• Industry Leaders Honored at 2016 Hall of Leaders Class & Pacesetter Awards

     
    POSTED October 31, 2016
     

The Convention Industry Council held its 21st Hall of Leaders & Pacesetter Awards Celebration on Oct. 18 in Jewel Nightclub at the Aria Casino Resort. CIC honored industry leaders who have directly impacted the profession and contributed to the industry.

The theme this year was Club CIC and kicked off with a VIP pre-awards reception. The event was catered by a variety of restaurants, including Sage, Julian Serrano and Lemongrass. Several performers took to the stage, including cellist duo, Mert Sermet and Jerry Pence and twin tap dancers Sean and John Scott. Shortly following dinner, there was an after party featuring a DJ and quirky food stations that including nitrogen frozen popcorn and miniature desserts.

The recipients of the Pacesetter Award this year were Aoife Delaney and Mariela McIlwraith, CMP, CMM, MBA.

“The celebration was a truly exceptional occasion honoring industry pioneers in an intimate and unique setting,” says CIC CEO Karen Kotowski. “This was the perfect venue to showcase an innovative format for award celebrations.”

Los Angeles Convention Center Gives Back

A prime site for conventions, trade shows and exhibitions, the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) recognizes that it has a unique opportunity to impact the lives of millions of guests and community members that step through its doors every year. That’s why the center has recently collected and donated 14.1 tons of remaining event items and 12 tons of carpet to various Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations, in alignment with their commitment to zero-waste initiatives.

 
Budget Trends: Experts Talk Spending

As with most facets of the meetings and events industry, the art of managing an event budget is a true balancing act. And while it’s easy to get wrapped up in the nitty-gritty, Eventbrite revealed a pleasant surprise in its 2018 Pulse Report (which surveyed 1,200 planners), finding that event budgets overall appear to be on the rise. But where exactly are those budget dollars going these days and how can planners best spend to craft memorable moments?

 
Agriculture-focused events in The Prairie State

According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, about 1.5 million Illinois workers are employed in the food and fiber system, ranking it as one of the top states in dependency on agriculture. The state’s 72,500 farms utilize 75 percent of Illinois land, including some of the most fertile soil in the world. While nicknamed “The Prairie State,” Illinois is truly a land of plenty and a hub for agritourism—with some of the largest agriculture-focused events (holding the potential for major economic impact) taking place inside its borders.