Citing a difference in wage increase expectations, Global Experience Specialists said contract renewal talks broke down last week with the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Local 1027, who work in the warehouse on exhibits and other projects.
Negotiations had been in the works during the past month in “good faith” between the two parties for a new, 4-year contract, according to GES officials.
General service contractor Fern Exposition & Event Services bought another GSC, NexxtShow, which will operate as an independent company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Both Fern and NexxtShow are foremost focused on customer service and providing personalized approach to meeting each customer’s business objectives,” said Aaron Bludworth, Fern’s president and CEO.
George Little Management’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair is experiencing a growth streak, with the recent show scoring 12-percent growth in attendance and 14-percent growth for the size of the showfloor, both compared to the previous year’s show.
More than 29,642 attendees flocked to the 165,000 net square foot showfloor May 18-21 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York.
Lack of funding, provided by the San Diego-based Tourism Marketing District, almost led to the complete closure of the San Diego Tourism Authority, which would have resulted in 85 people losing their jobs and a halt to the city’s sales and marketing efforts.
SDTA operations were meant to cease June 3, but on May 31, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner signed a last-minute deal to release $5.7 million to the TMD that allowed the SDTA, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, to stay open for business.
I recently had the privilege to represent GES at a roundtable discussion in Las Vegas with Congressman Joe Heck (R-NV). It was hosted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the U.S. Travel Association and Station Casinos.
A lot of time, voice, energy, ink and virtual storage space are used elucidating the ‘Power of Events.’ The industry – and CEIR in particular – has done an excellent job in recent years of backing this up with hard data to get marketers to understand what we collectively have to offer. We all know that most marketing text books maybe contain a page of information about tradeshows and events – and we are then forced to educate, update, and even campaign for and about the arsenal of amazing marketing and sales tools our events provide.
With 52 percent of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ membership being women and 24 percent of those in C-level positions, the organization heeded the call from its ranks and launched the IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum May 29-30 in Washington, D.C.
