Association Show News

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Mar 05, 2014
People looking to start their own businesses flocked to Houston recently for Franchise Expo South, with 11,000 attendees checking out 200 different franchise opportunities. Held Feb. 6-8 at the Reliant Center, while most of the attendees came from the local area, potential franchisees came from 38 states and 18 countries. “We were extremely pleased with the record-breaking turnout at the first Franchise Expo South in Houston,” said Tom Portesy, president of MFV Expositions, producers of Franchise Expo South. He added, “Our decision to move the Expo to Houston was a… more
Mar 03, 2014
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events and the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition, on tap June 10-12 in Orlando, renewed their partnership to offer a Hosted Buyer program for IAEE members to attend the event, as well as an education session in the AIBTM Learning Theatre. "Our initial success at AIBTM last year was very promising, and we are once again proud to partner with AIBTM on this industry event," says IAEE President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. He added, "This renewed collaboration confirms IAEE's… more
Mar 03, 2014
Destination Marketing Association International awarded 10 new destinations the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) seal, designed to “illustrate a DMO's commitment to industry excellence and to raising the performance and accountability of DMOs around the world." "DMAP accreditation requires DMOs to demonstrate compliance across 16 disciplines, composed of 53 mandatory standards and is globally recognized by the destination marketing industry as the highest achievement in destination excellence," said Jack Wert, DMAP Board Chair. He added, "We… more
Feb 23, 2014
The overall health of the trade show industry received a huge boost in the fourth quarter, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s Index. The fourth quarter of last year ended on a high note, with an uptick of 3 percent, compared with the much smaller .04 percent growth in the third quarter of 2013 and 0.7 percent growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2012. Q4 2013 also marks the 14th straight quarter of increases in the trade show industry. In more good news, the latest results also outperformed GDP, which saw 2.7 percent growth in the same quarter. "With… more
Feb 19, 2014
Trade Show News Network is thrilled to unveil the TSNN Trade Show Venue Directory (http://venuedirectory.tsnn.com/), with more than 400 exhibit halls, convention centers and other facilities with exhibit space listed.  Complimentary to all users, the TSNN Trade Show Venue Directory is a comprehensive guide that is designed to assist trade show organizers, meetings and event planners to find the perfect venue for their events.  “Congratulations to TSNN and the launch of their new venue directory,” said David DuBois, president and CEO of the International Association of… more
Feb 19, 2014
Ice storms, clogged highways, a closed airport and all around chaotic weather last week in Atlanta didn’t stop people from making their way to the biannual Atlanta Shoe Market, held Feb. 13-15 event at the Cobb Galleria. In order to accommodate the approaching weather situation and getting buyers on the floor despite it all, the Cobb Galleria and Southeastern Shoe Travelers Association, who have co-hosted the event for 19 years, opened the doors three days prior to the show opening to accommodate early arrivals, including buyers from Belk, Tops and many others. Exhibitors reported… more
Feb 17, 2014
International Carwash Association Unveils New Show in Amsterdam The International Carwash Association, which represents car wash professionals, will launch Car Wash Europe Oct. 5-7 at the RAI Exhibition Center in Amsterdam, The  Netherlands. The new event will held every other year and serve car wash operators and suppliers in the European market. “We’re  incredibly  excited  to  be  launching  Car  Wash  Show  Europe,” said  ICA  CEO  Eric  Wulf.  He added, “While  there are … more
Feb 17, 2014
In an effort to expand collaborations in China, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) signed a cooperation agreement Jan. 10 with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Chengdu Sub-council at the annual CEFCO event held in Wuxi, China. The strategic agreement encourages participation in exhibitions and events in Chengdu and fosters continued goodwill throughout China. "IAEE is the largest international association representing the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with more than 8,000 members,” said Mu Tao… more
Feb 17, 2014
Meeting Professionals International released the first edition of its new Meetings OutlookTM, a quarterly report offering a unique perspective on the future of the meeting and event industry with information provided by more than 5,000 MPI members, including 700 senior meeting professionals on MPI's Business Research Panel. The report covers new trends, as well as innovations on the horizon and replaces the bi-monthly Business Barometer previously published by MPI. Meetings Outlook is available for free for both MPI members and non-members, making it more accessible to the broader… more
Feb 11, 2014
The National Retail Federation’s Retail’s Big Show broke attendance records, with 30,000 people, an uptick from 27,500 last year, Jan. 12-15 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York. There also were 555 exhibiting companies, up from 494 last year, and 205,000 net square feet, up from 168,000 net sq. ft. last year. “We are incredibly fortunate to be in an industry that is changing on a daily basis,” said Susan Newman, NRF’s senior vice president of conferences. Driving that change is technology and all the ways that consumers are buying products,… 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.