From celebrityaccess.com

Notes Live, the rapidly growing music venue and hospitality company, has signed a binding purchase and sale agreement for land for a planned construction of one of the most stunning outdoor amphitheaters in its collection. Modeled after Notes Live’s thriving food and music center in Colorado Springs, the Mustang Creek Crossing development is projected to be a world-class outdoor amphitheater in Oklahoma City, just off John Kilpatrick Turnpike and I-40.

The project plans to feature 120 luxury firepit suites (on sale now), a landscaped grass berm, traditional reserved seating, and premium hospitality offerings for a cumulative projected capacity of 12,000 seats. The company hopes to break ground in early 2024 and open the outdoor amphitheater for Summer 2025 tours.

“Building world-class music venues is our passion and mission at Notes Live,” said JW Roth, CEO of Notes Live. “With the upcoming construction of our expansive 12,000-seat amphitheater in Mustang Creek Crossing, we are excited to bring unforgettable concert experiences to Oklahoma City. Our commitment to unbeatable sound, sightlines, and elevated hospitality offerings will create memories that last a lifetime. We look forward to breaking ground in early 2024 and welcoming music enthusiasts to our stunning outdoor amphitheater in Summer 2025.”

“It is our great pleasure to welcome The Sunset Amphitheater to Mustang Creek Crossing,” said Sam Coury, principal owner of Mustang Creek Crossing. “Our family strives to grow this district into an entertainment and experience hub for the city’s west side and encourage investment for a stay-and-play destination that families from across the state and region will embrace.”

Owner/Agent representing Mustang Creek Crossing Development, Carol Coury Hefner, added, “It was an honor to find common ground in the Notes Live ownership as we share vision for this substantial mixed-use development and expand the future for Mustang/Yukon and Oklahoma City communities.”

Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell said, “I am thrilled about the partnership between Notes Live and Mustang Creek Crossing in bringing The Sunset Amphitheater to our great state. This state-of-the-art venue will not only enhance our entertainment landscape but will also serve as a catalyst for economic growth and tourism. With its capacity to host the largest touring acts in the country, The Sunset will draw music enthusiasts from far and wide. Oklahoma’s allure as a premier entertainment destination is growing stronger, and the Sunset Amphitheater will be a testament to our commitment to providing unforgettable moments for residents and visitors alike.”

“I’m extremely excited our county has been chosen for this high-quality development, bringing top-shelf entertainment and dining venues to Mustang Creek Crossings. I’m certain The Sunset will be a tremendous addition to our incredible and rapidly growing community,” said Chris West, Canadian County Sheriff.

In the last 12 months, Notes Live, Inc. announced new music and entertainment complexes in the growing markets of Colorado Springs, CO; Murfreesboro, TN; Tulsa, OK; Roanoke, TX; and Gainesville, GA, which just opened for business this month.

By Gloria Fong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”) Government announced on July 1 that Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”), has been awarded Medal of Honor. The medal will be presented by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government, at the 2023 Honors & Awards Presentation Ceremony at Government House later this year.

“I am very honored to receive this recognition,” Lee-Muller said. “The medal underscores the recognition of the important role that the exhibition and convention industry has played in driving Hong Kong’s economic, social, and human capital development. This honor belongs to the entire HML family whose resourcefulness and teamwork have made it possible for the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to continuously enhance its competitiveness.

“This is a humbling experience. I will continue to dedicate my efforts to fostering the development of Hong Kong’s exhibition and convention industry and facilitating communication with our peers in global markets with a view to pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainable development.”

Lee-Müller has been awarded Medal of Honor in recognition of her dedicated and valuable contributions to promoting the development of the convention and exhibition industry in Hong Kong. She was President of UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry with over 800 member organizations worldwide, for the 2011-2022 term. After stepping down from presidentship, she became a member of the Presidential Trio to support the President for the 2022-2023 term in managing UFI at the highest level. She is also an Executive Committee member of the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association.

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

By Nicole Bowman, MBA, CEM, and tradeshowexecutive.com

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced the departure of current President and CEO, David DuBois, CMP-F, CAE, FASAE, CTA, effective October 1, 2023. DuBois is leaving his position earlier than anticipated due to a new opportunity presented that he has accepted at Exhibitor Group.

“I could not be happier for David and his new role,” said IAEE Chairperson of the Board Dennis Smith. “David has worked tirelessly for the past 11 years to keep IAEE relevant in the global exhibitions and events industry and has always held the best interests of our members in mind on a daily basis.”

The IAEE Board of Directors has retained SearchWide Global, a full-service executive search firm that specializes in C-level positions in the event, convention, travel, tourism, hospitality, trade association, venue management, and experiential marketing industries. Interested individuals are encouraged to review the job description and application process on the SearchWide Global site by clicking here.

Exhibitor Group is a provider of education, commerce, and insights for the global events industry and offers solutions and services for exhibitors to generate more success at events through its Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) program, EXHIBITORLIVE, the annual trade show, and its bi-monthly EXHIBITOR magazine.

Nicole Bowman, MBA, CEM, is Vice President, Marketing and Communications at IAEE.

By Britaney Wehrmeister

The Overland Park Convention Center announced the OPCC Exhibition Advantage, a full-service program designed to show appreciation, reduce costs, and elevate the show experience for convention and trade show producers, exhibitors, and general service contractors.

The first of its kind, program details include a cash back loyalty program, 50% discount at concessions, free internet access and digital content displays, live camera feeds in show office, time lapse video, equipment and tool sharing, swag bags, complimentary coffee and snacks, and much more.

“Venues have always talked about the tremendous economic benefit exhibitions have on destinations,” said Brett C. Mitchell, CVE, general manager of the Overland Park Convention Center. “Our team wanted to do more than talk—we wanted to make a difference, so we created the Exhibition Advantage program. By listening to our clients and service partners, we identified areas we could add value and eliminate pain points. The program targets the three key members of the exhibition industry: show producers, exhibitors, and general service contractors.”

Benefits for show producers include:

Cash back loyalty program
50% discount at concessions
Live video feeds and time lapse footage
Free access to digital marketing displays
Referral program (up to $10,000)
Concierge service for local food and attractions
Complimentary marketing services to cultivate growth
Free high speed internet access
Swag bags and complimentary coffee/snacks

Benefits for exhibitors include:

50% discount at concessions
Referral program (up to $10,000)
Free high speed internet access (wireless)
Tool sharing (drills, wrenches, ladders, etc.)
Dedicated exhibitor utility room
Concierge service for local food and attractions
Swag bag giveaway and complimentary coffee/snacks

Benefits for general service contractors include:

50% discount at concessions
Referral program (up to $10,000)
Dedicated storage for show equipment
Equipment sharing (lifts, vacuums, flatbeds, etc.)
Free high speed internet access (wireless)
Complimentary coffee and snacks

“As a show producer, I’ve been organizing our biannual events at the Overland Park Convention Center for the last two decades,” said Jonathan Mize, CEO & president of Blish-Mize Co. “I can’t think of any convention center in the United States who is providing what Overland Park is offering today with this new service. The Exhibition Advantage program is a game-changer for us, with so many amenities and providing good return on investment for all involved. It’s just another reason why they are the Best Small Convention Center in North America. With top-notch facilities, great staff, and this new program, we look forward to returning to the center for many years to come.”

To qualify for the Exhibition Advantage program, the event must have at least 60,000 gross square feet (exhibit hall space) with a minimum required spend of $80,000 or more, and peak room nights of at least 150 or more.

For detailed information about the Overland Park Convention Center Exhibition Advantage program, please click here.

By Lori Tenny

A government crackdown on impersonation fraud targeting the business events industry may soon become a reality thanks to efforts spearheaded by the Exhibition and Conferences Alliance (ECA) and its 10 professional, trade, and labor associations, in addition to numerous other industry entities that make up the face-to-face business events industry.

“For far too long, the industry has been preyed upon by the hotel reservation scams and the attendee list scams that not only harm our events but are also a form of identity theft for all the people who get targeted by these scammers,” said Tommy Goodwin, vice president of government affairs for ECA.

One of ECA’s main priorities has been getting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to make the issue a priority, according to Goodwin.

“At long last, they finally have,” he said. “Last fall, they put forward a draft rule that would give the FTC serious new enforcement authority when it comes to going after these scammers, and we’ve been front and center — really ECA and the entire industry — in encouraging the FTC to adopt this rule.”

To that end, last December, ECA filed regulatory comments (signed by all of the business events industry associations) with the FTC advocating in support of the proposed rule. Additionally, in March, ECA joined 235 trade associations and professional organizations in calling on the FTC to finalize its proposed “Rule on Impersonation of Government and Business.”

Most recently, ECA delivered the same message to Congress on ECA Legislative Action Day in June, while in May, ECA, along with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the American Society of Association Executives, the Consumer Technology Association, and many other industry entities testified at a hearing encouraging the FTC to adopt the rule as soon as possible.

“Given the widespread impersonation fraud efforts targeted at the business events industry, the FTC’s proposed rule is both necessary and urgent,” Goodwin said. “ECA strongly believes that the rule would provide the FTC with another important enforcement tool to target the fraudsters who attempt to prey on exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows.”

The hearing went well, according to Goodwin, who said the significant majority of those testifying support the proposed FTC rule, which would allow the FTC to recover money from, or seek civil penalties against, scammers who harm consumers in violation of the rule.

“Our hope is that something crosses the finish line by the end of the year,” Goodwin said.

Nicole Bowman, vice president, marketing and communications for IAEE and executive director for the Meetings Mean Business coalition, testified at the hearing and told TSNN why she believes it is so important for the FTC to finalize the anti-fraud rule as soon as possible.

“Since 2017, the FTC has received more than 2.5 million business impersonation fraud reports,” Bowman said. “Anyone who has spent any time in the past 20 years producing events knows this has been a pervasive problem in our industry for that much time and longer.”

According to Bowman, she has yet to hear from an event organizer that has never experienced this type of fraud.

“We are talking about a pervasive crime here that takes personal and private information from attendees, exhibitors, and really any event stakeholder and gains access to their financial information along with personal information,” Bowman said. “Show organizers and event producers waste time and money sending cease and desist letters to no avail. And those that do win judgements have no recourse for receiving payments.”

Advocating for the Industry

At the hearing, Goodwin’s testimony highlighted the unique nature of the exhibitions and trade shows, which he said at its core is America’s small businesses helping America’s small businesses.

“More than 99% of all business events organizations are small businesses, and more than 80% of exhibitors at our exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows are also small businesses themselves,” Goodwin said. “It’s these small businesses that are frequent targets of business impersonation fraud.”

Goodwin also said that each of ECA’s member associations are targets of business impersonation fraud, including hotel reservation scams and attendee list scams, as are their members, attendees, and exhibitors, most of whom are small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Goodwin outlined each type of impersonation fraud targeting the business events industry.

Hotel Reservation Scams

Third-party hotel room brokers use deceptive practices to market overpriced or nonexistent hotels room to exhibitors and attendees at business events.

Instead of providing the hotel room promised, the fraudulent brokers often make off with the victim’s credit card information or provide victims with low-quality rooms in remote locations away from the event itself, usually with high booking fees and cancelation penalties attached.

Attendee List Scams

Event exhibitors are contacted by rogue list brokers, often daily, fraudulently claiming to have and sell the event’s attendee list before the event itself takes place.

The scammers use the event name, logo and/or organizer’s name in their email signatures to create the illusion that their efforts are conducted with the approval of the event organizer.

The scam does not include the actual attendee lists. Rather, the scammers crawl event-related websites to harvest usable email addresses, which they subsequently target with phishing scams designed to illegally obtain an exhibitor’s business and financial information that can be used for fraudulent practices.
Goodwin called attention to three examples of events that have fallen victim to impersonation scams, including the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the International Sign Association (ISA) and Fast Forward Events.

RSNA brings together more than 50,000 attendees and 700 exhibitors from more than 120 countries for its annual conference.

“In advance of its 2022 event in Chicago, RSNA was alerted to 36 fraudulent sites that were illegally advertising housing, registration, or attendee list selling services,” Goodwin said. “For its 2023 annual meeting, RSNA has already identified hotel scam websites that are using its trademarked logo without its permission.”

ISA brought its community of nearly 20,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors together in Las Vegas in April.

“In the lead up to the ISA International Sign Expo, the association sent nearly 300 cease-and-desist letters to hotel reservation scam and attendee list sale scam artists preying on its event,” Goodwin testified. “Its exhibitors and attendees contacted ISA daily voicing their confusion and concern about the emails they were receiving, many of which used the event name and ISA’s logo in their disingenuous attempt to sell their fraudulent services.”

Meanwhile, a Fast Forward Events’ conference and expo in San Diego was targeted by a hotel room booking scam.

“These scammers harvested contact information for registered exhibitors and called them in an effort to book their hotel rooms outside of the official process, almost certainly in an effort to obtain their financial information for fraudulent purposes,” Goodwin said.

Given the breadth of business impersonation fraud perpetrated against stakeholders across the face-to-face business events sector, ECA and its members support the FTC’s proposed rule and feel it is both necessary and urgent, according to Goodwin.

“Let’s give the FTC some more enforcement authority to go after the scammers and make sure that our industry isn’t continually targeted when it comes to these types of scams.” Goodwin said.

Lori Tenny is Editorial Director for Trade Show News Network.