Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) are collaborating to present a free, 12-hour live stream of Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) events taking place around the world. The GMID Virtual Event begins at 6 a.m. CDT on Thursday, April 12th, highlighting events starting in Europe, and concludes at 6 p.m. CDT with broadcasts from North … Read More about MPI and MMBC Partnering on GMID Virtual Event
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) announced today that in its 2017/18 fiscal year it contributed more than 90,000 kilograms of food to organizations in Toronto that support individuals struggling with hunger. The MTCC’s food donation program partners with events and conferences to reduce food waste and ensure that extra food items are donated to organizations in Toronto that help fight … Read More about MTCC Food Donation Program Helping Combat Hunger in Toronto
Tourism in Toronto had a record-breaking year in 2017, with 43.7 million visitors welcomed to the region. For the first time, overnight visits in Toronto, Canada's Downtown, surpassed the 15 million mark (15.5 million), joined by 28.2 million same-day travellers. Visitors to Toronto spent $8.8 billion – the most economic activity ever generated by the region's tourism industry and … Read More about Tourists Love Toronto, 2017 Record-Breaking Year
PCMA’s Digital Experience Institute annual online Summit is now open for registration. The all-day event, which is supported and sponsored by Meetings + Conventions Calgary, will take place on Wednesday, November 15, between 8am and 5pm CT. Participating event professionals will join veteran strategists and newcomers to the digital space alike, to learn all about digital event solutions and how … Read More about Registration Open for PCMA Digital Experience Online Summit
An event should be remembered for what it offered attendees—networking opportunities, great food, stunning location and engaging keynote speakers. It shouldn’t be remembered for the chaos at the registration desks when ransomware took the registration system down or the notice informing attendees of a breach that exposed their registration and credit card data, their medical conditions, dietary … Read More about Cybersecurity and Event Planning
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has signed an agreement to acquire Banks Sadler, an international event management agency headquartered in London, England. The company will operate as part of American Express Meetings & Events, a division of GBT. The transaction is expected to be completed in Q3 2017. Issa Jouaneh, senior vice-president and general manager of American … Read More about American Express GBT Acquiring International M&E Company
Kindred Resorts & Hotels, a collection of 63 independent hotels and resorts focused exclusively on the group and meetings market in North America, has added seven new properties to its portfolio. They are: Big Cedar Lodge – Ridgedale, Missouri: Comprised of more than 800 acres in the Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge blends rustic living with modern comforts. It offers lodges, cottages … Read More about Kindred Resorts & Hotels Adds to Portfolio
bb Blanc received the Best Technical Support for an Event award at the 2017 Canadian Event Industry Awards Ceremony, which was held March 30th in Toronto. The audiovisual service provider received the award for its third-time production of the Honda of Canada Manufacturing Holiday Party, which was held on November 26, 2016 at the International Centre. The function, which hosted 2,600 … Read More about bb Blanc Wins Best Tech Support Honour
Considering the city’s population has grown by nearly 20% in the last 10 years, it’s no wonder the lakeside city of Kelowna has changed as much as it has. A blossoming tech sector, revitalized downtown, changing infrastructure, an acclaimed university, a surge in housing development—these are all features of a city that is rapidly expanding in ways its residents never imagined. With more large … Read More about 10 Ways Kelowna has Changed in the Last 10 Years
Ottawa Tourism reports that as of January, 45 large-scale events (500+ delegates) had booked their 2017 congresses in the city, which is the epicenter of Canada's 150th anniversary celebrations. The number represents a 220 percent increase over large-scale events booked in 2015. The growth in Ottawa's popularity for meetings follows significant investment in the destination and, in … Read More about Business Event Bookings Up in Ottawa
Event services provider GES has purchased Poken, a cloud-based , 360-degree event management platform. The Poken platform has been used, in part or whole, at more than 2,000 events around the world. It includes tools for networking, digital content collection, event management, online visitor portal, digital check-in and attendee tracking, match making, meetings management, registration, … Read More about GES Acquires Poken
The Palais des congrés de Montréal reports that it has hosted 16 national, regional and international aerospace events, which have brought in $34.4 million in tourism revenues for Montréal and Québec. The events attracted 18,500 delegates, which translated into 38,500 room nights. "We have every intention of continuing to encourage the holding of major international meetings related to key … Read More about Montreal and Quebec Benefiting from Aerospace Events
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — FMAV has been named an authorized partner for Brightbox, offering secure mobile device charging stations available for rental across Canada, it was announced Jan. 3. “Brightbox provides a best-in-class secure mobile device charging solution that truly engages event attendees with sponsors and brands,” said Alissa Hurley, vice-president, marketing, at FMAV. “Through this … Read More about FMAV to Offer Event Smartphone Charging Stations
DALLAS — The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is now VisitDallas, president and CEO Phillip J. Jones announced at the organization’s annual meeting on Dec. 1. “Dallas is catching on, and we must discover the social currency and triggers that will make Dallas a must-visit destination,” said Jones. “We are within reach, but we have more work to do. This is an exciting time for Dallas … Read More about Dallas CVB Rebrands as VisitDallas
SYDNEY — Tourism Australia announced this month a number of upcoming hotel openings, new flights and new venues catering to the meetings and events industry. Marriott International is set to expand across Australia over the next few years. To that end, the hotel company will add to its portfolio the W Brisbane and Aloft Perth in 2017; Four Points by Sheraton Parramatta in 2018; and Sheraton … Read More about Update: What’s New in Australia
DENPASAR, INDONESIA — Tribute Portfolio, Marriott International’s collection of independent hotels and resorts, has debuted in Bali, with the opening of Sthala, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Ubud Bali, it was announced last month. “At the time of the brand’s inception, members expressed the desire for more access to independent hotels in locations like Bali, especially in indie neighborhoods … Read More about Tribute Portfolio Debuts First Property in Bali
NEW YORK — W Hotels Worldwide has opened a property on the North End of the Las Vegas Strip in a 289-room tower of SLS Las Vegas, it was announced Dec. 1. Philippe Starck, in collaboration with Gensler architects, designed the 289 guestrooms that feature signature W bedding and Bliss bath amenities. Designed by musician Lenny Kravitz, the 2,382-square-foot Extreme WOW Suite, located on the … Read More about W opens on Las Vegas North Strip
LOS ANGELES — Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) unveils its new meeting and event spaces, which will be available beginning Jan. 1, 2017. Included in the hotel’s redesign is The Hyatt Regency Conference Center featuring more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Equipped with 3GB shared bandwidth, the Conference Center will be located on the ground level of the hotel … Read More about Hyatt LAX New Unveils New Meeting Spaces
HALIFAX — The Halifax Convention Centre’s opening has been delayed again and is now targeting a late 2017 launch, Argyle Developments announced Nov. 18. In a press release, Argyle Developments said that it expects “substantial completion” by August 2017, with an opening now planned for December 2017. This follows several delays that pushed the opening from September 2016 to March … Read More about Halifax Convention Centre Delayed until Dec. 2017
ALEXANDRIA, VA — A new GBTA Foundation study revealed the most valued and most desired features when it comes to site sourcing technology, it was announced last month. Location (27 per cent) and cost (26 per cent) are the top factors for choosing a property to host a meeting or event. Currently only two in five planners (43 per cent) have access to technology that automatically populates … Read More about Most Valued Site Sourcing Tech Features: Study
