include tracks like Shift Happens, the Woowoo Room, Unicorns & Rainbows, Dial-Up Disco and Central Perk. While playfully named, these tracks will build conversations focusing on addressing real problems… more
Aug 18, 2020
With the widespread cancellation of corporate events and no clear timeline of when they may be back in person again, it’s a good time to look for inspiration on ways to hold a truly unique virtual event.
For the first time in its 11-year history, the San Francisco Giant Race presented by Alaska Airlines is going completely virtual.
Previously scheduled for the Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-6, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, the Giant Race Series’ flagship event now will be held virtually Sept. 6 because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
This annual series — held in Scottsdale, Sacramento… more
Aug 17, 2020
PCMA Foundation has launched the Accelerating Reskilling initiative, a massive fundraising campaign designed to help event industry professionals recover, adapt and thrive through the pandemic and beyond.
Launched on Aug. 5, the campaign’s goal is to raise $250,000 by the end of 2020 to provide scholarships for the immediate reskilling of 1,000 event professionals, supplier professionals, young professionals, faculty and current students with the new and updated skill sets they will need for career recovery and success.
“Together as a community, we can bring these educational opportunities… 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