office
Nov 17, 2023
Geopolitics and political uncertainty now pose the greatest risk to business growth, according to a recent survey of more than 1,300 CEOs of the world’s largest businesses. The persistent flux in global politics, trade dynamics and international relations has required a new level of resilience from business leaders, who have been tasked with re-assessing their strategic priorities, focusing on the rise of generative AI, talent management and elevated stakeholder expectations in addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.  Derived from the KPMG 2023 CEO Outlook — the annual… more
partner
Nov 14, 2023
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES) are partnering to collaborate on educational efforts, issue and policy forums, advocacy support and other joint opportunities to serve the needs of the broader community. Based in Washington, DC, ECA is a coalition of professional, industry and labor organizations dedicated to the advancement of the face-to-face business events industry while IFES, based in Brussels, is a global association with national associations and individual member companies, active in the design,… more
dreamforce
Nov 09, 2023
On Tues., Nov. 7, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff announced Dreamforce reached an agreement with the city of San Francisco to keep its annual event, which attracted 40,000 customers, partners and employees to Moscone Center in September, in the venue and the city. Dreamforce 2024 will be held Sept. 17-19 at the city’s leading convention venue, which is managed by Legends, a live experience company that acquired ASM Global on Nov. 7. Benioff said on X: “Thrilled to share the news that Dreamforce, the world’s largest enterprise tech conference, will be returning to San Francisco, the stunning city… more
Nov 08, 2023
Premium live experiences company Legends is expanding its geographic reach and services portfolio with the acquisition of ASM Global, which manages a portfolio of more than 350 venues spanning five continents. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Announced on Nov. 7, the acquisition will position Legends to meet the expanding needs of sports organizations, entertainment venues, convention centers and attractions globally “while supporting its vision to deliver exceptional live experiences,” according to Legends officials in a statement. By adding ASM Global’s complementary… more
Nov 07, 2023
Following seven months of negotiations, tens of thousands of hotel workers represented by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 have reached a tentative deal with Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, averting a sweeping strike that could have massively impacted 18 major resort-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. According to Culinary Union officials, less than three hours before the strike deadline, the Unions reached a tentative agreement with Wynn Resorts on Nov. 10 at 2 a.m. for a new five-year contract covering more than 5,000… more
Nov 03, 2023
Held Oct. 17-19 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the 12th edition of IMEX America was the largest ever in terms of attendance and number of booths. The event featured 360 booths and nearly 15,000 confirmed participants, of which more than 5,000 were buyers. Those buyers, of which one-fifth represented the corporate sector, took part in more than 80,000 pre-scheduled meetings in three days, of which 73,000 were one-to-ones with exhibitors.   The show boasted a 20% increase in space taken by exhibitors and a 9% increase in the number of booths, according to an IMEX press… more
Nov 02, 2023
Global Diversity Alliance (GDA), a new global LGBTQ+ community association committed to fostering a world that celebrates and embraces diversity in all its forms, released its whitepaper, “Banning the Boycott – How to Do Business in Times of Discrimination (BTB).” The new resource, a comprehensive guide for meeting planners, hospitality and destination professionals to build more inclusive and diverse events for all stakeholders, offers pathways to navigate through the challenges of planning events in destinations with discriminatory legislation. The resource-rich, data-driven document also… more
Oct 31, 2023
The top challenges event planners are currently facing include higher costs (75.7%), followed by finding availability (51.3%), while timely approval from decision-makers, responsiveness, service levels/quality, contract negotiations and budget management were all closely ranked in third place, according to the Q2/Q3 Meetings & Events Pulse Survey.  Designed to shed light on the challenges and trends currently shaping the meetings and events industry, the biannual report by Global DMC Partners (GDP) covers top-of-mind industry topics, including current challenges, the importance of… more
Oct 30, 2023
London-based marketing, content production and event management services provider TEMBO has unveiled TEMBO TECHNIQUES, a new training and development service designed to equip event professionals with the essential skills and knowledge they need to succeed in conference production and event marketing. With an emphasis on interactivity and hands-on learning to help empower team members to learn through practical experience, TEMBO’s training portfolio will encompass a wide array of courses, with an option to tailor bespoke training solutions to meet specific business needs, according to TEMBO… more
wellness
Oct 27, 2023
As wellness and mental health have come to the forefront, today’s attendees and exhibitors value unique experiences to not only network but also recharge before, during and after events. To meet this growing demand, Caesars Entertainment, a public company with more than 50 resorts across the U.S., has launched a meetings wellness menu to fuel the mind, body and soul of event participants. Beyond healthy food and beverage options, the gaming and hospitality company is providing a wide range of wellness activities and services — from tai chi and guided outdoor hikes to chakra readings and… 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