News
Aug 21, 2019
Facility leadership and show floor trade partners of Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia have signed a five-year extension and amendment of its 10-year labor agreement. The contract builds on the competitive work rules and expanded exhibitor rights initially put in place in 2014.
Known as the Customer Satisfaction Agreement, the extended labor agreement, which went into effect Aug. 1, allows exhibitors to set up and tear down their own booths without limitations on booth size. This marks a significant shift from the facility’s previous practice, which limited exhibitors to… more
Aug 19, 2019
Center for Exhibition Industry Research has released two new reports focused on the trade show industry’s latest best practices.
A must-read for first-time exhibitors looking to better understand material handling, Unraveling the Myths About Material Handling provides a comprehensive overview of what material handling is, along with details about what expenses and factors impact charges. It also shares advice on how to plan and send shipments cost-effectively.
Written by Aaron Bludworth, president and CEO of Fern (with contributions by Neil McMullin, senior vice president of Shared Services… more
Aug 16, 2019
When it comes to meetings and conventions hotel bookings, rates are rising: The average daily rate (ADR) for groups is up 1.9 percent compared to 2018. But the higher rates aren’t slowing group bookings down. Those numbers are also trending upwards, with a 0.3 percent increase in committed room nights compared to July 2018.
The transient segment ADR is also up, though only slightly at 0.2 percent; transient business ADR was down 2 percent.
This data was part of findings released by TravelClick, an Amadeus company, in its July 2019 North American Hospitality Review.
“July’s new reservation… more
Aug 15, 2019
Artificial intelligence-powered meeting automation platform SummitSync has teamed up with Conversica, creator of conversational AI assistants for business. The goal of this partnership is to help mutual customers maximize event ROI by driving more pre-show meetings and post-event follow-ups.
By pairing SummitSync’s conference and trade show intelligence with Conversica’s AI Assistant automated lead engagement, event marketers and sales teams can take advantage of streamlined software automation to more efficiently find, book and manage sales meetings at events. The joint platform… more
Aug 14, 2019
SPINCon, the annual conference produced by SPIN: Senior Planners Industry Network, will be held Nov. 3-5, 2019 at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course. SPIN is the world’s largest association for senior-level event planners who have at least 10 years of full-time planning experience.
In honor of this year’s theme, which is “Are You Game,” gamification will be included in the event’s app, and speakers have been tasked with finding ways to make their sessions more attendee-focused and include elements of fun.
The conference also will encompass SPIN’s six core values… more
Aug 12, 2019
The luxury 515-room JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong opened Aug. 8 as the first JW Marriott Marquis hotel in China. This builds on Marriott’s brand launch momentum in the country, as it also opened the 191-room Aloft Shanghai Zhangjiang Hotel in April.
“For years, Shanghai has been deemed one of the most iconic cities in China and in the world, drawing in luxury travelers of different backgrounds that call for premium hospitality and personalized service,” said Henry Lee, chief operations officer and managing director in Greater China for Marriott International. “We are thrilled to… more
Aug 09, 2019
International Association of Exhibitions and Events has released an update to its Guidelines for Display Rules and Regulations. The guidelines are designed to promote continuity and consistency among U.S. exhibitions and events.
IAEE recommends that event organizers use the guidelines to create consistent and fair exhibiting standards based on the individual features of their specific exhibition or event. Show managers also often include a copy in exhibitor kits or prospectuses as a helpful reference tool for event managers responsible for booth design.
IAEE display guidelines include… more
Aug 08, 2019
Known for her fierce leadership, creative approach to events and impressive collection of brightly colored Tieks flats, Angie Ahrens, CMP, is a well-known face in the corporate events industry. She’s currently vice president of operations for Leadercast, a role she began in November last year. Prior to that, she worked as senior director of meetings and events with Connect, managing more than 30 shows for meeting professionals. And in all her spare time, she finds a way to give back, currently serving on Events Industry Council’s Sustainability Committee as well as MPI’s Women’s Advisory… more
Aug 07, 2019
Atlantic City has a long and rich history. The New Jersey city has been the home of the Miss America pageant since 1921, and its five-mile boardwalk, first constructed in 1890, is the oldest in the country and the longest in the world.
Best known for its casinos, boardwalk and beach, the city also has much to offer in the way of teambuilding activities. From morning yoga on the beach to a spa experience, waterfront cruise, beer pairings or chocolate making, there are plenty of options to suit any group’s needs.
Music, Pampering and Dining at the Hard Rock Hotel
My window at the Hard Rock… more
Aug 05, 2019
GSO. DMO. DMC. CVB. Our industry is full of acronyms — and it can be challenging to figure out where to go when you’re looking to book the right hotel or venue for your event.
We’ve written previously about the value of CVBs and DMOs. Now it’s time to talk about meetings and incentive representation organizations, sometimes referred to as global sales organizations (GSOs) or hospitality partner representation companies.
The majority of these organizations cater to the high-end meetings market, providing complimentary sourcing services for planners. The idea is to match the planner with the… 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