News
Sep 17, 2021
Gavin Escolar, a happy Uber driver, made $252,000 a year, only $36,000 of which came from his daily trips. The "Uberpreneur" made the extra money by using his car as a "showroom" for his jewelry design company.
Much like Gavin, event profs too, try to make the most from organizing an event. Here are 5 ways for event profs to engage with customers and make that extra buck for their brand, virtually.
Ticket sales - Ticket sales are like the mafia of events. Want to learn how to make pretty pennies from them at virtual events? Bifurcate ticketing based on:
Early bird discounts
VIP tickets… more
Sep 17, 2021
While the words “startup” and “epiphany” seem to go hand-in-hand nowadays, a pivotal moment of realization is not what inspired Adam Riggs to create Frameable and build out its suite of remote-first digital experiences, including its virtual and hybrid event platform, Social hour.
“Many founder stories start with a magical ‘aha!’ moment—a sudden spark of inspiration an aspiring entrepreneur scribbles on a coffee shop napkin,” he said. “I don’t have one of those.”
What Riggs does have is an incredibly varied career that has led him to reflect on learnings from his many prior roles, including… more
Sep 17, 2021
Naylor Association Solutions, a leading provider of innovative association tools and services that strengthen member engagement and increase non-dues revenue, recently unveiled the findings of its "2021 Association Communications Benchmarking Report.”
The 10th annual report analyzed survey data from 500 senior executives at North American trade associations, professional societies and association management companies, providing an inside look at how associations are navigating the impacts of COVID-19 on member engagement and communications, live and virtual events, staffing and non-dues… more
Sep 16, 2021
After realizing that he wasn’t ready to pursue a career in engineering, Phelps Hope dropped out of college and took a job as a bellman at a local hotel. The decision turned out to be a life-changing one, prompting him to leave his home country of Australia to study at the University of Denver’s Hotel & Restaurant Management School while starting his career at Marriott at the same time. But it wasn’t until he’d spent more than a dozen years holding key positions with Marriott, Sheraton, Hilton and Loews Hotels, that he decided to chase his true passion: meeting and event planning.
Forty… more
Sep 15, 2021
Dallas Market Center (DMC), global B2B trade center and wholesale marketplace, recently hosted the world’s largest trade events for western and equestrian buyers and brands. Held Aug. 26-29, the venue’s second edition of the biannual WESA International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market overlapped with the collocated Dallas debut of the AETA International Trade Show, which was presented by the American Equestrian Trade Association and took place Aug. 24-27.
Throughout the equine-themed marketplace, more than 1,000 western and equestrian lifestyle brands in temporary exhibits and… more
Sep 14, 2021
On Aug. 26, the PCMA Foundation recognized more than 20 business events industry leaders at the 2021 PCMA Visionary Awards, which honors exceptional industry professionals for their significant contributions to their organizations and the business events community.
Held at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C., the vibrant event hosted more than 500 guests, who celebrated with a red carpet experience, an awards show and an after party featuring Austin-based band, The Nightowls.
“The Visionary Awards is an opportunity to celebrate our amazing colleagues, while also supporting the PCMA… more
Sep 13, 2021
Meetings, events, travel and tourism industry leader, Connect is gearing up to launch a second signature conference next year. Set for May 22-24, 2022 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, Connect Puerto Rico will host more than 2,000 meeting and event professionals at a multi-track event designed to serve as a hub for networking and business development for corporate, association and sports planners. Connect will host a second large-scale conference in Detroit, Aug. 8-10.
The 2022 plans come on the heels of Connect’s successful 2021 marketplace in Tampa, Fla. Held Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at the… more
Sep 10, 2021
While the pandemic may have sidelined events at convention centers and other venues for a while, several made great use of the downtime to continue constructing new venues or expanding existing facilities. Check out five of the most notable new developments in 2021.
Oklahoma City Convention Center
Oklahoma City significantly elevated its capacity for hosting meetings, conventions, tradeshows and other events with the opening of the $288 million Oklahoma City Convention Center and adjacent 605-room Omni Oklahoma City headquarters hotel early this year.
“The new venues and infrastructure… more
Sep 10, 2021
With the pandemic showing no signs of abating, the event tech boom is continuing to transform the way virtual and in-person gatherings are planned and experienced, as well as the way event professionals are skilling up. Check out some of the latest developments.
yellobox
As the world gets back to in-person events, yellobox is persuading event professionals to think outside the box. The startup, which is the brainchild of tech entrepreneur Laurence Moore, launched in 2019 as a tool to seamlessly blend data sharing, digital marketing and lead-capture for in-person events into one opt-in… more
Sep 09, 2021
From new leadership appointments to newly created positions designed to grow and expand burgeoning departments, trade show and event professionals are continuing to find new career opportunities as the industry forges ahead toward recovery. Here’s the latest news:
Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau
After 20 years with the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau, CEO Mary Ann Mahoney will retire on Oct. 15, 2021. Charlene Hoffman, the CVB’s current operations and financial officer, will assume the CEO role on Oct. 16.
A valued leader in Colorado’s tourism industry who has mentored a… 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.