
Feb 23, 2017
One week after Emerald Expositions announced it would not be considering Utah to keep its Outdoor Retailer shows in when the contract runs out, officials from another show – the North American Handmade Bicycle Show – said they would no longer hold their event in the state.
Both shows, along with Emerald’s Interbike show that also took Utah off its list as a possible new home, are leaving in protest of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert’s attempts to undo federal protections of Bears Ears National Monument.
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show is scheduled to run March 10-12 at the Salt Palace… more

Feb 21, 2017
With such a wide variety of trade shows and events moving in and out of the Georgia World Congress Center on a weekly basis, it would make perfect sense for such a busy facility to devise a multi-faceted food and beverage venue able to satisfy all kind of culinary tastes and preferences.
Enter Social Table, a flexible restaurant concept designed to suit the unique dining needs of individual trade shows and their attendees.
“Each convention center event brings a new set of attendees who move, see and dine differently,” said Cindy van Rensburg, division president of Levy Restaurants, the GWCC’s… more

Feb 13, 2017
As the leading global destination and online streaming platform for Japanese anime and East Asian media, Crunchyroll is about to take its first foray into the event world with the launch of Crunchyroll Expo.
Scheduled Aug. 25-27 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif., the new event will offer everything ardent fans have come to expect from the popular brand wrapped into three jam-packed days of anime, manga, games and cosplay, as well as unique exhibits, immersive activations and guest appearances by some of the biggest personalities in Japan and the U.S.
Crunchyroll Expo… more

Feb 07, 2017
Emerald Expositions’ Outdoor Retailer has opened the door to possibly moving its show out of its long-time home at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.
The show recently announced, in cooperation with Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, that it will solicit proposals for venue locations for shows and events scheduled for November 2018 and beyond.
“Outdoor Retailer has always been about ‘Right time, right place, right stuff,’” said Marisa Nicholson, show director for Outdoor Retailer.
She added, “We… more

Feb 03, 2017
Earlier this week, Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky announced the selection of the design-build team for the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s $1.5 billion expansion project.
Following a rigorous evaluation process with the help of five groups of technical experts, a blue-ribbon selection panel chose LendLease Turner to coordinate and construct the massive project.
The panel’s recommendation was approved by the board of directors of the New York Convention Center Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development that owns the convention… more

Jan 24, 2017
Make: and Reed Exhibitions are partnering up to launch Maker Faire Chicago 2017. Set for April 22-23 at McCormick Place, the two-day, family-friendly event will be collocated with the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2).
Co-founded in 2006 by Maker Media, Maker Faire festivals gather together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors to celebrate innovation, creativity and hands-on collaboration across the spectrum of science, engineering, art, performance and craft.
Upon its debut,… more

Jan 18, 2017
Three years after Nashville’s Music City Center was built, the local Convention Center Authority just approved to expand the venue.
The center now has a $19.9 million construction budget to build a new food and beverage outlet and expand the Exhibit Hall and Davidson Ballroom concourse space.
“We are thrilled that the Authority agrees we should continue to invest in and enhance the Music City Center,” said Charles Starks, president and CEO of the Music City Center.
He added, “As we have listened to our meeting planners’ feedback over the last three years, we’ve identified these as areas we… more

Jan 05, 2017
LIGHTFAIR® International (LFI) has announced it will hold its 2018 trade show and conference at McCormick Place in Chicago. Set for May 6-10, the event will mark LIGHTFAIR’s first staging in the Windy City since 1995.
According to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and COO of LFI managing partner AmericasMart Atlanta, which produces and manages the show, the move is designed to accommodate the show’s continuing growth.
Taking the event to Chicago will not only provide the global lighting design community with the accessibility, convenience and service benefits available in the… more

Dec 27, 2016
The TEAMS ’18 Conference & Expo will be held Oct. 1–4, 2018, at the Kentucky International Convention Center, which will reopen in 2018 following a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation project.
“We are pleased to be the first travel industry show that will be held at the newly expanded Kentucky International Convention Center,” said Timothy Schneider, president and CEO of Schneider Publishing Company, which publishes SportsTravel magazine and organizes the TEAMS Conference.
He added, “We have had a longstanding relationship with Louisville, which proved to be an… more

Dec 20, 2016
The Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority (GIMTCA), which governs the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center (SITCC), has selected Songy Highroads, LLC., in partnership with Omni Hotels & Resorts, to develop a convention headquarters hotel.
It will be located on Hutchison Island adjacent to the riverfront convention center, which is managed by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA).
The next step of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the GIMTCA board at its Dec. 14 meeting, is to work through development agreements, said… 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.