Volunteers from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority celebrated Global Meetings Industry Day in advance of May 6 with a charity event benefitting SafeNest, a nonprofit organization supporting battered and abused women.
I talk to mid-market CEOs every week who’ve done everything right on paper. They bought the tools. Hired the people. Launched the pilots. Gave the all-hands speech about transformation.
Six months later, the meeting notes look better. The emails are more polished. And the organization is still slow, still noisy, still stuck in the same decision loops it was stuck in before they spent the money.
Over a year ago, in my January ’25 column, titled The Future of Tradeshows, I wrote:
“The Department of Defense began funding AI research in the sixties. Today, AI enhances communication and accelerates analysis and content production. It can impact all phases of a tradeshow: from improving security and event planning, to logistics and production.
Event Marketer announced a landmark strategic alliance with The Exhibitor Advocate, the only nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to championing the interests and success of the trade show exhibitor community.
International briefs this month span venue operations, certifications, sustainability tools, congress growth, destination marketing, and event technology across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
On May 4th, Craig Hoffend announced his departure from Gielissen Interiors | Exhibitions | Events on LinkedIn. “After five incredible years,” he says, “I am stepping down as CEO of North America at Gielissen: Interiors, Exhibitions, Events. It has been an honor to lead and build a company that truly embodies the core values of Gielissen.”
Graphic Image Flooring, a national leader in custom vinyl flooring, is pleased to announce the addition of Brittany Bertrand, its new Vice President of Marketing. Brittany brings over a decade of experience in creative direction, graphic design, and strategic marketing leadership.
MSM Inc., a woman-owned leader in trade show exhibits and experiential marketing, has appointed Kelley Bridenbaugh to lead its marketing strategy and brand growth initiatives.
Queen Exhibits, a leading provider of tradeshow asset management, display services, and logistics services headquartered in Piqua, Ohio, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Bracci as its new General Manager.
William Fogler, founder and principal of WM Events, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Southeast Award by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and uplifting communities.
Marketplace Events (MPE), North America’s leading consumer and trade show organizer, announced the acquisition of the Travel & Adventure Shows, the only series of consumer-facing travel trade shows in the United States. The transaction, which closed May 1, 2026, represents the largest acquisition in Marketplace Events’ history.
With respect to the “weight of the lift,” audio and visual (A/V), staging, and lighting have the most immediate effect on cost efficiency for a supply chain. It makes sense that this element of the event supply chain were early adopters even if they did not realize they were being more sustainable.
