The IAVM Mentor Connector Program is getting ready to launch the Spring 2023 Cycle! We’re looking for members who want to invest time in their careers through one-on-one mentoring.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Mentor or Mentee to further your professional development, please join our informational webinar Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2pm ET.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Mentor Connector creates the opportunity for an experienced professional (Mentor) to provide guidance and encouragement to a member who has an identified professional development need (Mentee). Anyone at any stage of their career can be a Mentor or Mentee. There are no restrictions or qualifications, just an IAVM membership and a desire to participate – and, it’s free!

Go to https://iavm.org/career-learning/mentor/ for more information and to apply. For any questions email robin.covington@iavm.org. Applications are due March 31, 2023.

Your Diversity & Inclusive Leadership Committee is now accepting scholarship applications for Venue Management School and VMS Graduate Institute!

Venue Management School – Tampa, FL | June 4 – 10, 2023 | Check – in Sunday, June 4th, Check out – Saturday, June 10th

Diversity Scholarship Application Criteria:

The diversity scholarship focuses on broadening the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in the venue management industry.

• Applicants must be American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Latinx, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA, or a person with disabilities
• Applicants must be a member of IAVM, or become a member before scholarship can be awarded
• Applications must be completed online and submitted no later than the deadline
• Recipients must be able and willing to attend Venue Management School for the year in which the scholarship is awarded
• Recipients must be willing to support the Foundation’s fundraising initiatives by providing testimonials, photo(s), blogging about their experience and participating in speaking opportunities as an advocate for the Foundation as requested
• The scholarship covers the school’s registration, room & board at Saddlebrook Resort for a double guest room only. The scholarship does not cover airfare, ground transportation or food not covered by the school’s registration tuition fee

Application deadline is Friday, March 24, 2023! Apply now!

VMS Graduate Institute – Tampa, FL | June 4 – 10, 2023 | Must arrive and check in before 1st class, which is at 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 4th, Check out Saturday, June 10th

Diversity Scholarship Application Criteria:

The diversity scholarship focuses on broadening the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in the venue management industry.

• Applicants must be American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Latinx, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA, or a person with disabilities
• Applicants must be a member of IAVM, or become a member before scholarship can be awarded
• Applications must be completed online and submitted no later than the deadline.
• Recipients must be able and willing to attend Venue Management School Graduate Institute for the year in which the scholarship is awarded
• Recipients must be willing to support the Foundation’s fundraising initiatives by providing testimonials, photo(s), blogging about their experience and participating in speaking opportunities as an advocate for the Foundation as requested
• The scholarship covers the school’s registration, room & board at Saddlebrook Resort for a double guest room only. The scholarship does not cover airfare, ground transportation or food not covered by the school’s registration tuition fee

Application deadline is Friday, March 24, 2023! Apply now!

By Scott Trotter

Responding to accelerating job growth in the rapidly expanding area of conferences, trade shows, and meetings, Utah Valley University (UVU) has announced a new bachelor’s degree in event management.

The new major, UVU’s 92nd bachelor’s program, will be offered through the Woodbury School of Business and is the first degree of its kind in Utah.

“Business events is a fast-growing, multibillion-dollar industry, and the demand for event planners and managers — particularly post-pandemic as in-person events resume — is anticipated to grow by 8% this decade,” said Bob Allen, dean of the Woodbury School of Business. “With that labor force need and strong interest in this discipline among our students, it makes sense for UVU to invest in this new program.”

A 2018 study showed that every dollar spent on in-person U.S. events generates an additional $1.60 for the economy. In Utah alone, the events industry has a nearly $2 billion annual economic impact.

Five years ago, UVU introduced an event management minor. Since then, nearly 100 students have enrolled in the program. With an event management major, students can obtain a full complement of specialized skills in event research, design, organization, execution, and assessment.

With a focus on engaged learning, the program already has internships in place with businesses and organizations, including Culinary Crafts, Michelle Leo Events, the Utah Valley Convention Center, and the Delta Center. The number of internships is expected to grow as the program evolves into a bachelor’s degree. Students can also volunteer for major local events, including the Sundance Film Festival.

“The addition of the event management degree program will further UVU’s reputation of sending out the best and brightest young professionals who are quickly turning into respected industry leaders,” said Danny Wheeler, general manager of the Utah Valley Convention Center.

“We value our partnership with UVU because UVU students come to us with passion, excitement, and a vested interest in furthering their careers in event management,” said Michelle Leo Cousins, owner of Michelle Leo Events.

“We’ve extended employment opportunities to many of our interns upon their graduation. The announcement of UVU’s event management degree is another exciting step in the right direction, preparing these students for a successful future career in the hospitality industry.”

The event management degree incorporates curricula from UVU’s Hospitality Management and Communication Programs as well as the Woodbury School of Business and the School of Arts, making it a well-rounded business degree, according to Allen.

Scott Trotter is Senior Director of Communications, University Marketing and Communications, at Utah Valley University.

By Mary Deifer

Kerry Painter, CVE, general manager and director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, presented expansion plans and renderings to the Wake County Board of Commissioners for the Raleigh Convention Center’s proposed expansion, a project which will double the capacity of the popular venue and further cement its role as an economic driver for downtown. Already, the RCC is the force behind the most hotel room nights booked in the entire county.

“Last year we set an all-time record for the number of hotel room nights booked in downtown Raleigh, thanks to a packed schedule of conventions, shows, and other events,” Painter said. “This is a marker of success but also an indication that we can do even more. The truth is, we turned away business because we simply didn’t have room, not to mention the potential clients who weren’t even able to consider us due to our limited capacity. More space means more dollars spent at all of our surrounding and supporting businesses.”

Painter’s presentation – the first time the plans and renderings have been revealed to the public – is the next step in the process of gaining approval and funding for the project, which includes expanding the RCC and relocating Red Hat Amphitheater (rendering pictured below) to create a two-square-block destination for meetings, events, and entertainment.

Money for the venture is requested from the Interlocal Fund, which collects hospitality taxes for use by the convention center, arena, culture, sports, and arts activities. The Board of Commissioners and the Raleigh City Council manage the Fund; their next vote on how to allocate funds is scheduled by June 20.

“Even with the current hotel inventory we are missing out on opportunities due to having only one ballroom room, not enough meeting rooms, or exhibit space,” said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This type of an expansion will give us the ability to layer a number of events simultaneously, which is difficult to do today, and attract larger conventions which we cannot host with the current footprint.

“It’s important we have a vision and a plan to address the current and future needs of the convention center, so this process is critical to our future success. An expansion of this magnitude takes years to plan and execute, so we need to be thinking about this now. “

RCC Expansion by the Numbers

The new Complex will:

Add 500,000 sq ft of meeting space, including some 30 additional breakout rooms
Include 50,000 sq ft and 30,000 sq ft flex halls for hosting large events or for breaking up into smaller areas
Add an additional capacity of 20,000 people (doubling the current RCC capacity)
Cost approx $316 million in construction costs by today’s dollars; adding other costs brings the estimated total project cost to $425 million

In the 2022/23 FY, RCC:

Booked 152 events equating to 332 days (with five months still remaining in the fiscal year)
Expects 329,000 visitors
Filled 88.7% capacity of sellable dates (most of the remaining dates aren’t available due to holidays or facility maintenance blackouts)
70% is the industry standard to be considered a healthy and successful convention center
Contributed to 92,454 hotel room nights booked – an alltime high, despite losing full service hotel rooms due to pandemic considerations
That’s 109% over the 2023 goal set by the City

Mary Deifer is Marketing Manager for the Raleigh Convention Center.

By Gloria Fong

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) is celebrating the successful conclusion of the Hong Kong International Jewelry Show and the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show which utilized all exhibition halls, the first time the “full house” sign has gone up since the pandemic. Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (“HKCEC”) from March 1-5, 2023, the twin five-day jewelry shows attracted over 2,500 exhibiting companies from 36 countries and regions – with half of them from overseas – and over 60,000 buyers from 130 countries and regions.

Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, commented, “There was no better time to be hosting the twin jewelry shows as the opening followed on the heels of the city’s lifting of the mask mandate. The full utilization of exhibition spaces by the twin jewelry shows underscored a strong rebound of Hong Kong’s exhibition and convention sector. Since the reopening of borders with overseas destinations and the Mainland, HML has seen a surge in booking enquiries from both overseas as well as local exhibition and convention organizers.

“HML will continue to proactively promote to global exhibition organizers Hong Kong’s advantages as a strategic city within the Greater Bay Area and its unique strengths in expanding smooth and convenient linkages between China and other international markets. HML has continued to press ahead with our investment plan, upgrading our facilities, and strengthening staff competence. These efforts, coupled with our experience and expertise in supporting world-class events, has laid a solid foundation for us to gear up for the return of international events and welcome visitors back to Hong Kong and the HKCEC. We are confident that Hong Kong will reclaim its leadership status as the Trade Fair Capital of Asia.”

Gloria Fong is Head – Corporate & Marketing Communication for the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.