News

Feb 02, 2014
The Professional Convention Management Association continued with their tradition of experimentation by introducing a hackathon, sponsored by FreemanXP and QuickMobile, at this year’s Convening Leaders. The idea was to provide education and provoke interest for PCMA attendees in how mobile technologies can be used at events. The first hackathons date back to 1999, but they became more mainstream in the mid 2000s. A hackathon is an event where software developers come together to collaborate in a specific project. The key to the hackathon is its intensity. The word hackathon is a… more
Feb 02, 2014
The Professional Convention Management Association continued with their tradition of experimentation by introducing a hackathon, sponsored by FreemanXP and QuickMobile, at this year’s Convening Leaders. The idea was to provide education and provoke interest for PCMA attendees in how mobile technologies can be used at events. The first hackathons date back to 1999, but they became more mainstream in the mid 2000s. A hackathon is an event where software developers come together to collaborate in a specific project. The key to the hackathon is its intensity. The word hackathon is a… more
Feb 02, 2014
This past Sunday the GRAMMYs aired on CBS and if you were on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest or Instagram at the time you were bound to see discussions and images covering the performances, outfits, and winners.  GRAMMY.com recently announced, “Music’s biggest night is TV’s biggest social event of the 2013-2014 season with a record-breaking 34 million social media interactions.” This is an event manager’s dream!  You, too, can achieve spectacular success on social media for your event! The GRAMMYs started promoting their social media channels long… more
Jan 30, 2014
Hanley Wood Exhibitions’ World of Concrete just wrapped up in Las Vegas and not only did the show fare well, but also the mobile game app made specifically for it – Rig Racin’ – scored a whopping 100,000-plus downloads. Game players had the opportunity to steer mixer trucks through three action-packed, challenging game-play environments. Players had to deliver their cement load on time to receive in-game rewards and to advance to more challenging levels throughout the game. The better the player, the more in-game cash the player could earn to purchase new themes for… more
Jan 30, 2014
Atlanta-based Shepard Exposition Services has acquired US Expo & Convention Services, which has offices in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz. "US Expo's reputation as an above-and-beyond service-provider is a perfect cultural fit for our organization and our Blue Diamond Customer Service Program,” said Carl Mitchell, Shepard's president. He added, “Also, it will strengthen our existing national operations network by adding these key markets to our growing western operations.” US Expo’s operations will be integrated into Shepard’s within the next 30… more
Jan 29, 2014
Kicking off the beginning of the year, several companies snagged new or renewed business contracts. Global Experience Specialists signed a multi-year agreement with the Los Angeles Auto Show as its official services and electrical provider. GES also was selected to provide audio visual services. “After an extensive competitive review, we are excited to continue our growing business partnership with GES as the Show’s official services provider,” said General Manager of the LA Auto Show Terri Toennies. She added, “We look forward to strengthening our existing… more
Jan 28, 2014
Two wintertime shows heated up the trade show industry, with both the PGA Merchandise Show and the NAMM Show seeing an increase in professional attendance, compared with their events held last year. The PGA Merchandise Show, produced by Reed Exhibitions, was held Jan. 22-24 and covered 1 million square feet of the Orange County Convention Center, including some 483,000 square feet of interactive exhibit and demonstration areas. PGA Professional attendance grew by five percent, while overall industry attendance dipped slightly (by 5 percent) to total more than 41,000 PGA Professionals,… more
Jan 28, 2014
Continuing its rapid expansion further into the home show market, Marketplace Events will launch another one in New Orleans next year. The NOLA Home Show will take place Jan 16-18 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Marketplace Events already recently rolled out a new fall home show in Birmingham, Ala., in September 2013, as well as they are planning for the upcoming launch of the Cleveland Home + Remodeling Expo in March at the newly renovated Cleveland Convention Center. “We’ve had great recent success in launching new home shows in North American markets of strategic… more
Jan 27, 2014
Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s President and CEO Jim Wood resigned from the top post, effective immediately, and Karen Williams will take his place in the interim, beginning Jan. 29.   Woods has been at the bureau for 11 years, and his resignation was accepted by the Commission of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau at a board meeting. Williams previously held the post as executive vice president at the Louisville CVB, but had retired in 2012 after 23 years at the bureau. “Jim Wood has brought Louisville unparalleled success when it comes to… more
Jan 27, 2014
The American  Academy of Dermatology’s 2014 Annual Meeting, on tap March 21-25 in Denver,  will feature four Live Demonstration sessions, including a new live session, “Live Demonstration: Soft Tissue Augmentation and Neuromodulators — Simultaneous Cadaver Prosection and Live Patient Injections”. The new session, directed by Dr. Susan H. Weinkle, MD, will debut March 21 in the Bellco Theatre. In this session, described by Dr. Weinkle as “a first-in-class dermatology live injection session demonstrating anatomy and injection technique,” attendees… more
Partner Voices
One of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip just got an upgrade. Mandalay Bay has everything that your business needs from a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, to an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're looking for a venue that's both inviting and innovative, you have to be here. New Wave Experiences Mandalay Bay continues to invest in a new wave of enhancements both in the convention space and within the resort as a whole. New restaurant openings including Orla by Michael Mina, drawing inspiration from the award-winning chef’s childhood in Egypt and with flavors and décor inspired by the spices found in markets common to coastal Mediterranean towns, as well as Caramá by Wolfgang Puck, bringing the essence of Italy and spirit of Wolfgang into one concept, are recent additions. The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas also experienced a recent remodel of all 424 rooms. Swingers, a high-end, adults-only golf and entertainment concept will debut in Fall 2024. Enhanced Technology Creating a truly effective conference venue requires careful thought into what a business needs: the right technology, capacity, and inspiration to bring ideas to the next level. As part of the resort’s refresh, Mandalay Bay implemented state-of-the-art technology upgrades, installing cutting-edge Cat6A Ethernet cabling throughout the convention center. This advancement doubles the frequency of data transmission, enabling lightning-fast speeds up to 9400% faster. The convention center now boasts 11 dynamic digital walls, spanning up to 24' x 13', strategically positioned for brand placements, sponsorships and targeted event messaging. Additionally, attendees can benefit from 20 double-sided 55" mobile flexible display units, facilitating effortless navigation to meeting rooms and events. RFID locks were installed on all meeting room doors, and over 200 motion detection cameras have been placed throughout the space. Refreshing New Design & Fine Art The newly remodeled convention space provides a bright and vibrant atmosphere that complements Mandalay Bay's tropical-inspired brand. Featuring white-washed walls and ceilings adorned with bold floral patterns in cerulean and coral tones, the space is complemented by warm walnut accent walls. In addition to the redesign of all pre-function spaces, meeting rooms and ballrooms, Mandalay Bay's 1 million square feet of exhibit space has undergone a rejuvenation, including new paint, covered pillars and relocated strobe lights. Sustainable Spectacles Mandalay Bay is committed to Focused on What Matters and creating more responsible meetings. Refillable water stations all available around the resort, cutting unnecessary plastic usage from single-use bottles. The Mandalay Bay campus’ recent upgrades represent a bold step forward in redefining the Las Vegas experience. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and unparalleled service, Mandalay Bay sets a new standard for excellence in business hospitality. Whether you're seeking cutting-edge conference facilities, world-class dining options, or simply a luxurious retreat, an unparalleled meeting experience awaits.