News

Jan 23, 2017
The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association will be hosting the 2017 HCEA Healthcare Marketing Summit Jan. 25-26 at the Hilton Old Town Alexandria in Alexandria, Va. “I’m really looking forward to this year’s Summit to experience the great program put together by our volunteers and staff,” said Don Schmid, HCEA President. He added, “Of course, one of the great benefits of HCEA and specifically the Summit is to network with other members and gain valuable industry insights from those that I would not normally run across in my daily job.  This is sure to be a… more
Jan 23, 2017
The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association recently released its latest white paper, The Landscape of 1:1 Meetings in the Healthcare Events Industry.   This white paper was researched and produced by Jifflenow, a sales advancement platform for the event industry.   This document explores the different kinds of 1:1 meetings, their importance in a healthcare, medical device, or pharmaceutical company’s Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP) and the best practices involved in planning, organizing, and analyzing these interactions. The paper organizes meeting… more
Jan 23, 2017
The San Diego Convention Center Corporation is forecasting a record-breaking calendar year in 2017 for medical meetings. A total of 21 medical events, including BIO 2017, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Association of Diabetes, will hold their annual events in San Diego during the next 12 months: that's the highest number of medical meetings ever in a calendar year. "The upcoming year will be one of our strongest ever for medical meetings," said Clifford "Rip" Rippetoe, CFE, President and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. He added, "… more
Jan 23, 2017
Want to take your trade show and turn it into a compelling, not-to-miss industry event? Try strapping a few live action cameras to some of your attendees, let them loose on the showfloor, live stream their experiences on Facebook and voila – you’ve not only given your at-home audience a glimpse of what they’re missing, you’ve also turned your event into a cutting-edge attendee marketing machine! One Atlanta-based trade show did exactly that, and with overwhelmingly positive results. As a biennial trade show and conference for the woodworking, design, and material processing industry, the… more
Jan 21, 2017
HIP Network won the Professional Convention Management Association’s first-ever “Shark Tank”-style event technology pitch competition in Austin, Texas. The competition was held during PCMA's Convening Leaders annual meeting Jan. 8-11.  First-place honors were given for its newly launched ShowScore™ Business Intelligence Platform and Reporting Standard. In winning, HIP Network beat out content management apps, event check-in tech and social customizations. HIP Network’s Founder and CEO Dan Sherman demonstrated the technology to a veteran group of industry… more
Jan 20, 2017
As part of TSNN’s Research Series, we currently are collecting survey responses from show organizers for the Event Technology Trends & Future Outlook study. The link is HERE and everyone who completes the survey will receive an executive summary of the report, as well as a 20-percent discount on the full 30-40 page report on the latest event technology trends. Events and technology have a unique and powerful relationship. Yet the pace of technological change is unprecedented and accelerating, and even staying on top of trends is a challenge. To help event management analyze these… more
Jan 19, 2017
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition had a busy 2016 advocating to prove the value of the meetings industry, and 2017 looks to be even busier, as MMB continues to push existing initiatives forward and launch new ones. “Meetings Mean Business continues to grow as a coalition, attracting new supporters and elevating the industry,” said Richard Harper, MMB co-chair and HelmsBriscoe executive vice president. He added, “In 2017, we are excited to build on this momentum and expand our reach through the newly launched Meeting Planner Taskforce aimed at engaging this important audience, a global… more
Jan 19, 2017
By Elizabeth Johnson It was retail as far as the eye could see inside Jan. 15-17 the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. The National Retail Federation (NRF) opened its doors to 35,000 industry members for the 2017 Retail BIG Show. This year, well-known figures in fashion and retail, including ABC “Shark Tank’s” Daymond John, NBA Basketball Player Kobe Bryant and Astronaut Captain Scott Kelly. The show caters its content to large brands, as well as small businesses and covers all areas of retail needs from operations to technology to marketing.  Last year, NRF launched an… more
Jan 19, 2017
The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board has launched Meet L.A., a free mobile destination app for meeting and trade show professionals interested in bringing their events to the City of Angels. Following the launch of L.A. Tourism’s immersive “Virtual Discovery L.A.” last October at IMEX America in Las Vegas, the new Meet L.A. app allows users to quickly and easily view the virtual travel platform, browse through L.A.’s diverse regions and neighborhoods, and contact L.A. Tourism sales staff with any questions or booking requests. Developed in partnership with… more
Jan 18, 2017
Three years after Nashville’s Music City Center was built, the local Convention Center Authority just approved to expand the venue. The center now has a $19.9 million construction budget to build a new food and beverage outlet and expand the Exhibit Hall and Davidson Ballroom concourse space. “We are thrilled that the Authority agrees we should continue to invest in and enhance the Music City Center,” said Charles Starks, president and CEO of the Music City Center. He added, “As we have listened to our meeting planners’ feedback over the last three years, we’ve identified these as areas we… 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.