Venue News

Australia’s first luxury hotel Sofitel Sydney Wentworth will unveil its new conference and events spaces as part of its $60 million AUD refurbishment in October 2024. Combining entertainment, leisure, conferencing, and dining experiences, this all-in-one luxury destination is the creme de la creme for hosting international conferences and events in Australia. Led by architecture and interior design firm Fender Katsalidis, the revitalization includes public spaces, a health and wellness center, and event spaces, including one of Sydney’s largest ballrooms at 629 square meters. 

With the country’s recent monumental ruling becoming Southeast Asia’s first country allowing same sex marriages, Thailand has stepped to the forefront for destination weddings. At InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping, a newly opened retreat in the heart of Thailand’s north, couples can recite their vows with the beauty of the setting and its rich cultural heritage of the ancient Lanna kingdom as their backdrop. Chiang Mai’s historic and timeless beauty is encapsulated in a glorious setting that evokes romance and glamour, and which has been tailored in its services to match and exceed each celebrant’s personal style. The InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping’s events team can prepare wedding ceremonies of all sizes ranging from an intimate mini ceremony for two to larger events for family, and large-scale weddings. The hotel’s selection of venues also provides a choice of indoor and outdoor receptions locations perfect for all anniversaries or ceremonies.  

Products on the Market

Following the recent Merri acquisition, Tripleseat has integrated Merri’s cutting-edge technology, enhancing its robust suite of tools that provide venues with a solution for seamless event planning and management with floorplan design, all in a single platform. Tripleseat Floorplans saves valuable time and enhances client presentations facilitating more bookings while delivering unforgettable experiences that can increase repeat business. The new integrated platform features both 2D floor planning and immersive 3D walkthroughs. 

Hot off the Press

Innovate Marketing Group, a leader in dynamic event strategies and solutions, announces the celebration of its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, Innovate Marketing Group has established itself as a pioneering force in the industry, driving impactful event campaigns and innovative strategies for a diverse range of clients. Since its inception in 2014, Innovate Marketing Group has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, creativity, and client satisfaction. The company’s journey from a small startup to a major player in the event landscape reflects its dedication and expertise. To mark this significant milestone, Innovate Marketing Group hosted a special anniversary event on August 8, 2024, bringing together clients, partners, and industry leaders to celebrate the achievements and look forward to the future of marketing. 

Palladium Hotel Group announced the first-year results of Palladium Cares, the group’s corporate social responsibility identity initiative. Focused on three main pillars: “Our People, Our Community, and Our Planet,” the program aims to enhance the quality of life within and outside the company, promoting employee well-being, supporting local communities, and fostering environmental sustainability. Since its launch, Palladium Cares has made significant progress in various projects across Europe and America, including opening training centers, providing employee scholarships, and collaborating with local NGOs to keep advancing the group's mission. In total, the company carried out 486 activities throughout 2023, including 156 environmental activities, 190 activities implemented internally, and 140 carried out externally. In addition, over 700 volunteers have participated across its project 4 Causes to Take Action, as well as 58 NGOs benefiting over 2,000 people. 

Echo Media Group and Skyline Displays of Orange County announced today the formation of Echo Experiential, an alliance dedicated to serving the event and exhibit needs of companies across all industries. This new offering combines award-winning marketing communications expertise coupled with the ability to plan, design, build exhibits, and manage the logistics for events and trade shows for a one-stop event planning shop. Echo Experiential provides a comprehensive, full-service event solution, expertly bringing together the might of two powerful organizations. Together, Echo and Skyline—jointly Echo Experiential—bring brands to life through personalized campaigns, attention-grabbing displays, and unforgettable trade show experiences and events that drive traffic and engagement. 

Awards & Accolades

GlobalMeet, a leader in virtual event technology, announced its recognition as the Best Overall Event Management Platform in the prestigious international 2024 MarTech Breakthrough Awards. This recognition highlights GlobalMeet's relentless drive to deliver scalable, reliable, and innovative solutions for training, webcasting, webinars, and virtual events. GlobalMeet stood out among the competition in MarTech’s Event Management category for its comprehensive approach to providing memorable virtual experiences. GlobalMeet’s world-class webcasting solution allows companies to have complete control when their message matters with audiences around the world. Leveraging customizable branding options, AI capabilities for engagement, and easy integration with popular CRM and marketing platforms, GlobalMeet helps organizations ensure meaningful and consistent brand messaging while connecting with their core audiences. The 2024 MarTech Breakthrough Awards recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the marketing, sales, and advertising industries. Embracing the essence of breakthrough technology, submissions for this year’s award program reached over 4,000 and were judged on the ability to address a true need, solve a critical problem, or seize an opportunity to create or revolutionize a new market or industry.