Jun 25, 2018
The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland and the Global Center for Health Innovation, managed by SMG, opened the Cleveland Convention Gallery, an exhibition space for local and regional artists located on the C2 Concourse in the Convention Center. The Cleveland Convention Gallery is located near meeting rooms 1 through 6, on the connector concourse overlooking Exhibit Halls A and B with a direct connection to the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. “As a Cuyahoga County-owned facility, the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland belongs to the people and our mission in creating an art… more
May 30, 2018
Mohegan Sun, based in Uncasville, Conn., opened the Earth Expo & Convention Center today, the property’s $80 million dollar expansion, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new center already is making a name for itself as it makes Mohegan Sun home to one of the largest and most attractive exposition sites in the Northeast, with more than 275,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. “We are honored to have you all with us and are excited to be here today to celebrate the grand opening of the new Earth Expo & Convention Center,” said Mohegan Tribal Chairman, Kevin Brown “… more
May 15, 2018
International Market Centers and AmericasMart, two operators in the furniture, gift, home decor, rug and apparel B2B industries, have entered into an agreement to form the world’s largest owner and operator of premier showroom space. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The combined corporate entity, which will operate under the name “International Market Centers,” will own and operate nearly 20 million square feet of permanent showroom space in Las Vegas, High Point, and Atlanta. The individual Markets and their respective venues will continue to operate under existing… more
Apr 23, 2018
The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) will hold the 2019 (July 21-24) VenueConnect Annual Conference & Trade Show in Chicago, Ill., at McCormick Place Convention Center and the 2020 (July 26-29) VenueConnect in Long Beach, Calif., at Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. IAVM’s VenueConnect is the industry conference that provides targeted education created specifically for more than 2,000 arena, stadium, convention center, performing arts center, amphitheater & fairgrounds, and college & university venue professionals. VenueConnect 2019 will bring… more
Apr 03, 2018
The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) Board of Directors has appointed global entertainment and convention venue management company, SMG, to oversee operations at Reno-Sparks’ major convention and entertainment facilities.  The four-year operating agreement includes the RSCVA-owned Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC), the state-owned Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center (RSLEC), as well as the Reno Events Center (REC) and the National Bowling Stadium (NBS), which are both owned by the City of Reno. “This is a great opportunity for the entire Reno Tahoe region and an… more
Mar 30, 2018
Two convention cities have been busy planning new event spaces and beautification projects to attract even more group business to their respective destinations.   The City of Las Vegas and International Market Centers, owners and operators of World Market Center Las Vegas, have set their sights on developing a new 350,000 square foot Expo Center in downtown Las Vegas adjacent to the WMC. The new multi-use building would be constructed on the nearly 60-acre World Market Center Las Vegas campus, which currently comprises three interconnected showroom buildings with more than five million sq.… more
Mar 08, 2018
The city of Louisville, Ky., has added another high-end brand to its growing portfolio of hotel properties, in this case, a $300 million development designed to attract larger conventions and more leisure travelers to the Derby City. Featuring 612 guest rooms, 226 apartments and 70,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the Omni Louisville Hotel opened its doors ahead of schedule on March 6 with a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration headlined by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Gov. Matt Bevin, Omni Hotels & Resorts owner Bob Rowling and Omni Louisville General Manager Scott… more
Mar 06, 2018
Cobo Center has launched a newly redesigned exhibitor and conference services online ordering system that provides in-house and vendor event services with a streamlined, transparent ordering process and allows customers access to their ordering history from start to finish. “For our customers across the globe, this new software creates an online order system for Cobo event services that gives immediate information to users on order status, history and payment,” explained Claude Molinari, general manager of SMG/Cobo Center. He added, “Reports, statements, and receipts are digitized,… more
Feb 27, 2018
If you are considering taking your event to The Netherlands – most people likely would focus on Amsterdam, but there are two other affordable and easy-to-access cities to look at as well: Rotterdam and The Hague. “We think that Rotterdam is the new and exciting choice for event organizers, with the same level of service and quality that can be expected from all cities in the Netherlands as a destination country,” said Catherine Kalamidas, account manager for Rotterdam Partners Convention Bureau. She added, “The good thing is that the Netherlands is such a small country that you can actually… more
Feb 23, 2018
Located in the heart of the historic city of Monterey, the new $60 million Monterey Conference Center is open for business after two years of renovations. The official ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Jan. 31, followed by a celebration that included live music, hors-d'oeuvres and guided tours of the property. The Conference Center is a modern, LEED-certified meeting facility that features more than 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and can fit groups of up to 3,200 attendees. The exterior of the building presents a striking first impression with natural stone, a large oval… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.