office
Nov 17, 2023
Geopolitics and political uncertainty now pose the greatest risk to business growth, according to a recent survey of more than 1,300 CEOs of the world’s largest businesses. The persistent flux in global politics, trade dynamics and international relations has required a new level of resilience from business leaders, who have been tasked with re-assessing their strategic priorities, focusing on the rise of generative AI, talent management and elevated stakeholder expectations in addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.  Derived from the KPMG 2023 CEO Outlook — the annual… more
partner
Nov 14, 2023
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES) are partnering to collaborate on educational efforts, issue and policy forums, advocacy support and other joint opportunities to serve the needs of the broader community. Based in Washington, DC, ECA is a coalition of professional, industry and labor organizations dedicated to the advancement of the face-to-face business events industry while IFES, based in Brussels, is a global association with national associations and individual member companies, active in the design,… more
dreamforce
Nov 09, 2023
On Tues., Nov. 7, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff announced Dreamforce reached an agreement with the city of San Francisco to keep its annual event, which attracted 40,000 customers, partners and employees to Moscone Center in September, in the venue and the city. Dreamforce 2024 will be held Sept. 17-19 at the city’s leading convention venue, which is managed by Legends, a live experience company that acquired ASM Global on Nov. 7. Benioff said on X: “Thrilled to share the news that Dreamforce, the world’s largest enterprise tech conference, will be returning to San Francisco, the stunning city… more
Nov 08, 2023
Premium live experiences company Legends is expanding its geographic reach and services portfolio with the acquisition of ASM Global, which manages a portfolio of more than 350 venues spanning five continents. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Announced on Nov. 7, the acquisition will position Legends to meet the expanding needs of sports organizations, entertainment venues, convention centers and attractions globally “while supporting its vision to deliver exceptional live experiences,” according to Legends officials in a statement. By adding ASM Global’s complementary… more
Nov 07, 2023
Following seven months of negotiations, tens of thousands of hotel workers represented by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 have reached a tentative deal with Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, averting a sweeping strike that could have massively impacted 18 major resort-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. According to Culinary Union officials, less than three hours before the strike deadline, the Unions reached a tentative agreement with Wynn Resorts on Nov. 10 at 2 a.m. for a new five-year contract covering more than 5,000… more
Nov 03, 2023
Held Oct. 17-19 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the 12th edition of IMEX America was the largest ever in terms of attendance and number of booths. The event featured 360 booths and nearly 15,000 confirmed participants, of which more than 5,000 were buyers. Those buyers, of which one-fifth represented the corporate sector, took part in more than 80,000 pre-scheduled meetings in three days, of which 73,000 were one-to-ones with exhibitors.   The show boasted a 20% increase in space taken by exhibitors and a 9% increase in the number of booths, according to an IMEX press… more
Nov 02, 2023
Global Diversity Alliance (GDA), a new global LGBTQ+ community association committed to fostering a world that celebrates and embraces diversity in all its forms, released its whitepaper, “Banning the Boycott – How to Do Business in Times of Discrimination (BTB).” The new resource, a comprehensive guide for meeting planners, hospitality and destination professionals to build more inclusive and diverse events for all stakeholders, offers pathways to navigate through the challenges of planning events in destinations with discriminatory legislation. The resource-rich, data-driven document also… more
Oct 31, 2023
The top challenges event planners are currently facing include higher costs (75.7%), followed by finding availability (51.3%), while timely approval from decision-makers, responsiveness, service levels/quality, contract negotiations and budget management were all closely ranked in third place, according to the Q2/Q3 Meetings & Events Pulse Survey.  Designed to shed light on the challenges and trends currently shaping the meetings and events industry, the biannual report by Global DMC Partners (GDP) covers top-of-mind industry topics, including current challenges, the importance of… more
Oct 30, 2023
London-based marketing, content production and event management services provider TEMBO has unveiled TEMBO TECHNIQUES, a new training and development service designed to equip event professionals with the essential skills and knowledge they need to succeed in conference production and event marketing. With an emphasis on interactivity and hands-on learning to help empower team members to learn through practical experience, TEMBO’s training portfolio will encompass a wide array of courses, with an option to tailor bespoke training solutions to meet specific business needs, according to TEMBO… more
river walk
Oct 27, 2023
Cvent, a global meetings, events and hospitality technology provider, is moving its 2024 customer and industry conference from Las Vegas to San Antonio, Texas. Cvent CONNECT, one of the largest event and hospitality technology conferences in North America, has been held in Las Vegas since 2014. With more than 21,000 customers worldwide, Cvent CONNECT 2024, which will be held June 10-13 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, is estimated to generate a direct economic impact of $7.06 million for San Antonio, according to Visit San Antonio. “We know our customers – and the industry at… 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