News
Oct 15, 2018
Today, Oct. 15, 2018, is Smart Monday, powered by MPI — the educational session-based precursor to IMEX America. Approximately 1,000 event professionals are gathered at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, making this year’s Smart Monday bigger than that of any previous year.
MPI is offering more than 30 breakout sessions covering a wide variety of topics such as augmented reality, contract litigation, crisis management and women in leadership. The majority of the education sessions are eligible for certified meeting professional (CMP) certification clock hours.
The event is also more interactive… more
Oct 15, 2018
Steady growth is the meetings and event industry’s “new normal” according to the American Express Meetings & Events (M&E) 2019 Global Meetings and Events Forecast, released today at IMEX America.
For the fourth consecutive year, our industry has achieved consistent growth in both spend and attendees. In 2019, global meetings activity is expected to continue to grow, accompanied by small increases in budget allocation for meetings and events. This matches data from CWT Meetings & Events’ 2019 Meetings & Events Future Trends report, released earlier this month.
“2019 will be a… more
Oct 12, 2018
Event platform Bizzabo has launched a new application to help event marketers create a more personalized attendee experience through community building.
The Bizzabo Events Cloud offers tools that allow event marketers to build end-to-end branded experiences for attendees, plus measure performance and ROI. Organizations can create websites, event communities, marketing emails and now event apps that are seamlessly interconnected.
“The events app market has evolved tremendously since we began in 2012, and over the years, brands have sought out more holistic and more high-end customizable… more
Oct 11, 2018
Lion Square Lodge has completed the $1.25 million meeting space renovation it began in May.
The property’s newly renovated meeting and event space has been tailored to meet the needs of businesses, offering five meeting rooms and more than 5,000 square feet of flexible event space that can accommodate groups of 10 upwards to 200. Two of the five rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows and walkout balcony space overlooking Vail Mountain.
State-of-the-art technology capabilities, from high-speed internet and USB hook-ups to a brand new sound system, add even more corporate appeal, said Bill… more
Oct 09, 2018
More than two million pets and other live animals are transported by air every year in the U.S. While the U.S. Department of Transportation offers guidelines, each airline establishes its own company policy for the proper handling of the animals they transport.
In April 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Safe Air Travel for Animals Act. Many airlines responded to this law by implementing restrictions on accepting pets as cargo. United Airlines is currently the only domestic airline that will cargo-transport brachycephalic, aka flat-faced, short-nosed dogs such as bulldogs and pugs who are… more
Oct 08, 2018
Last October, I wrote about Haute Dokimazo, the unconference for event marketing industry professionals. Since writing about the Haute Dokimazo events, I’ve wanted to experience one for myself. I got my chance at the ILEA Live conference in Aug. 2018, with a “Haute Dokimazo Solutions Marketplace” workshop.
The concept of the “unconference” isn’t new. What is different is the way that the team behind Haute Dokimazo delivers it. They describe it as a vibe, a feeling, a culture — but I chalk a lot of it up to the founders’ high energy and infectious spirit of fun.
Within the past year, two of… more
Oct 05, 2018
Located 20 minutes south of Nashville in Franklin's Meridian Cool Springs Business District, the 244-guest-room Hilton Franklin Cool Springs is the area's first full-service hotel built in nearly a decade.
Hilton Franklin Cool Springs offers 244 guest rooms and six suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel is also home to the area's only roof-level patio, a heated pool and an expansive terrace with fireplace.
Hilton Franklin Cool Springs has 6,236 square feet of flexible meeting space and 2,400 sq. ft. of pre-function space for registration, breaks and catering.
The flexible Meridian… more
Oct 03, 2018
Demand for meetings and events is on the rise. According to the recently released CWT Meetings & Events 2019 Meetings & Events Future Trends report, the meetings market will see an increase of five to ten percent in 2019.
“The global meetings and events industry can look forward to a buoyant 2019,” said Kurt Ekert, President and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). “On top of growing demand worldwide, we also expect global hotel rates to rise 3.7 percent, and flight prices 2.6 percent.”
In most regions, meeting attendance numbers are also projected to grow, with a 14 percent… more
Oct 02, 2018
Some of the construction in downtown San Francisco will be ending soon, with a positive impact for event planners and attendees. The $551 million Moscone Center expansion project is due to be completed at the end of 2018.
The expansion adds more than 157,000 gross square feet of flexible meeting space to Moscone North and South and will increase the center's total exhibit space to more than 504,000 sq. ft.
According to Tom David, executive vice president and chief sales officer for San Francisco Travel Association, the expansion, which began construction in November 2014, was driven by the… more
Oct 01, 2018
Let’s face it. We’re all busy and perhaps no more time-strapped than in December, holiday party season.
Whether planning an employee party or a client event, corporate event planners are tasked with creating holiday events that draw people in during this busy time and show the company’s appreciation.
Kristina Valente, head of events and sponsorships at BNY Mellon Wealth Management points out that not only is everyone pressed for time around the holidays, but their attention spans are getting shorter.
“Making those that attend events know that you value their time and are going to fill it… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more