News
Aug 06, 2018
SPIN:Senior Professionals Industry Network has announced the 2018 recipients of the industry’s first recognition for veteran meeting planners - SPIN:40 Over 40. This initiative was created in 2017 to recognize and honor planners who are industry role models, influencers, innovators and pioneers.
“It was tough selecting only 40 people from the nominations,” said Tracey Smith, CMP, CMM, SPIN’s Executive Director. “The variety of work experience, volunteer efforts and industry advocacy this year’s group represents is truly outstanding.”
“It’s an honor to be one of the recipients of SPIN’s 2018… more
Aug 03, 2018
Creating experiences that appeal to multicultural audiences and meeting the logistical challenges of planning in a foreign country are becoming more routine than ever for corporate meeting planners. In recent years, corporations are investing more in events of all sizes in locations around the globe.
In the 2018 Global Meeting and Events Forecast, Issa Jouaneh, senior vice president and general manager at American Express Meetings & Events wrote, “Looking ahead to 2018, the meetings and events industry is thriving. We are seeing steady and increasing investment as meetings are viewed… more
Aug 01, 2018
Hosting an event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a way to provide an unforgettable experience. Giving attendees the opportunity to see the exhibits after-hours or even dine in the midst of jellyfish, sharks or silvery sardines will ensure they remember your event for years afterwards.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been operating since 1984, and is host to 200 galleries and exhibits representing more than 550 species of fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, birds and plants. In 2017, 1.9 million people visited the aquarium.
The Aquarium’s mission is to inspire conservation of the ocean.… more
Jul 31, 2018
The Corporate Event News Event Expert Profile series features interviews with some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive.
This month, I spoke with Wendy Laugesen, the director of global events for MarkLogic, a privately-owned enterprise database company with over 500 employees and 14 offices worldwide. Laugesen initially dreamed of becoming the general manager of a hotel, but after several years in the hospitality industry and earning a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration, decided that event management was a better fit.
Danalynne… more
Jul 30, 2018
Meetings, events and hospitality management technology provider Cvent has released the general availability date of its next-generation user experience for its flagship event website and online registration solution, aptly named Project Flex.
Expected to be available in October and described as “Registration Reimagined,” the new solution puts design control in the hands of event professionals and marketers who can now create completely customized, mobile-responsive event websites in a user-friendly, drag-and-drop site designer – without the need for any graphic design or web development… more
Jul 27, 2018
Napa Valley’s Clif Family Winery is on the main drag on Route 128 in St. Helena, Calif. — just a block away from the well-known Gott’s Roadside (known as Taylor’s Refresher for its first 50 years) drive-in eatery.
From the outside, the building looks like a family home, surrounded by a decent size parking lot and a few small businesses. It’s not ostentatious, like many of the area wineries, so is easy to miss as you are driving by.
Those who do stop will be pleasantly surprised. Inside, the building has a European-inspired flair, featuring artwork showcasing both Italy and bicycles, a… more
Jul 26, 2018
The Corporate Event Marketing Association’s CEMA Summit 2018 was held July 22-24 at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Prior to the event, each CEMA board member was assigned as an “ambassador” for a group of first-time registrants, reaching out via email. A special first-timers reception onsite helped ensure that everyone felt welcomed. Despite the fact that I already knew quite a few of the attendees, as a first-time Summit-goer I very much appreciated that extra level of care.
Angie Smith, CEMA Chairwoman, opened the CEMA Summit educational program by talking about… more
Jul 25, 2018
Atlanta, Georgia’s Cobb Galleria Centre recently completed a major renovation of one of its event spaces, the Gallery.
The Cobb Galleria Centre is located in the 88-acre Galleria complex in northwest Atlanta. Cobb Galleria Centre is offers 320,000 square feet of event space, four exhibition halls, 20 meeting rooms, four executive boardrooms and a grand ballroom.
The 5,500 sq. ft. Gallery is located within the Galleria Specialty Shops near Cobb Galleria Centre’s exhibition hall, ballroom and meeting space. It can accommodate up to 450 guests for a reception or 270 people for a seated banquet… more
Jul 23, 2018
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released the fourth and final report in its new How to Grow Attendance series for event attendee marketers.
By uncovering attendee marketer commitments to improve existing approaches and evolve with fast-changing marketing norms, Report Four: Plans on Where to Improve Approach in Near-term Future offers a look at the most popular marketing approaches and the characteristics that are tied to success in attendee growth.
“This is the last report in the series,” explained Nancy Drapeau, CEIR senior research director. “It provides marketers… more
Jul 19, 2018
Puerto Rico’s newly established destination marketing organization has been officially dubbed Discover Puerto Rico.
Established July 1, the new DMO will be responsible for all global marketing, sales and promotion of Puerto Rico as a premier destination for leisure and business travelers.
Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, unveiled the new name during the Destinations International Annual Convention. The yearly gathering, which was most recently held July 10-13 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, attracts more than 1,600 destination marketing and management… 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