News
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
Jun 07, 2024
Sponsored by Nth Degree Events
As macroeconomic trends push up event costs and reshape event strategies, it should come as no surprise that another event mainstay—food and beverage (F&B)—is seeing a shake-up. Instead of the traditional ritual of bringing programming to a halt for meals at fixed times, a growing number of events are offering flexible F&B, allowing attendees to eat on their own schedule.
For corporate event planners, there are real benefits to this trend—from the opportunity to offer more programming, to boosting sponsorship revenue and (perhaps most important of all… more
Jun 07, 2024
A group of six event industry leaders focused on nurturing innovative event ideas into flourishing businesses formed a consortium dedicated to shaping the future of the events industry. Offering expert mentorship, a collaborative community and strategic funding, Events Venture Group (EVG) is a nonprofit consortium designed to help next-generation event entrepreneurs launch and grow their events into successful enterprises.
“Our mission is to support the next generation of event entrepreneurs who redefine the event industry landscape,” said EVG Co-Chair Greg Topalian, founder of On Deck… more
Jun 06, 2024
Even when he’s not at work creating delicious fare for hotel guests and event groups at the William F. Bolger Center conference hotel in Potomac, MD, Chef Justin Key is still thinking about food.
“My oldest friends and my brother are all professional chefs, which makes for some interesting ‘shop talk’ even on days off,” Key said. “We often bounce ideas off each other and get together to play around with food. I enjoy cooking for large family events and find many food inspirations from those gatherings.”
A food and beverage (F&B) industry lifer, the Maryland native has been working in… 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