Exhibition World Issue 4 — 2019 | Page 21

Americas Eldorado hails Caesars in $17.3bn acquisition ldorado Resorts, an American hotel and casino MCI Group acquires USA- based Sentergroup company and Caesars would hold 49%. The transaction is subject to approval MCI Group has announced the acquisition of company, is to acquire of the stockholders of Eldorado and Sentergroup, Inc., an association management Caesars Entertainment in Caesars, as well as the approval of company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. a cash-and-stock transaction with a total applicable gaming authorities, and is value of $17.3bn. expected to be completed in the first half in the USA and allows MCI to extend the of 2020. scope of association management services for The combined company will retain the Caesars name, providing its guests with Caesars Entertainment is in the This acquisition continues MCI’s growth clients, including both professional and trade access to 60 casino–resorts and gaming process of constructing Caesar’s Forum facilities across 16 US states. This will in Las Vegas, a $375m, 60,000sqm event include Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. venue it unveiled last July. Caesars Forum Officer, concluded: “We have seen healthy will contain the world’s largest pillarless growth in the United States. It is a market ballroom. with unlimited potential for us. MCI’s strength After the deal is complete, Eldorado would own 51% of the combined organisations. Sebastien Tondeur, MCI Chief Executive is knowledge of local markets, combined with a long track record of international developments. This advantage cannot be Feathr acquires agency Springful matched by local companies. This acquisition in Chicago is a small step on our path of further integrating and developing the USA platform to igital marketing company was managing more than 50 clients within deliver our clients a unique blend of expertise Feathr has announced a year of launch. and innovation”. the acquisition of digital ad agency Springful. Both companies are based in Florida, USA. The acquisition also adds five new employees to the Feathr team. After doubling in size in the last two With the acquisition of the Chicago team, MCI Group’s presence in the USA grows to 350 employees across six offices. This is a years, Feathr moved in March 2019 to substantial part of the MCI community, which increased demand for Feathr Concierge, a Gaineville’s Nimbus building, a 14,000sqft is comprised of 2,500+ professionals in 60 service which helps customers set up their office in the city’s growing Innovation offices and 31 countries. accounts, plan campaign strategies, design District. The acquisition comes following an collateral and ad creatives, and launch and optimise campaigns. Springful partnered with Feathr in late 2017 to help bring Concierge to life, and Aidan Augustin, President and co- founder of Feathr, commented: “We are now providing managed services to more customers than ever before.” BPA Worldwide audit reports 175,212 visitors for CES Las Vegas lobal auditor BPA Worldwide has announced the results show at the Las Vegas Convention Center of its CES 2019 event audit welcomed 100,783 attendees; 68,064 and confirms 175,212 exhibitor personnel and 6,365 members of unique visitors and exhibiting staff were in attendance during the four-day event, January 8-11, 2019, in Las Vegas. BPA will also now assist CES, an annual event organised by the Consumer the media. BPA will again provide the independent audit for CES Asia in Shanghai, China, in 2019. The 2018 CES Asia event boasted Technology Association, with the process of 46,748 in total unique attendance last becoming an UFI Approved Event and an year, including 42,260 domestic and 4,488 IAEE Certified Exhibition. international visitors. w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk Above: MCI’s growing US presence According to the BPA report, the CES “This acquisition in Chicago is a small step on our path of further integrating and developing the USA platform to deliver our clients a unique blend of expertise and innovation.” Issue 4 2019 21