From theticketingbusiness.com

North American gaming group Great Canadian Entertainment has announced an exclusive partnership with Live Nation to bring leading music and comedy acts to its venues across Canada.

Great Canadian, which operates 25 properties in Canada, including casinos and racetracks, has named Live

Nation Canada as its exclusive booking agent, and the two companies will jointly promote the programming.

Among Great Canadian’s properties is the under-construction 5,000-capacity The Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, which will open at the new $1 billion Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto later this year.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Live Nation Canada, the premier live entertainment promoter in the world,” said Gavin Whiteley, chief marketing officer at Great Canadian. “This partnership will bring some of the biggest and most exciting artists to our exceptional venues, providing guests with unforgettable experiences they will cherish for years to come.”

The partners claim this strategic alliance is one of the first of its kind in Canada. The deal will also cover the new The Arena at Pickering Casino Resort, River Rock Casino Resort, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, Molson Canadian Centre at Casino New Brunswick and The Schooner Showroom at Casino Nova Scotia.

By R.V. Baugus

The University of Idaho was the latest university to receive safety and security training from IAVM Director of Safety & Security Mark Herrera. The Moscow, Idaho, university went beyond having the training to just its campus as the meeting extended to two individuals from the University of Washington.

Stuart Taylor, Associate Director of Multi-use Facilities at the University, took a few minutes to share what the training meant for his team.

Was this Mark’s first time to train your team and what was the thinking behind having him come do this at the University?

Yes, it was the first time to have Mark come and do a training for us. Our thinking was to get as many staff as possible get crowd manager trained. This was also one step in building our security and guest service training programs. This training has provided us with some of the tools that we will need to accomplish this.

What were some of the specific topics/areas of his training?

Situational Awareness, De-Escalation, Active Threat/Active Shooter, and Crowd Manager program.

How many did he train and were they all staff there at the University?

We had 44 people in attendance. Two members were from the University of Washington. All the rest were from the University of Idaho from different departments on campus. We had tech staff, custodial, concession, guest service and security, special events from campus, and Jazzfest staff.

How was the training received amongst the attendees?

Staff liked what was presented.

How will you utilize the training?

This training is another step in our development of our guest service and security programs. It also provided training to the other departments as to what role they play in our facilities, especially during an emergency.

Does the training carry extra significance (and if so, how) in light of the horrible killing of the four students?

This training is one more step for our staff in how to help make our events and guests feel safe and comfortable on campus.

By R.V. Baugus

IAVM Director of Safety & Security is constantly on the road preaching — well, teaching — to IAVM member venues the importance of safety and security. It is all part of Mark’s incredible training that he has shared with dozens and dozens of venue types. Mark’s first-hand observations in the area of safety were called on in an interview he did with Smart Meetings magazine along with other industry leaders. Below are Mark’s answers to the interview on the topic of “What the Official End of Covid Means for Meetings.” To read the full story, click here.

What does the official end of Covid mean for the meetings industry?

The end of Covid-19, as an official declaration, would have significant implications for the meetings industry. With the end of Covid-19, there would likely be a resurgence of in-person meetings and events. Organizations and businesses would feel more confident about hosting conferences, trade shows, conventions and other gatherings that require physical presence.

We have seen increased attendee confidence and the official end of Covid-19 alleviated concerns about health risks associated with attending meetings. Attendees feel more comfortable and willing to participate in face-to-face events, leading to higher attendance rates. The meetings industry is closely tied to the hospitality sector, including hotels, restaurants and transportation services.

The end of Covid-19 could provide a much-needed boost to these industries, as more people travel for meetings and events. Virtual meetings and hybrid events became prevalent during the pandemic. However, with the return to normalcy, the demand for virtual meetings may decrease as organizations prioritize in-person interactions. Virtual meetings may still have a place, but they may not be as widespread. In-person meetings provide valuable networking opportunities that are difficult to replicate in virtual settings.

With the end of Covid-19, professionals will have more chances to connect and build relationships, leading to potential collaborations and business growth. While the end of Covid-19 would mean reduced health risks, safety measures may still be necessary, at least for a transitional period. Venues and organizers might continue implementing hygiene protocols, enhanced cleaning practices and health screening measures to ensure the safety and well-being of attendees.

Did it end the way you predicted?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were levels of uncertainty worldwide however, numerous experts and organizations, including public health authorities and epidemiologists, made predictions and projections based on available data and scientific models. It is important to note that the course of a pandemic can be highly dynamic and subject to various factors, which made accurate predictions challenging.

Some predictions made by experts during the pandemic did align with the eventual outcomes, while others may have required adjustments as new information emerged. Factors such as the emergence of new variants, changes in public health measures, vaccination efforts, and adherence to guidelines all played significant roles in shaping the trajectory of a pandemic.

I personally felt that as an association, we, and I mean The International Association (IAVM) was going to get in front of the pandemic by offering up-to-date feedback, member participation, training, and open forums with sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Infectious Disease Society of America (IFDSA) and other reputable health organizations.

From a security perspective, the venue industry did not lose sight on the importance of assuring all facilities did not become so anemic to the point that it would pose as a potential target for threat actors wanting to exploit the opportunity for crisis and media exposure.

Are we better or less prepared for whatever next disruption comes to the hospitality industry?

The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly presented significant challenges to the event and hospitality industry and has served as a learning experience for the future. The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities and risks faced by the hospitality industry during a health crisis. This experience may have increased awareness among industry professionals, leading to better preparedness for similar disruptions in the future.

Lessons learned during the pandemic can help shape future protocols and strategies. The Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated the implementation of rigorous health and safety protocols across the hospitality industry. These measures, such as increased sanitization practices, social distancing and improved ventilation, may remain in place or be readily deployable for future disruptions. The industry’s experience in implementing and managing these measures could enhance preparedness for similar situations.

Technological Advancements: The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of various technologies within the hospitality industry, such as contactless check-ins, digital payment systems, and improved ventilation systems. These technological advancements may contribute to increased preparedness for future disruptions by enabling more efficient operations, enhanced guest experiences and better adaptability to changing circumstances.

Collaborative Efforts and Information Sharing: The global nature of the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted increased collaboration and information sharing within the hospitality industry. This exchange of knowledge, best practices and lessons learned can contribute to improved preparedness for future disruptions. Industry associations, organizations, and government entities have played a crucial role in facilitating such collaboration.

All protocols established as a result of 9/11, we are better equipped to immediately pivot and find all resources and information to assure we focus on protecting the number one asset: People.

By Margo Madden

APPI Energy, a national energy consulting firm specializing in comprehensive energy management strategies for commercial, industrial, government, and non-profit clients, announced that it has merged with Environ, an energy management company specializing in sustainability consulting services. The partnership aims to strengthen APPI Energy’s current sustainability and efficiency offerings to both the APPI Energy client base and their Affinity Partners.

Established in 1996, APPI Energy was one of the first firms to provide advisory services on the procurement of electricity and natural gas, launching a unique go-to-market strategy and business model that would in time be endorsed by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and national and state trade associations and their more than half a million member companies. The Affinity Partnerships were designed to educate trade associations and chambers of commerce on deregulation in the early years, evolving over time alongside the industry to include more in-depth education on energy management strategies, including sustainability and efficiency technologies and solutions.

With a foundation in assisting commercial, industrial and government entities in deregulated states with the procurement of their electricity and natural gas, it was a natural next step for APPI Energy to expand their services, launching the Energy Solutions Division in 2019. Today, their holistic approach to energy management aims to provide clients with a full suite of energy solutions, an initiative that will be complemented and further strengthened by the new partnership with Environ.

“By merging with APPI, Environ’s suite of leading-edge sustainability solutions has found a powerful new market channel consisting of 160 national and state trade associations and their more than half a million member companies,” said Mark Mininberg, CEO of Environ. “We could not be more pleased with the APPI team or more excited about the future growth of our combined enterprise.”

Being data-driven has also been pivotal to the success of APPI Energy. APPI maintains a proprietary database of more than 250 million pricing data points, enabling their energy consultants to compare historical and real-time prices in every deregulated energy market. Environ’s commitment to data-centric, innovative technologies was appealing to APPI leadership, along with Environ’s steadfast commitment to providing optimal service while guiding clients through the energy transition.

“The merger of APPI Energy and Environ is the perfect combination of advanced energy solutions and national market access” said Walter Moore, APPI Energy Founder and CEO. “Aligning decades of experience, expertise and corporate cultures built on success and integrity brings a truly holistic set of energy solutions to our clients.”

The acquisition was made possible with support from 424 Capital, a growth capital investor that works in partnership with founders and management teams to accelerate and scale for long-term growth.

Margo Madden is Chief Strategy Officer for APPI Energy.

OVG360, operators of the Swiftel Center in Brookings, S.D., announced a new 10-year multi-million-dollar partnership with Dacotah Bank, a state-chartered bank in all of South Dakota and North Dakota as well as counties in neighboring states, whereby Dacotah Bank will become the new naming rights partner of the Brookings 6,000-seat arena, effective immediately.

The public can expect to see name transitions gradually from the Swiftel Center to its new Dacotah Bank Center naming rights across all platforms and media completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2023. Dacotah Bank previously partnered with OVG360 in past sponsorship capacities at the center.