News

Nov 04, 2022
Event professionals expect in-person events and budgets to increase in 2023, according to the 12th annual Global Meetings & Events Forecast, produced by American Express Meetings & Events, a division of American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT).   The 2023 Global Meetings & Events Forecast is based on a survey of 580 meeting and event (M&E) professionals across the value chain in 23 countries, as well as interviews with industry leaders. Key findings from the report include: 77% of respondents are optimistic about the health of the industry heading into 2023, rating… more
Nov 03, 2022
Event tech continues to evolve at warp speed, this time through developments such as a custom smartphone map app for events, a new attendee-tracking solution powered by AI, an alliance to combine event pods and interactive touch-screen kiosks, and a rebrand of a multilingual event platform. Read on to learn more! HipMaps HipMaps, an award-winning, custom smartphone map app for events, businesses and destinations, released a personalized, deeply informative map for the recent IMEX America 2022 show in Las Vegas, demonstrating the company’s ability to design unique maps for events of any size… more
Nov 01, 2022
According to new analysis released on Oct. 6 by U.S. Travel Association economists, the U.S. Department of State’s low prioritization of visitor visa processing is severely hindering the U.S. economic recovery, preventing an estimated 6.6 million potential visitors from traveling to the U.S. in 2023 at a loss of $11.6 billion in projected spending. Wait times for visitor visa interviews now exceed 400 days for first-time applicants from top source markets, a huge deterrent that is sending millions of potential visitors – including business event delegates—and billions in traveler spending to… more
Oct 31, 2022
These days, with mainstream media overflowing with negative news, it’s refreshing to focus on the positive—in this case, how the corporate events industry is giving back and lending a helping hand to the vulnerable and less fortunate. Read on to learn how the meetings industry’s biggest association and a leading venue management company are making a positive difference in the lives of those who need it most. MPI  Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world’s largest meeting and event industry association, was recently recognized by The Code (aka, The Code of Conduct for the… more
Oct 28, 2022
Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), announced a Destination Booking Agreement (DBA) that includes a toolkit to establish mutually agreeable terms to protect both the destination and the business event professional. The announcement was made at the recent IMEX America show in Las Vegas, where Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International, and three representatives from Destinations International’s Large Market Roundtable were on hand to discuss the DBA’s importance to… more
Oct 27, 2022
Leading AI-powered translation service Wordly, which launched in 2019, took inclusivity to a new level for IMEX America 2022 in Las Vegas, enabling thousands of attendees to engage in education in the language of their choice, in addition to announcing Cvent integration, six more language options, on-demand transcript translation and expanded developer APIs. Wordly, which recently topped 200 million minutes of live translation on its platform, making it the first SaaS solution designed for meetings and events to reach this milestone, was the official translation provider for IMEX America,… more
Oct 25, 2022
When it comes to achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the global events industry has a lot of work to do, according to the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study. Released on Oct. 11 in partnership with EIC’s global Equity Task Force, created in 2020 to address systemic racism and all forms of discrimination in the business events and hospitality industry, the study signifies the critical first phase of EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan. While there is an ever-growing awareness and commitment toward equity in the industry, survey scores reveal widespread DEI… more
Oct 24, 2022
On Oct. 17, the 25-story Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City officially opened its doors as the first major hotel development in 20 years in a city recognized as one of the fastest-growing urban hubs in the U.S. Debuting as the only hotel directly connected to the Salt Palace Convention Center and the first Hyatt Regency in Utah, the new downtown property features 700 modern guest rooms and suites, and more than 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the largest hotel ballroom and largest outdoor rooftop event space in the city. According to General Manager Pina Purpero, the… more
Oct 21, 2022
The soaring inflation rates that have plagued the U.S., let alone some other countries around the world, may not be subsiding any time soon. The Labor Department reported that the September consumer price index (CPI) rose 8.2% over the prior 12 months, which is higher than what experts had predicted. Increasing costs have taken a heavy toll on the business events industry, with inflation’s impact seen in the price of transportation, hotels, venues, food and beverage, guest speakers and several other aspects of events.    We checked in with four event professionals to find out how inflation… more
Oct 20, 2022
MeetingPlay + Aventri, two leading event tech companies that merged in January and in June acquired eventcore, which provides customized registration and other event tools, has consolidated the three entities under the new name Stova. The company unveiled the new brand during IMEX America 2022 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where its staff was out in full force at their newly minted exhibit booth.  With the consolidation of three major event technology pioneers, the company is designed to be the most comprehensive platform in the industry for delivering exceptional on-site… 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