News
Oct 20, 2023
Internal meetings are predicted to be a driving force behind the meetings and events industry’s growth in 2024, as organizations focus on building relationships and achieving objectives within their dispersed workforces, according to the 13th Annual Global Meetings and Events Forecast, produced by American Express GBT Meetings & Events.
The 2024 Forecast, a result of surveys of more than 500 global meetings and events professionals and insights from industry leaders conducted in June and July 2023, reveals several key trends and expectations for next year.
Highlights include… more
Oct 19, 2023
Following COVID, the pent-up demand for in-person events and experiences has reached new highs. Artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter are cashing in – big time.
With $579 million in revenue, Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour will go down in history as the highest-grossing tour by a female artist of all time, according to Forbes – at least until The Eras Tour by Swift concludes on Nov. 23, 2024, in Toronto. It’s estimated the tour will generate $1.4 billion in gross revenue, according to Pollstar.
With soaring revenues and big production budgets, these B2C experiences highlight… more
Oct 17, 2023
The buzzing no-alcohol movement is as strong as ever, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Research from Nielsen IQ (NIQ) underscores the fact that consumers are either ditching booze altogether or enjoying alcohol in moderation as part of a “sober curious” or “mindful drinking” lifestyle. Non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits sales have steadily grown over the past several years, while alcoholic beverage sales have dropped, according to a recent NIQ trends report.
As demand grows and new non-alcoholic brands continue to flood the market and rise in popularity, the events… more
Oct 16, 2023
The Vendry, an online event venues and vendor search platform for corporate event planners, has made searching for venues and vendors even faster, easier and more efficient with the launch of a new search engine that enables planners to discover venues and vendors in one centralized place.
Powered by The Vendry’s database, the new search experience brings more than 1 million data points on global venues and vendors together with live insights from The Vendry’s community of corporate event professionals to display the most relevant and comprehensive set of results, according to The Vendry… more
Oct 13, 2023
Sheraton Waikiki, an oceanfront resort nestled along the world-famous Waikiki Beach, has completed a $200 million renovation project, which included upgrades to all 1,636 rooms and suites. This multi-year endeavor has transformed every facet of the resort, promising guests an unforgettable Hawaiian experience against the backdrop of Diamond Head and Waikiki's enchanting waters.
Revamped rooms
A standout feature of the revamped rooms is the tailored, curated closet, providing travelers with much-needed organization and convenience. Washlets have been added to each room for an extra touch of… more
Oct 12, 2023
A leading event technology company and a full-service global event agency recently unveiled new service offerings to help show organizers and meeting planners produce more impactful events and elevate the attendee experience.
Bizzabo
Bizzabo, the Event Experience OS, recently launched Bizzabo Studios, a premium event creative and production service that merges event technology with creative and operational expertise to produce more innovative and compelling digital or in-person events.
The new offering is the result of a successful multi-year partnership between Bizzabo and award-… more
Oct 10, 2023
In 2023, Huong Nguyen, CEO and founder of Shiloh Events, celebrated 10 years in business as a full-service agency that specializes in managing large-scale corporate events for global brands. Established in 2013, Shiloh Events will produce 25 events in 2023 for a variety of clients, including Fujitsu, Hitachi, Sanford, Redis and Culture Amp — to name a few. Today, the company has 12 employees with people based in the Bay Area, Philadelphia, Austin, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles and San Diego.
With an MBA in marketing and more than 15 years of experience in the events sector, Nguyen has… more
Oct 09, 2023
The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry, recently unveiled its Q2 2023 Global Events Barometer, which reveals a second consecutive quarterly uptick in hotel room nights and business event requests for proposals (RFPs).
The 2023 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study, which EIC released in May, demonstrated the ongoing recovery of global business events from the impact of the pandemic. A vital aspect of this study involves understanding the industry’s recovery trajectory and its future direction, according to EIC officials.
A… more
Oct 05, 2023
Omni Hotels & Resorts is continuing to expand into new U.S. cities while elevating existing luxury properties to meet the ever-changing needs of leisure and business guests, including corporate meetings groups. Take a look!
Omni Raleigh Hotel
Omni Hotels & Resorts will soon be debuting in Raleigh, NC. On Sept. 19, the Raleigh City Council voted to direct staff to enter into negotiations with the hotel and resort company to develop a much-anticipated convention hotel in the city’s downtown. Expected to open in 2027, the Omni Raleigh Hotel will be built on a more than one-acre lot… more
Oct 05, 2023
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg kicked off the 10th annual Meta Connect developer conference on Sept. 27 at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. At the company’s first in-person conference since the start of the pandemic, Zuckerberg told the audience of developers, employees and journalists that Meta is “focused on building the future of human connection.”
Registration for the in-person Connect conference was limited, but the event was open to the public virtually. The in-person experience included access to the networking events and demos. As mentioned, this year’s Connect is an in-… 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