Feb 10, 2016
Last year was a good one for Global Experience Specialists, with the recent earnings report indicating that GES scored a 14.6 percent increase in Q4 revenues, from $213.4 million during the same quarter in 2014 to $244.5 million last year.
In addition, GES’ full-year revenues also saw a 3.4 percent increase, from $944.5 million in 2014 to $976.9 million last year.
“We had a very good 4th quarter for both of our businesses,” said Steve Moster, Viad president and CEO. He added that the 4th quarter beat expectations, and the full-year results were in line with expectations.
For the full-year,… more
Feb 09, 2016
Everyone’s talking about “big data” these days, but exactly what does that involve?
Thanks to a variety of technology tools, shows now have the ability to collect a wealth of information about attendees: demographics, interests, social media details, job title/role, number of years attending, buying authority, time spent on the show floor (and in what areas), reasons for attending, other shows attended and more.
Having all this data provides insight into who really is participating in the event and how to find others who are similar. It also offers the opportunity to make adjustments and… more
Feb 09, 2016
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s (the Centre) 10th anniversary year in 2015 turned out to be a banner one for international high-profile events at the venue.
These included; the Global Food Safety Conference 2015; 18th Human Genome Meeting 2015; 26th and 27th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits; and the 128th International Olympic Committee Session, to name a few. These contributed to the Centre’s 2015 total of 1,230 events which attracted close to 1.8 million delegates.
Since its opening, the Centre has hosted 11,199 events, welcomed close to 19.4 million delegates and contributed over RM6… more
Feb 09, 2016
Reed Exhibitions Greater China made its mark in China with successful completion of the nation’s first-ever marketing certification program for exhibition industry professionals.
The Reed Exhibitions Greater China (RXGC) Marketing Certification Program, launched in March 2015, was designed with the specific aim to educate and certify marketers. It supports Reed’s vision to build a strong marketing and digital DNA within the company by developing a pool of marketing talents, and provides recognition for knowledge and skills that are critical to employees’ marketing success.
Throughout 2015,… more
Feb 09, 2016
VNU Exhibitions has announced its acquisition of Aquarama and Pet Asia from UBM Exhibition Singapore Pte Ltd. Aquarama is a trade show covering fish, invertebrates, plants and related accessories.
Pet Asia was launched in 2007 as a collocated event to extend the show coverage to other pet supplies and services. VNU will be the exhibition organiser of both Pet Asia and Aquarama, beginning with the 2016 edition.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Aquarama has been held in Singapore biennially since 1989. As an immediate effect of the acquisition, Aquarama will become an annual… more
Feb 09, 2016
During a specially convened session of the Executive Committee (Committee) Jan. 27, the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) voted unanimously to appoint Stuart Bailey, managing director of Diversified Communications Hong Kong, as the chairman of the association for the remainder of the current term which runs until June 2016.
Bailey replaces Javed Khan, Mega-Expo, who resigned his position on health grounds earlier this month.
The committee wishes to sincerely thank Javed for all of the time and effort that he gave in discharging his duties as chairman.… more
Feb 08, 2016
Music blasting from loudspeakers that pumped up the standing-room only crowd who cheered on the more than 20 contestants of the Bricklayer 500 World Championship, in which 800 bricks are placed in an hour flat, was just one of the many exciting opportunities offered to attendees of World of Concrete.
The show, which ran Feb. 2-5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and is owned by Informa Exhibitions, was a huge hit overall, drawing its largest attendance in seven years, according to Tom Cindric, vice president at Informa.
The unaudited attendance numbers were tracking an 8-10-percent… more
Feb 04, 2016
MC² (“MC-squared”), an exhibit, event and environment design and production agency, has acquired Brand Promotions, an experiential marketing and brand activation company.
The addition of Brand Promotions expands MC²’s growth opportunities within its existing trade show and events portfolio by offering expanded experiential marketing tours capabilities, according to MC² officials.
“We’re delighted to welcome Brand Promotions to the MC² family. They are a proven leader and creative force in the experiential marketing space. They are a great, hard-working team who share… more
Feb 03, 2016
Private equity firm Sentinel Capital Partners bought Marketplace Events, which organizes home and garden shows in the United States and Canada. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We are very excited about our investment in Marketplace Events," said Michael Fabian, a partner at Sentinel. "We seek to invest in niche market leaders, and Marketplace Events is the clear leader in the North American home and garden show industry.”
He added, “Moreover, the business was extremely resilient during the 2008 economic downturn and should benefit from positive tailwinds in the home remodeling and… more
Feb 03, 2016
Dallas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts broke ground on its 30-story, 853,000-square-foot hotel and luxury apartment complex today in downtown Louisville adjacent to the Kentucky International Convention Center.
“The Omni is a game-changer for Louisville’s hospitality industry increasing our convention business potential in a competitive marketplace. Louisville currently hosts 12.7 million visitors each year,” said Karen Williams, president and CEO of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
He added, “A hotel project of this scope will help support further tourism growth.”
The Omni… 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.