News
Jun 24, 2024
In honor of Juneteenth, we want to celebrate and highlight the efforts of African American leaders and organizations in the business events industry. Designated a U.S. federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth commemorates the day on June 19, 1865 when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas, stating all enslaved people in the state were free according to federal law.
Back in 1983, the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) was officially established by six founding members. Forty-one years later, the non-profit boasts 1,500 members and is led by CEO Jason Dunn, who… more
Jun 21, 2024
A bevy of CVBs, venues and other event-related organizations have been expanding leadership and teams as they position themselves for growth via new business opportunities.
Sphere Entertainment
Live entertainment and media company Sphere Entertainment Co. announced a key promotion and a new executive hire.
Jennifer Koester has been elevated from president of business operations to president and COO of Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium in Las Vegas. In her expanded role, she will continue working with executive leadership and across the broader Sphere team to grow the business… more
Jun 20, 2024
Google’s annual developer conference, dubbed Google I/O (or just “I/O”), took place for two days beginning on May 14. The first day, its long-awaited, buzzed-about “keynote day,” is touted as being one of the tech industry’s biggest events of the year. It’s when Google unveils what it’s working on, plus new products and features, as well as what it’s focusing on in the future.
Similar to years past, I/O 2024 took place for a small live audience from the Shoreline Amphitheater just down the road from its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters, with the lion’s share of attendees tuning in via… more
Jun 19, 2024
Two hotel properties with rich histories in Cleveland and Colorado Springs opened their doors after extensive renovation and restoration projects that have preserved their storied pasts while offering contemporary comforts and amenities for leisure guests and event groups alike.
Hotel Cleveland Completes $90 Million Restoration Project
Following nearly a decade of planning, Hotel Cleveland, Autograph Collection completed a $90 million renovation project that has restored the historic downtown Cleveland building to its former glory while adding contemporary refinements and amenities.
Need… more
Jun 18, 2024
Did you know that, on average, about one out of seven of your attendees at a given event has a disability of some type? With 35 million adults in America dealing with a disability, planners must engage attendees ahead of time to understand the limitations they have, and then account for those limitations as they plan the event experience.
That was the message from Stephen Cutchins, senior manager–accessibility at meeting-technology company Cvent. To get planners to better understand and plan for the challenges that some attendees face, he delivered a varied menu of advice in a recent… more
Jun 17, 2024
Reaching $480 billion, the U.S. wellness market is growing at 5 to 10% per year, according to research by global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. In fact, 82% of U.S. consumers consider wellness a priority in their everyday lives.
As wellness trends up on the consumer side, how can business events incorporate healthy activities and food and beverage into their packed conference, networking and trade show schedules?
To find out, more than 120 industry professionals — including meeting planners, press and Caesars Entertainment staff — gathered at the inaugural Global… more
Jun 14, 2024
With the global business events industry facing increasing pressure to move in a more sustainable direction, three event industry associations teamed up to offer clear and actionable guidance to help exhibiting companies and exhibit builders reduce their environmental impacts and promote responsible practices.
Big picture: In May, the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) and the Events Industry Council (EIC) released the EDPA, ESCA, and EIC Sustainability Guidance for Exhibition Stand Construction, which is… more
Jun 13, 2024
With summer right around the corner, event technology companies in the U.S. and abroad are forming partnerships and releasing new and updated solutions – some with the help of AI – to enhance event experiences for attendees, exhibitors and show organizers alike.
Inteprefy Launches AI-Powered Live Translation Solution
In its quest to break down language barriers between international meetings attendees, multilingual meeting technology and services provider Interprefy unveiled Interprefy Now, a new mobile application that harnesses the power of AI to provide instant live translation in audio… more
Jun 11, 2024
At the crux of a vibrant, inclusive culture, an iconic skyline, and a booming tech culture is Seattle. The nearly 84-square-mile northwestern city — though best known for its coffee scene (it’s the hometown of Starbucks) — has a flourishing meetings and events landscape marked by LEED-certified hotels teeming with eco-friendly initiatives, local produce-forward culinary experiences, and more than a million square feet worth of gathering space to take advantage of. Here’s what’s new, noteworthy, nearly open, and more for meeting and event groups in Seattle.
Plentiful Spaces to Meet: Seattle… more
Jun 10, 2024
If you like your sourcing with a side of insight, the education lineup for this summer’s Connect Marketplace in Milwaukee has confirmed a full learning program for business-event professionals.
While the main goal of the August 27-29 hosted-buyer event is to bring together buyers and sellers to network and do business, attendees can earn up to nine hours of continuing education credit toward their Certified Meeting Professional certification or recertification.
Here’s a sampling of sessions planned for the show, which will be held the at Milwaukee’s recently expanded Baird Center.
RFPs:… 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