From private meeting pods to underground transit upgrades to green certifications, convention venues are raising the bar on the attendee experience. Here’s a look at what’s new at some of the industry’s busiest facilities.
Private Meeting Pods at Moscone and GWCC
ZenSpace has installed four semi-permanent meeting pods at Moscone Center in San Francisco, giving attendees a private space to take a Zoom call or meeting without leaving the event. They join the pods recently deployed at the Georgia World Congress Center.
All pods feature interior monitors with wireless screencasting, air circulation systems that refresh air every 90 seconds, environmental controls, and on-demand privacy glass that frosts with the press of a button. The units reduce exterior noise by 25 to 30 decibels. Users can reserve pods through an online booking platform accessible via QR codes on the units, event mobile apps, or direct links. They can also be a sponsorship opportunity.
“ZenSpace pods add a layer of convenience our event organizers and attendees have been requesting,” says Leonie Patrick, gm at Moscone Center, managed by Legends Global. “On-demand private meeting space in our lobbies means attendees can conduct business without leaving the venue—a must in a post-pandemic world where most people are beholden to video conference meetings. ZenSpace pods are a real benefit for event planners, their attendees, and a differentiator for Moscone.”
New Vegas Loop Stations, Airport Rides
The underground, high-speed transportation system powered by Tesla vehicles has been a game-changer for attendees navigating large shows at the Las Vegas Convention Center and traveling to other destinations around the city. Usually free to use within the campus, the Loop can move more than 4,400 passengers per hour, significantly reducing surface congestion during peak event times.
As of summer 2026, The Boring Company says the Vegas Loop has 11 operational stations and has carried more than 4 million passengers. The latest additions earlier this year are Encore and Fountainbleu. Attendees can now also take the Loop between select stations to Harry Reid International Airport, a surface drive included, with limited availability. Allegiant Stadium is said to be coming soon.
McCormick Place Earns Platinum Sustainability Level
Up from previous Gold, Chicago’s McCormick Place has achieved Platinum Level Certification to EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards this August. The venue has embedded sustainability throughout its operations by developing a dedicated sustainability department that collaborates with clients, exhibitors, service partners, and internal teams to deliver measurable environmental impact.
Its campus-wide Green Team engages employees across departments to encourage innovation and advance its sustainability initiatives. The campus also offsets 100 percent of its electricity usage through certified wind renewable energy certificates and operates the Midwest’s largest farm-to-fork rooftop garden, which supplies fresh ingredients for culinary operations while supporting biodiversity through an on-site honeybee program.
It also partners with Fight2Feed, an on-site nonprofit that works alongside campus teams and clients to recover surplus food and event materials for redistribution to more than 100 community organizations, and advances local economic inclusion through its Business Diversity Program, which led to the investment of nearly $37 million in minority- and women-owned businesses in FY 2025.
Photos courtesy of: McCormick Place Convention Center; Moscone Center; Vegas Loop
