News
Feb 02, 2013
Digital events no longer are something that event planners are worried will replace their live events. Instead, digital events are becoming an important part of an organization’s strategy to extend the life of their three-day physical event to something that can be available 365 days a year.
With the increased demand in holding digital events, there’s also a need for qualified professionals to produce them.
To that end, the Virtual Edge Institute is the only entity that currently offers a certification program for lDigital Event Strategists and at the recent Professional… more
Feb 02, 2013
Social media is all the buzz right now, and if you want to reach the masses relatively inexpensively then you should be using social media. However, it is easy to become overwhelmed with questions like “what do I say”, “what should we post today?”, “what if someone says something negative?”, ”how many people liked us, retweeted or shared our content?”.
If this seems familiar to you, take a step back and remind yourself of the opportunity in front of you to talk one-on-one with your fans, customers and prospects.
Social Media offers you a… more
Feb 01, 2013
It’s hard to keep from taking photos of ripe oranges in the middle of the winter along Anaheim’s newest gem – the Grand Plaza that opened in January in front of the Anaheim Convention Center. This is, after all, Orange County.
With fountains and palm trees, the 100,000-square-foot pedestrian esplanade is the place to dig into a gourmet burger from a food truck, soak in the Cali sun between sessions and dance the night away at an outdoor concert.
Soon the Anaheim Convention Center campus also will welcome a $160 million expansion that will feature 250,000 sq. ft. of… more
Jan 31, 2013
The trade show industry continues to see more and more people flocking to exhibit halls, with three recent shows from completely divergent industries all scoring strong attendee numbers.
AHR Expo, the top heating, air-conditioning and refrigerating show in the United States that was held Jan. 28-30 at the Dallas Convention Center, established four new all-time records for a show held in the Southwest.
More than 52,000 attendees, 35,000 of them visitors, filled the aisles to see the latest products and technologies on display from 1,951 exhibiting companies covering 397,000 square feet… more
Jan 30, 2013
George Armando Aguel was named president and CEO of Visit Orlando, filling the open position after its prior leader, Gary Sain, passed away suddenly last year.
“George is an incredibly accomplished industry leader, with extensive experience in both leisure and business travel,” said Paul Mears III, chair of the Visit Orlando board of directors.
He added, “His knowledge of the meetings and conventions industry, as well as his relationships throughout the travel and tourism segment, matches perfectly with the criteria that our search committee identified as priorities.”… more
Jan 29, 2013
George Little Management’s US Antiques Shows portfolio just grew a little bigger, with the recent acquisition of the Miami National Antiques Show and Sale from Dolphin Promotions.
"The acquisition of the Miami National Antiques Show and Sale further strengthens US Antique Shows' unique position to deliver well-timed and ideally located shows to support the southeast Florida antiques marketplace,” said Dan Darby, GLM vice president and US Antique Shows group director.
The Miami National Antiques Show features 150 exhibitors annually, presenting a wide range of antique… more
Jan 29, 2013
Messe Frankfurt’s Texworld USA nearly doubled its exhibitor base by 47 percent to 238, compared to last year’s event during the same time frame, when it ran Jan. 14-16 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York.
There also was an 8-percent increase in attendance, compared with the 2012 January event as well.
A total of 3,627 verified attendees visited the three-day event. Visitors came from 48 countries including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Mexico and the United States, to name a few.
First-time exhibitors from Belarus, Turkey and Taiwan and returning exhibitors… more
Jan 27, 2013
Nielsen Expositions, which produces the biannual ASD Show in Las Vegas, will launch a regional event – Miami Wholesale Expo - Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Miami Airport Convention Center.
The new event is in response to market demand for a wholesale merchandise event to expand relationships for vendors specializing in fashion accessories, travel/leisure products, health and beauty items, resort apparel and footwear, novelty and souvenir items and general merchandise, according to show officials.
The Miami Wholesale Expo is a natural extension to Nielsen’s two ASD Show flagship events,… more
Jan 27, 2013
Imagine you are on a site tour of a convention center and you’re standing in the middle of the empty hall. You’re trying to picture, in your head, what the hall would look like if you decided to go with midnight blue carpet in the aisles and gold for the pipe and drape.
Freeman’s ColorSelector app allows you to replace that image in your head with a more useful one right in the palm of your hand.
Love the carpet but don’t like the look of the gold pipe and drape? Simply tap on the drape and use the color slider to select a different color. You can see, right on your… more
Jan 27, 2013
During a recent team building training at my workplace, I heard a great story about internal conflict resolution styles and how these affect the end result.
Two employees, Chris from sales and Ana from professional services, both want the last remaining orange in the break room. A seemingly reasonable solution would be to compromise and split the orange in half. That makes perfect sense, right?
Let’s assume that’s what they do. Problem solved. Well, not quite. Later, we learn Chris actually wanted the juice from the orange to make a special drink for the sales team, while… 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.