Event management firm AlliedPRA and its brands DSC, Briggs and Destination Nashville integrated into PRA. In addition, the unified PRA brand also launched a new website designed to enhance user experience for the clients as well as convey the company’s new brand and evolving vision.

In the ever-escalating #MeToo climate, MPI is standing by its commitment to establish harassment-free, safe environments that foster healthy exchanges, professional growth and collaboration. The association just rolled out MPICares, a reporting system for harassment complaints and concerns that can be completely confidential at the reporter’s request.

Peak hurricane season may be drawing to a close, but not before potentially dealing the U.S. its biggest hit of the year. Hurricane Michael strengthened to a Category 2 storm Tuesday morning, October 9 as it charged toward Florida's northeast Gulf Coast, predicted to make landfall in Florida’s Panhandle Wednesday afternoon, October 10, as a Category 4 storm, according to the National Weather Service.

MGM Resorts International was denied a motion to centralize lawsuits filed by victims of the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting.

Add Honolulu, Maui, Detroit and Oakland, California, to the list of major U.S. meetings destinations where Marriott union workers are striking. According to the UNITE HERE union group, approximately 2,700 of its workers are on strike and picketing in the Hawaiian destinations of Oahu and Maui.

The America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis will undergo an expansion and extensive renovations. The AC Next Gen Project, which will include the addition of 92,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 65,000-square-foot ballroom and meeting area, a new outdoor pavilion and 26 new loading docks, was announced during a press conference held on October 3.

Embattled MPI Foundation Executive Director Christine Roberts resigned from MPI in the wake of gross misconduct allegations of steering over a quarter million dollars in contracts to the event company of her boyfriend, Marcus Michaud, during her employment at the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB.

UNITE HERE union members at seven San Francisco hotels and in San Jose go on strike.

Starting her career at 19 as a budding marketing and promotions executive, Nova Browning Rutherford spent much of the next six years on autopilot. She worked in the hip hop music business in Toronto and Hollywood with artists such as Kanye West and other top names. Under the pressure of it all, combined with personal incidents that led to depression and anxiety, she hit a wall. Today, she is a top personal development coach and mindfulness and wellness expert with plenty of advice for busy professionals. 

Keynotes. The boon of the conference world and an anxiety inducing responsibility for any planner. The perfect one will leave your audience dazzled and an inept one will leave everyone with a sour taste in their mouths. An opening keynote sets the tone for the week(end) while the “breakout” leaves employees thinking. A proper closing keynote wraps it all up and sends them on their way, inspired. No pressure, right? With the world of expert speakers growing every day, the options are expanding while true expertise is getting harder to find.