News
Jan 23, 2019
With the U.S. government shutdown still in effect — and stretched longer than any other in history — many association meeting planners and trade show organizers are concerned about how this might impact their events.
Destination DC has been actively campaigning to let the world know that the city is open for business and ready to welcome both events and leisure travelers.
The “DC is Open” campaign was first launched during a previous shutdown in October 2013, and has been redeployed to help visitors navigate the city.
While the Smithsonian museums, National Zoo, National Gallery of Art and… more
Jan 22, 2019
Trade wars and a turbulent global economic outlook. Global opportunities, changing business models and disruption. The need for show organizers to remain flexible as well as pragmatic in running and planning their businesses going forward. These are just some of the pressing industry issues that will be addressed at the 2019 UFI European Conference, set for May 15-17 at the Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham, U.K.
Produced by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the annual event for exhibition professionals will focus on what organizers in Europe and beyond will be… more
Jan 22, 2019
For smaller exhibiting companies with limited marketing budgets, investing large amounts of money on flashy, high-end booths to maximize foot traffic and generate meaningful leads can be a big, if not impossible challenge. That’s where event technology can help even the playing field on the trade showfloor.
Enter the Balou App, a mobile marketing solution for exhibitors seeking to enhance their booth presence and increase foot traffic by promoting their giveaways, samples, raffles or contests to a wider event audience, all in one convenient place.
“I have attended over 50 conferences in the… more
Jan 21, 2019
Event planners looking for a Pacific Northwest hotel able to accommodate all their meeting guests might want to take a look at the Hyatt Regency Seattle. The new 45-story downtown property, which is now the largest hotel in the region, opened its doors late last year, on Dec. 10.
Located just two blocks from the Washington State Convention Center and adjacent to The Summit, the planned convention center expansion building slated to open Spring 2022, Hyatt Regency Seattle offers more than 103,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space.
“Progress is all around us,” said Hyatt… more
Jan 18, 2019
As the American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
We are seeing Mead’s words come to fruition in many aspects of our society, including the global business community, as more people and companies are taking the lead in creating positive change via corporate social responsibility programs.
The events industry is no exception to this, with many companies and individuals doing their part to set up programs and campaigns to help make a difference in… more
Jan 18, 2019
Want to learn how to design magical, mind-mapping event experiences for your attendees? Want to unleash the magic within you and your organization by receiving one-to-one advice on how to make your next event rock your participants’ (and your leadership’s) world?
Tap into the inspiration and innovation of the creative mind of Duncan Wardle, former head of innovation and creativity at the Walt Disney Company, in our first Ask Me Another live video session of the new year, set for Thursday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. ET.
A former top executive at one of the most creative companies in the world, Wardle… more
Jan 17, 2019
The 53rd annual CES took place Jan. 8-11, attracting around 180,000 attendees and 4,500 exhibiting companies from more than 155 countries. Occupying 2.9 million net square feet of expo space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, this was the technology show’s largest-ever showfloor.
Due to space constraints, the show’s attendance likely won’t grow much more. The goal is to keep attendance capped at around 180,000, says Sarah Brown, senior manager of event communications with Consumer Technology Association, which produces CES. Last year’s show saw 182,198 domestic and international attendees;… more
Jan 15, 2019
PSAV is known by many planners as the in-house or preferred audio-visual provider at leading venues across the nation. In fact, PSAV has a presence in nearly 1,600 locations within 10 different countries. The production, creative, technology and staging services company was acquired by investment firm Blackstone in August 2018 and will soon become even larger with the acquisition of Encore Event Technologies.
Encore Event Technologies, a global provider of event technology, staging and production services, was formed in 2014 when The Freeman Company merged acquisitions made respectively in… more
Jan 15, 2019
Pittsburgh put on one heck of a show for several thousand industry leaders last week at PCMA’s Convening Leaders annual conference, held Jan. 6-9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The theme hit hard on innovation in an ever-changing industry.
“We built this conference around the theme 'Disrupt + Deliver' because that’s what the industry needs and wants,’’ explained PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat. “We leave here with a greater commitment and better understanding of how business events can and must drive economic and social progress.’’
A roster of standout speakers included… more
Jan 15, 2019
Event management solution provider Aventri and AI Chatbot company Sciensio have teamed up to offer an industry first: an end-to-end event management solution that leverages EventBots.
EventBots are now available as an add-on to the Aventri product suite, allowing planners to access the technology directly through the Aventri dashboard.
EventBots provide quick answers to thousands of the questions event attendees commonly ask. With the new Aventri/Sciensio chatbot technology, attendees simply text their questions to a phone number that the organizer provides (or use planner-defined… 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.