News

Jul 06, 2014
In the past 23 years, as Galaxy evolved to modern-day Experient, Mike Godsey has not only seen the once omnipresent magstripe come to life, but also its demise, followed immediately by its evolution into what is being used today for lead retrieval on the showfloor. When Galaxy first started in the event registration business 30 years ago, Godsey, who is Experient’s senior vice president of market development, said, “there used to be registration forms that were mailed in and one by one keyed into a rudimentary computer system.” With the advent of computers came data… more
Jul 03, 2014
You know you are giving your event attendees the type of content they want when no one is in line for the open bar at a meet-and-greet, but instead all are busy clamoring for information. That’s exactly what happened last week in Las Vegas at the very first SHOT (The Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show Exhibitor Academy.Just more than 100 attendees representing SHOT Show exhibiting companies arrived in Las Vegas to spend two days learning how to get more out of their presence at the event, which is owned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.“The exhibitor academy was something that… more
Jul 02, 2014
June marked a month filled with people news that included long-time industry veterans announcing they were retiring, other trade show professionals being promoted and new hires into some companies. Tom Mobley, who has served as Global Spectrum senior vice president of Convention Centers since January of 2006, has retired, effective June 30.   Before joining Global Spectrum, Mobley served as general manager and CEO of the Washington Convention Center Authority in Washington, D.C. He also spent 11 years as general manager of the largest convention center in the U.S., the McCormick… more
Jul 01, 2014
Elvis and Liberace used to live there and its one of the few properties right next to the Las Vegas Convention Center, but now the hotel most recently known as the LVH – Las Vegas Hilton was bought by Florida-based Westgate Resorts. The hotel will be renamed the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. "Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino will set the standard for service in Las Vegas,” said David Siegel, founder and CEO of Florida-based Westgate Resorts. He added, "We are very excited to be taking this important part of Vegas history and reinventing it for the… more
Jun 30, 2014
EXPO PACK México 2014, recently held June 17-20 in Mexico City at Centro Banamex, closed with the show’s second consecutive sold-out event, according to show owner and organizer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. With its 18,738 net square meters (201,694 square feet) of exhibit space, 1,025 exhibitors and 25,015 visitors, this year was one of the largest overall events in the history of EXPO PACK México’s history, according to show management. EXPO PACK Mexico is an international marketplace and one of the largest processing and… more
Jun 30, 2014
The UFI Board of Directors, who are meeting this week in St. Petersburg, Russia, has announced that the next UFI President’s Triumvirate will be composed of: Andrés Lopez-Valderrama (Corferias, Colombia), President 2014-2015 Sergey Alexeev (ExpoForum-International Ltd., Russian Federation), Incoming President Renaud Hamaide (Comexposium/ViParis), Outgoing President This decision becomes effective at the conclusion of the 81st UFI Annual Congress to be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Bogota for the 2014/2015 term of office. With this announcement, UFI has ensured that Sergey Alexeev can… more
Jun 30, 2014
When the Society of Independent Show Organizers’ annual Leadership Conference kicks off Aug. 11-13 in Atlantic City, three event technology companies will have the chance to fight for the honor of winning the 2014 Event Innovation Battlefield Award. The competition will take place during the three-day event that will gather together top-tier managers and young leaders who are interested in the latest innovations and best practices to manage their more than 4,000 shows. "The Event Battlefield is an important motivational hub for innovation, ideas, talent and products," said… more
Jun 30, 2014
When the Society of Independent Show Organizers’ annual Leadership Conference kicks off Aug. 11-13 in Atlantic City, three event technology companies will have the chance to fight for the honor of winning the 2014 Event Innovation Battlefield Award. The competition will take place during the three-day event that will gather together top-tier managers and young leaders who are interested in the latest innovations and best practices to manage their more than 4,000 shows. "The Event Battlefield is an important motivational hub for innovation, ideas, talent and products," said… more
Jun 29, 2014
More than 28,000 meetings took place during the 2014 BIO International Convention, the world’s largest trade show and convention for the biotech industry, June 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center. “We’re not your typical buyer-seller show,” said Robbi Lycett, senior vice president, Conventions & Conferences for Biotechnology Industry Organization that produces the show. “It’s all about partnerships.” To help facilitate the meetings, the show offers BIO One-on-One Partnering tool that allows attendees to research and contact companies, as well… more
Jun 29, 2014
The latest edition of the Harvard Business Review (HBR)’s magazine includes an excellent article on how the role of marketing has changed in the last decade, and how the best marketing organizations are meeting the challenges of the digital age. The authors discuss results from HBR’s study on the strategies and structures that superior marketing organizations are embracing to adapt to the changing times. The study included in-depth interviews with more than 350 top executives, as well as surveys of 10,000-plus marketers worldwide. HBR divided the survey respondents into two groups… 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.