Event Industry Latest News - October, 2023
Eager to learn about the developments in the event industry that happened in October? Check out our latest edition of Event Industry Latest News!
Sydney, Australia, has won the inaugural Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) and #MEET4IMPACT Impact Award for its BESydney Impact Program, which focuses on the social impact of business events in the region. Sydney is committed to sustainability and aims to become one of the world's "green cities" through its Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 plan. The city has been a pioneer in joining the GDS-Index, a sustainability benchmarking program. BESydney is dedicated to creating long-term social, economic, and environmental impacts through business events and has recently appointed a Director for North America to expand its presence in the US and Canada. Sydney's Sustainable Destination Partnership has helped reduce collective emissions by over 28% by collaborating with hotels, event venues, and cultural centers to improve environmental performance.
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has acquired "the Event," a significant education and networking event for industry professionals in Eastern Canada. The Event was originally created in 2016 by three Canadian MPI chapter leaders to provide a meaningful alternative to traditional conferences. It gained considerable success over five years, ultimately leading to MPI's acquisition. MPI sees this move as an opportunity to expand its presence globally through owned regional events, with potential plans for further expansion into markets like Latin America. The association is also working to align its education and certification programs with international best practices and has initiated a program allowing international chapter members to become MPI Academy instructors.
Google Experience Institute (Xi) partnered with IMEX to create a more inclusive future for the events and experiences industry. They aimed to foster connections and engage attendees through unique activations and partner journeys at the IMEX event. One highlight was a multi-sensory, museum-style activation in collaboration with Hello! Destination Management, offering personalized color world readings to attendees. Rituals and shared experiences were a focus, with an opening ceremony and a spontaneous dance party and parade at the Maritz booth. Google Xi's approach centered on pushing boundaries and generating meaningful experiences that prompt personal and professional growth. The plan is to continue building on these partnerships in the future and use IMEX as a testing ground for innovative event concepts.
IMEX America, which started in 2011 at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, recently unveiled details of the Venetian's $188 million convention center renovation during this year's event in Las Vegas. The renovation is part of the property's $1 billion capital improvement project, with a focus on meetings and events. The upgraded convention center will feature executive lounge spaces, cutting-edge technology, and a speakeasy-style lounge. The changes were made with input from clients to provide a customizable and branded experience while maintaining the Venetian's luxury heritage. The Venetian Resort offers all-suite accommodations and over 2.25 million square feet of meeting and convention space, including the groundbreaking Sphere venue.
Hubilo, a virtual events platform, has laid off a significant number of employees, with at least 50 reported job cuts, primarily in sales and marketing roles. The layoffs seem to have affected the company's global workforce, leaving very few employees outside of India, where the majority of the staff were based. The layoffs are attributed to changes in the company's strategy due to the reopening of the world and a shift away from virtual events towards simpler webinars. This marks the third round of layoffs for Hubilo in recent times, with previous rounds in July 2022 and January of the same year. Despite Hubilo's challenges, its subsidiary, Fielddrive, which focuses on in-person events, is experiencing growth and expanding its team.
Cvent, a global meetings and events technology provider, is relocating its Cvent CONNECT conference from Las Vegas to San Antonio, Texas, in 2024. The conference is one of the largest event and hospitality technology events in North America. Cvent CONNECT 2024, scheduled for June 10-13, is expected to generate a direct economic impact of $7.06 million for San Antonio. The decision to move the event is based on factors such as accessibility, local attractions, and cultural intrigue. The conference typically draws thousands of event and hospitality professionals and decision-makers, making it a significant opportunity for the host city's meetings and conventions business.
The 13th Annual Global Meetings and Events Forecast by American Express GBT Meetings & Events predicts that internal meetings will be a driving force behind the meetings and events industry's growth in 2024. The forecast is based on surveys of more than 500 global meetings and events professionals. Key findings include expectations of increased attendees (48%) and rising budgets for corporate meetings and events (67%). A majority of respondents anticipate in-person (59%) or hybrid (20%) meetings, emphasizing the importance of face-to-face interactions. Technology adoption is accelerating, with artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile apps playing significant roles in personalized attendee communication. Sustainability is rising in importance, with 78% of organizations aiming to establish net-zero goals by the end of 2024.
Messe Stuttgart, a renowned international trade fair and exhibition company with an 80-year history in Germany, has officially entered the Indian market. The company's expansion into India includes the launch of its subsidiary, Messe Stuttgart India, and the introduction of three flagship events: MOLDEX, FASTNEX, and LogiMAT India. These exhibitions aim to revolutionize the way business is conducted in India and drive innovation and growth. Messe Stuttgart India has also acquired DIDAC India, Asia's largest education and skilling resources exhibition and conference, demonstrating its commitment to fostering growth in the education sector. Additionally, Messe Stuttgart India plans to introduce DIDAC Skills, a platform focusing on skill development for India's youth. The company's vision is to provide growth opportunities for businesses, foster collaborations, and create a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and innovation in India.
Virginie De Visscher has been confirmed as the Executive Director of Destination Canada's Business Events division, marking her official role in leading Canada's business events sector. She initially took on the acting executive director role after her predecessor's departure in June. De Visscher had a prominent presence at the IMEX America trade show, where she represented Canada and hosted events. She previously worked on attracting business events to Winnipeg and held business development roles at Economic Development Winnipeg and World Trade Centre Winnipeg. Her background includes international operations and humanitarian aid, making her a notable sustainability advocate in the industry. In May, Canada received the IMEX EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award for its Business Events Sustainability Plan.
OVG360, the provider of Venue Management to the Owensboro Convention Center, has been recognized as one of EXHIBITOR magazine's 2024 Centers of Excellence, celebrating North America's top 25 convention centers for trade shows and events. The selection was based on an objective algorithm and grading scale that considered facility functionality, location, service quality, expansions or upgrades, and industry participation. The evaluation also involved surveying event planners, show organizers, and exhibit managers who recently used the facilities. The Owensboro Convention Center is now eligible for the Best Convention Center (100,000 sq. ft. of Exhibit Space) Special Award, with the winners to be announced in November. This recognition highlights the commitment to excellence and dedication of the Owensboro Convention Center's staff and partners.
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