Day 2 of IMEX America, on 9 October, saw Caesars Entertainment and Meeting Professionals International (MPI) honour the meetings and events industry trade press at the inaugural event, ‘Media & Momentum: A Morning of Recognition and Impact’. The awards ceremony took place at Ramsay’s Kitchen at Harrah’s Las Vegas and was also the platform for the launch of a donation initiative in honour of the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Hospitality College Scholarship programme.
“Today, we are here to celebrate you and thank all of you for your contributions and commitment to our industry. Each one of you makes such an impact every day when you share the stories you write about the happenings in our industry, about our people, the trends, and where we have been and where we are heading. Early on in my career and still today, I read the trade news to stay current. You provide us all a greater perspective,” said Caesars Entertainment M&E vice-president sales, Kelly Gleeson Smith as she addressed the press.
“Besides recognising each one of you, we have made arrangements for a scholarship donation to the hospitality college at UNLV.” The event was held in concert with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and was moderated by Dianne Devitt, CEO, Dianne Devitt LLC, adjunct professor at New York University’s SPS Jonathan Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism.
Top honours went to trade press industry giants Laurel Herman, president and CEO of Worth International Media; Solomon J. Herbert, founder, publisher and EIC of Black Meetings and Tourism; and Harvey Grotsky, president, CEO, publisher and EIC of Coastal Communications, for their longstanding service to the meetings industry. There was special recognition also for the outstanding contributions of the late Marin June Bright, CEO of Bright Business Media, publisher of Smart Meetings. CMW’s own managing editor, Paul Colston, and portfolio director Iain Stirling were also honoured with awards.
“It is a thrill to participate in the recognition of our trade press. We rebounded faster and better because of the service they provide our industry,” said Drew Holmgreen, CEO at MPI. “To be part of the establishment of these donations advancing UNLV hospitality college students is exciting and an innovative step to ensure we support the industry that keeps us all informed and moving forward.”
The brainchild of Reina Herschdorfer, director of marketing and PR, Caesars Entertainment National Meetings and Events, said: “Ensuring we have a strong trade press is vital to a healthy industry… I am incredibly grateful for everyone’s support and for the partnership with MPI in this effort, as well as the LVCVA and the Clark County Commissioners for their strong backing of this initiative. “Las Vegas is the capital of the meetings industry, so what better place to launch this event and scholarship programme?”
The largest casino-entertainment company in the US, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. offers more than 2.1 million square feet of meeting space and more than 50,000 guest rooms. More information, visit: http://www.CaesarsMeansBusiness.com
