May 30, 2017
How many convention centers can boast having their very own farm, not to mention a slew of beehives pumping out delicious honey for in-house menus and catering? And out of those select few, how many facilities also have an enthusiastic young college intern ready and willing to help with beekeeping and farmhand duties? The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland is fortunate enough to be such a venue, with a sustainable working farm situated on a quarter acre of land at the north end of the property. Operated by Levy and SMG, the “Real FarmVille” is home to 500,000-1.5 million… more
May 16, 2017
The Minneapolis Convention Center now is using a recently installed stormwater storage system that is expected to keep an estimated 5.4 million gallons of rainwater from running off and flowing into the Mississippi River each year. A series of large rainwater storage pipes with a total storage capacity of 250,000 gallons have been buried under the facility’s marshaling yard, where they will collect runoff from 10 acres of the building’s roof and store it in a network of 10- and 11-foot diameter corrugated steel pipes until needed for irrigation. As the primary source of water for the… more
May 11, 2017
Imagine you’re at a large trade show in a giant convention center among throngs of people and you’re starting to feel tired and stressed. Instead of just grinning and bearing it, you’ve arranged to take a break and venture to the facility’s green roof, where a sprawling garden of plants and flowers, along with birds, bees and butterflies, awaits you. As you drink in the serene, meadow-like landscape and beautiful city views, you enjoy a leisurely stroll, breathe in some fresh air and suddenly realize you’re not feeling nearly as tired or stressed out anymore. In fact, after just a few… more
May 10, 2017
Monterey Bay is upping their game with a multi-project renovation and expansion of various meeting spaces in the area. Whether you are looking for a good conference venue, offsite meeting spaces, locations for group activities or venues for incentive trips and team building, Monterey Bay is ready to deliver. The new Monterey Bay Conference Center: Nestled in the downtown area and only steps away from the waterfront, the Monterey Bay Conference Center is undergoing a transformation. “We are in the final stages of our $60 million renovation to the 40,000 square feet of interior space here at… more
Apr 27, 2017
The San Diego Convention Center has taken its environmental ambitions to the next level by achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. As one of the most popular and well-respected green building certification programs used worldwide, LEED is known as the foremost rating program for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings, homes and communities. During a public celebration to mark this important milestone for the facility, San Diego Mayor Faulconer praised the venue’s efforts in achieving the benchmark environmental… more
Mar 30, 2017
Nursing mothers now have a couple of private sanctuaries to retreat to when attending conventions and meetings at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland. The SMG-managed facility has installed two portable lactation suites for female attendees and exhibitors wishing to breast feed their infants or use breast pumps in privacy. “We are offering the new lactation suites during conventions, meetings, and trade shows to offer comfort and convenience for our guests,” said Mark J. Leahy, general manager of the HCCC. He continued, “Young mothers have had to utilize public restroom spaces or… more
Mar 28, 2017
In order to meet the growing needs of convention groups, retain existing clients and compete with other similar-sized destinations for group business, more and more cities and their convention and visitors bureaus are recognizing the importance of investing in convention center upgrade and expansion projects. The city of Cincinnati, Ohio is such a destination. The Queen City is setting its sights on expanding the 49-year-old Duke Energy Convention Center, which was renovated in 2006 but hasn’t undergone a significant exhibition space expansion in nearly three decades. At the Cincinnati USA… more
Mar 24, 2017
Vinexpo, the international exhibition for wine and spirits professionals, is gearing up enter the world’s largest wine-consuming market with its first U.S. trade show. Scheduled March 5-6, 2018, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, Vinexpo New York is expected to host 200 exhibitors from wine-producing regions throughout the globe, along with 3,000 attendees, including importers, distributors, retailers, brokers, e-commerce, on-trade buyers and sommeliers. “We’re excited to combine forces with Vinexpo to bring the international world of wine and spirits to New York – the… more
Mar 15, 2017
The Los Angeles Convention Center recently reported its achievement of a record-breaking 90.3 percent waste diversion rate for the 2016 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, held Oct. 5-7. This marks a historic accomplishment for both the show and the LACC, which partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council and Informa Exhibitions to divert Greenbuild’s recyclables and composting out of the facility’s waste stream. “As the first large convention center in the U.S. to receive LEED EB-Gold recertification in 2015, the LACC is incredibly proud of what our teams were able to… more
Mar 10, 2017
Last year was a good one for convention business in the City of Brotherly Love. According to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), 2016 marked its highest convention booking year ever, with 713 events using 903,199 hotel room nights secured for future years. Those figures represent an 18.2 percent and a 5.8 percent increase in the number of events and room nights secured, respectively, compared with 2015.  Among the major conventions committed to hosting future events in Philly include the 2022 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery/American Society of… more
Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be. Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024. To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages. Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions. In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage. Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.