News

Jan 25, 2018
The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is designed to harmonize all existing regulations to provide a higher level of security for citizens of the European Union (EU). Slated to take effect on May 25, the GDPR will apply to any organization that does business with citizens of the EU, regardless of that organization’s location. The GDPR includes regulations on the collection, use, transfer, monitoring, tracking and even viewing of personal data. The “personal data” bucket is a big one and includes information you might not have taken into consideration. In addition to data… more
Jan 23, 2018
Event Transportation Systems, a shuttle transportation management company for corporate and association meetings, conferences and conventions, has released its latest web-based versions of the ETS-Next-Shuttle app and ETS-Shuttle-Tracker transportation management software. These next-generation transportation management and monitoring tools, which use proprietary GPS-enabled technology, were unveiled Jan. 8 at the PCMA’s annual Convening Leaders conference in Nashville.  “We created these technology tools because the modern meeting planner needs instant access to information and the modern… more
Jan 22, 2018
The Javits Center has officially launched Jake, a new online portal designed to improve the customer experience by simplifying the ordering process of products and services for upcoming events at the convention center. Featured on the Center’s redesigned and revamped website, and only available to exhibitors at this time, the new system allows customers to order more than 200 products and services, from electrical and cleaning services to audio equipment and lighting fixtures. In addition, Jake enables users to: Obtain price quotes for anticipated services Review costs before placing… more
Jan 18, 2018
“Experiential marketing” is a phrase that has been thrown around quite a bit within the events industry over the past ten years. According to Wikipedia, experiential marketing is a marketing strategy that directly engages consumers and invites and encourages them to participate in the evolution of a brand or a brand experience. Rather than looking at consumers as passive receivers of messages, engagement marketers believe that consumers should be actively involved in the production and co-creation of marketing programs, developing a relationship with the brand. Of course, Wikipedia also… more
Jan 17, 2018
On Jan. 16, the launch of the Visit U.S. Coalition was announced. Representing a broad cross-section of industries that have come together to address the decrease in international travelers to the U.S. and resulting opportunity cost to the U.S. economy and jobs, the coalition will partner with the Trump administration to reverse the decline in U.S. competitiveness for international travel dollars. “America is the best country in the world to visit, but we’re losing the competition for international travelers and the dollars they spend when they come here,” said Roger Down, president and CEO… more
Jan 16, 2018
The Event Tech Tribe has once again expanded its event industry offerings, this time with venue booking software Meetingselect. Meetingselect is the seventh member of the collaborative ecosystem The Tribe comprises. Established in 2007, Meetingselect is the world's largest independent meetings distribution system and online venue booking tool. The company’s software will integrate with all existing Tribe products. Based in The Netherlands, Meetingselect expands The Tribe’s global footprint within Europe. “It’s important to us that we serve planners and marketers wherever they are in the… more
Jan 15, 2018
Canada’s long-awaited Halifax Convention Centre opened on Dec. 15, 2017. The new $170M development, which is located in the city's downtown, features more than 120,000 square feet of new flexible events space. The new convention centre includes 50,000 square feet of multi-purpose convention space, 40,000 square feet of intimate meeting space and a ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city and harbor beyond. The venue offers an online event planner toolkit to make it easy for event professionals to quickly find the information they might need for booking and beyond,… more
Jan 12, 2018
The Phoenix Convention Center recently has completed several energy efficiency upgrades by converting outdated lighting to energy efficient LED lighting technology. Last year, the PCC participated in Arizona Public Service’s (APS) Solutions for Business energy rebate program, resulting in more than $175,000 in rebates for the LEED-silver certified facility. The PCC took full advantage of the APS rebate program by converting to LED lighting in several areas of the campus including meeting rooms, loading docks, stairwells, food court, garages, production kitchens and its grand Atrium. “… more
Jan 11, 2018
As the ongoing quest for business efficiency continues, it becomes more important for larger organizations to chart their course to implementing a Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP). The Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP) moniker was created by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). An SMMP is a disciplined approach to managing enterprise-wide meeting and event related processes, activities, metrics, standards and supplier strategies to achieve business objectives, quantitative cost savings, risk mitigation and optimal service levels. SMMPs have been touted as… more
Jan 11, 2018
Internet pioneer, entrepreneur, and New York Times best-selling author Jay Baer gave a presentation at the PCMA Convening Leaders conference this week on “The 365 Day Event - Using Digital Content to Drive Year-Round Engagement.” Baer spoke about the intersection of technology, social media, and customer service, and how this convergence relates to events. The average person uses a smartphone 76 times a day. And many attendees now bring multiple devices to an event: a phone, a tablet, and a laptop. It therefore comes as no surprise that the biggest challenge experienced by most event… 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