News
Aug 31, 2018
While a reopening of one hotel is always interesting, the reopening of two sister properties is doubly so. The adjacent Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa and Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa recently reopened after extensive renovations, offering new opportunities for corporate events.
“These hotels each stand on their own or can be combined for an event that will set the bar for your organization,” said Katie Goldberg, marketing manager for the Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa and Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa.
“Each property has distinct features that provide many options to event managers… more
Aug 30, 2018
Exhibiting internationally is a big opportunity for many marketers looking for global awareness. But for even the most experienced trade show managers, exhibiting in another country can bring unexpected challenges.
Exhibitors can’t simply replicate what they’ve done in the United States. It’s important to understand the differences in meeting experiences in different countries and know the best strategies and tools to use to address these nuances.
There are three key areas to focus on to prepare for international exhibiting: exhibit stand space, construction and services; budget and… more
Aug 28, 2018
The International Live Events Association (ILEA)’s annual conference, ILEA Live, was held Aug. 16-18 in Denver, Colo. The event, and the association itself, brings together creative event professionals from across all industries.
The common theme across all these event disciplines is the need to provide transcendent, immersive experiences. People today are looking for more than just an old-school event with a single screen and classroom-style lecture presentation. They want their event to stand out from the crowd and are looking for ways to turn that idea into reality.
The featured keynote… more
Aug 27, 2018
Springfield, Mass. has a rich history of innovation. From Webster’s (now Merriam-Webster’s) dictionary to the first American gasoline-powered automobile to basketball, the city has spawned numerous inventions during its 375-year history — in fact, its nickname is “The City of Firsts.”
Now, the city has another first to add to the books, with the opening of the state’s first resort and casino. MGM Springfield ushers in a new era for Massachusetts, not too long ago a state with blue laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol on Sundays.
The 250-room MGM Springfield takes up three city blocks in… more
Aug 24, 2018
Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang, in East China’s Jiangsu province, opened in late July. The 318-room hotel is located atop the East Tower of Suning Plaza, the highest skyscraper in Zhenjiang.
“We are very excited to welcome guests and the local community to our new hotel,” said general manager Irwin Bao. “With a prime location, fantastic views, premier meeting facilities and intuitive service, we are confident that Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang will provide one-stop convenience to guests during their travels.”
Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang’s guest rooms are located on the 59th to 76th floors. Guest rooms… more
Aug 23, 2018
Event success cloud solution Bizzabo has launched a next-generation agenda feature for conferences and events designed to help event organizers create attendee-facing agenda experiences that boost audience engagement, increase discoverability of sessions and speakers, and provide actionable insights for marketers to maximize event success.
“In-person events have continued to scale at an increasing rate over the past year,” said Eran Ben-Shushan, co-founder and CEO of Bizzabo, which provides marketers with a modern suite of tools designed to create more impactful and rewarding events.
He… more
Aug 22, 2018
The fifth annual Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) and Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Global Travel Forecast was released in late July. According to the report, travel prices are expected to rise sharply in 2019 — something planners should be aware of when contracting hotels and planning for travel.
Globally, hotel prices are expected to rise by 3.7 percent and flights by 2.6 percent. In North America, hotel prices will go up 2.1 percent – 5 percent in Canada and 2.7 percent in the United States.
The report states that airfares are likely to become more expensive due to rising in… more
Aug 20, 2018
Dual-branded hotels are becoming more and more prevalent. What can beat a dual-brand? A triple brand! Hilton has made new advances in the market, opening the world’s first tri-branded Hilton in Chicago.
The new property, which includes Hilton Garden Inn Chicago McCormick Place, Hampton Inn by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place and Home2 Suites by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place, is connected to McCormick Place, adjacent to Wintrust Arena.
Located just minutes from downtown Chicago, McCormick Place is North America’s largest convention center, featuring 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space… more
Aug 17, 2018
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released its second and third fact sheets in its 2018 Attendee ROI Playbook series, a multiple fact sheet series that identifies general attendee practices and insights on differences by specific attendee categories.
Released late last month, “Fact Sheet Two: B2B Exhibitions Top-Ranked for Value in Meeting Business Information & Purchasing Decision Needs” explores the range of sources that business professionals who attend B2B exhibitions relied upon to meet their business information and purchasing decision needs in comparison to… more
Aug 16, 2018
If you’ve ever received an online invitation to an event, chances are high it was created using Evite. Now, corporate event planners can also use the invitation service to design, send and manage invitations to professional events.
For corporations that host a number of small, by-invitation-only events such as breakfasts, dinners, receptions or outings, Evite’s new service can help streamline the process.
Evite was launched in 1998, and has grown to become the market leader in the field of online invitation services. The company’s free, easy-to-use invitation designs and a private sharing… 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