News

Jan 09, 2023
As the corporate events industry kicks off 2023, event-related organizations across the country are welcoming new leaders and promoting hard-working staff as they prepare for a year of growth, increasing demand and continued post-pandemic recovery. Take a look!   Destination DC  Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, D.C., recently appointed a new executive and senior staff to its leadership team.  Danielle Davis has been promoted to vice president of communications after joining the organization as director of communications in 2015. She… more
Jan 06, 2023
Waldorf Astoria Cancun recently debuted as one of the Mexican Caribbean’s most upscale options for meetings and events. The resort is Hilton Hotels and Resorts’ 200th property in the Caribbean and Latin America, the first Waldorf Astoria in the Mexican Caribbean and the second in Mexico.  "The opening of the newly built Waldorf Astoria Cancun marks an important milestone for Hilton, as we continue our rapid expansion in Mexico,” said Danny Hughes, executive vice president and president, Americas, Hilton.  “Over the past year, we’ve landed in the Yucatan Peninsula in a big way, with six new… more
Jan 05, 2023
Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), a newly established peer-to-peer network of senior corporate event professionals, and The Opus Group, a global agency network and partner for some of the world’s most influential brands, announced a new sponsorship deal that will provide ELX members with an agency perspective on experience design and strategy, and The Opus Group with insights from the ELX community.  “We’re thrilled to be part of this community of global event leaders,” said Kim Kopetz, president and COO of The Opus Group. “Our agency network is built for the modern era of marketing, in which… more
Jan 04, 2023
The Niagara Falls Convention Centre (NFCC) in Ontario, Canada recently became a more accessible and inclusive venue for all event participants, thanks to a partnership with KultureCity, a leading national non-profit organization that works to create sensory accessibility and inclusion for sensory-sensitive individuals.  Through this partnership, the largest convention venue in the Niagara Falls region became the first convention facility in Canada to be Sensory Inclusive Certified. To receive these important credentials, the NFCC team underwent training by leading medical professionals to… more
Jan 03, 2023
Leading venue management company and live experience producer ASM Global recently hosted an awe-inspiring, firework-laden grand opening ceremony for the new Exhibition World Bahrain, one of the largest convention centers in the Middle East, with more than 1 million square feet of trade show and conference space. The new venue’s launch marks a milestone for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s economic development and is expected to play a key role in advancing the economic competitiveness and positioning of Bahrain as a major global destination for regional and international meetings and conventions,… more
Dec 30, 2022
Responding to the event industry’s need for a standardized data structure and communications protocol for digital, in-person and hybrid events, global assurance provider BPA Worldwide announced that versions 2.0 of the VSef (Virtual Standard Export Format) Standards Guide and VSef API Standards Guide are now available to download, review and implement.  VSef, which was acquired by BPA Worldwide in September 2022, is a data file reporting format designed to streamline the collection and exchange of data within the events industry by establishing standard data structures and common naming… more
Dec 29, 2022
Straight out of college, Kelly Gleeson Smith knew she had fallen into her dream career after landing her first job in “meeting connection sales” at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Texas. From the start, she reveled in what she described as the “power of meetings” that affect so many people. “It was like a pebble falling into the water, and then the centrifugal rings just continue to expand,” Gleeson Smith said. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is an amazing industry.’” She became very passionate about face-to-face interactions and where her career could go, traveling the world… more
Dec 20, 2022
Over the course of each year, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., routinely works with sustainably minded clients to help them donate leftover food and unwanted materials after their events. With food and event waste still a glaring problem at many trade shows and conferences, this charitable effort not only helps keep leftover food and event items out of landfill, but also helps positively impact local community nonprofits working to combat hunger and assist those in need.  Most recently, the venue worked with two major event clients to collectively donate nearly… more
Dec 19, 2022
The Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority (TDVA) and Oak View Group (OVG), the global venue development, advisory and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries, have secured an exclusive multi-year naming rights agreement with Tahoe Blue Vodka for a new live entertainment, sports and conference center on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. Dubbed the Tahoe Blue Center and located in Stateline, Nev. the new 132,000-square-foot events center, which includes a 5,500-seat arena and 10,000-sq.-ft. of meeting room space, is projected to host 130 events annually, including meetings… more
Dec 16, 2022
The event tech landscape continues to evolve as the industry approaches a new year. From security and trust certification to a virtual event and webinar benchmarking report to the opening of award submissions, check out the latest happenings with Bizzabo, Notified and the Event Tech Awards. Bizzabo Bizzabo, the Event Experience Operating System (OS), has achieved Service Organization Control (SOC) 2® Type 2 compliance, which recognizes the company as a secure, trusted industry leader. The accomplishment demonstrates Bizzabo’s ongoing commitment to information security and signals that its… 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