News

Oct 17, 2019
The focus on sustainability in the world of corporate events will only continue to increase, according to CWT Meetings & Events. In the new M&E Future Trends Report bonus feature, The Future of Sustainable Events, CWT provides insights into the state of the industry and offers tips on how organizations can embed responsible business practices into meetings and events. “Having a responsible business approach and company culture is ever more important as employees and consumers want to be associated with a brand that reflects their values,” said Ian Cummings, vice president EMEA, CWT… more
Oct 16, 2019
Trade show organizers and exhibitors now have a simple, easy-to-use tool to help them manage their events and collaborate with their teams – for free. Officially unveiled last month, ExhibitDay is a B2B SaaS event planning and task management tool designed to help organizers and exhibitors manage their trade shows, expo booths, travel plans and budgets, all in one place.  Specifically tailored for small to medium-sized show teams attending approximately 10-100 trade shows per year, ExhibitDay comes in the free or “Lite” version as well as Professional and Premium versions that offer more… more
Oct 14, 2019
Looking for a different kind of venue for your incentive trip? Want an adult-only experience — no kids allowed? Sir Richard Branson’s latest venture, Virgin Voyages, offers ocean cruises that promise to reset expectations of what group experiences aboard ship should be like. “Virgin aims to disrupt the traditional and reset to ultimately create a better experience or product for the consumer,” says Kayla Corbett, charters, incentives and future voyage sales manager for Virgin Voyages. Scarlet Lady, the first of four vessels planned for the fleet, will set sail from Miami on April 1, 2020.… more
Oct 11, 2019
Almost three out of four Americans are unprepared for the October 2020 deadline for full implementation of REAL ID, and millions could be prevented from boarding a plane due to lack of required identification, according to a U.S. Travel Association-commissioned study.  To combat this problem, USTA is leading an initiative by private-sector travel stakeholders to better prepare the country for the REAL ID deadline. The association has developed a toolkit filled with resources for its membership and other allies to help educate Americans about REAL ID and is coordinating engagement with… more
Oct 10, 2019
Sustainability is top of mind for tech giant HP. The company’s sustainable impact strategy mission is to create lasting, positive change for the planet, our people and communities. HP has publicly committed to integrating sustainable practices into its events by reducing unnecessary materials, renting and reusing assets, recycling, composting and donating event discards. HP engaged Kindle Communications to produce the evening networking event for HP’s top 1,500 sales executives and retail, channel and alliance partners at its annual global world partner forum, HP Reinvent 2019. HP positions… more
Oct 09, 2019
A sunny late-autumn morning in St. Louis started with a convenient and delicious morning meal of grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches (complemented by Starbucks coffee and cans of Mountain Dew). The room was energetic and filled with conversation before the group of about 300 migrated into the main ballroom to kick off the 2019 Ungerboeck UNITE Conference, which ran Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at Marriott St. Louis Grand. Emcee Justin Ungerboeck, market communications manager for Ungerboeck Software International — a world leader in event management software — came on stage to set the tone for the day,… more
Oct 07, 2019
Event organizers are taking note, as voice technology allows them to deliver personalized attendee experiences in a scalable way. We spoke with one search-marketing consultant and two event technology providers to learn how. Consider The User’s State Of Mind, and Google’s Goals Trade show marketers can increase the likelihood of showing up in Google by catering to voice searches. Google has recently introduced features such as the “featured snippet” and “people also ask” box as part of its goal to answer user queries directly on its site. Events can increase exposure and site traffic by… more
Oct 04, 2019
For anyone following along with the saga of the first-ever Haute Dokimazo Secret Family Reunion, big news: you no longer need to have attended a Haute Dokimazo event in order to qualify to attend SFR! The event, which will take place Nov. 2-7, is an immersive learning experience for business, marketing and event professionals. It’s limited to just 80 people, and more than half the slots are already taken.  On Nov. 2, registrants will meet at the TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, with a suitcase and passport in hand. The first activity on the agenda is the big “reveal” party… more
Oct 03, 2019
Freeman, a provider of live events and brand experiences, has acquired Convention Data Services (CDS), an event registration, business intelligence and lead management company.  Freeman has significantly added to its global event registration and digital services offerings, having also acquired Info Salons in 2018.  “Show organizers are asking for simple, unified and effective ways to create a better experience for their teams and attendees around the world,” said Bob Priest-Heck, CEO of Freeman. He added, “The addition of CDS to Freeman’s suite of digital tools and services creates a… more
Oct 02, 2019
A conference with several thousand people sounds like an unlikely place to zen out. Yet the organizers of IMEX America and one major hotel company, understanding the immense benefits of meditation, helped conference goers do exactly that at this year’s event, held Sept. 10-12 in Las Vegas. The IMEX Be Well Lounge The event organizers behind IMEX America chose Las Vegas-based Lee Papa as the wellness expert to lead the mindfulness exercises inside its Be Well Lounge. Throughout four days (including Smart Monday), she led 25 guided meditations, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes each. It was a… 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