January
Amanda Armstrong, CMP, begins year-long term as chair of the MPI International Board of Directors
SITE+MPI Global Forum in Rome welcomes more than 620 attendees for 30 education sessions in the organizations’ first major European collaborative event
Rendezvous at Global Forum raises US$19,000 for the MPI Foundation
MPI hires Nicole Edmund as Vice President of Community and Melissa Majors as Director, Global Education
February
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition, supported by MPI, releases “Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy,” announces a value of $845 billion in economic impact of meetings and events for 2016
March
MPI Academy focuses on offering live online certificate courses, increasing average attendance from eight people to 60+
April
MPI and the Meetings Mean Business Coalition present the 12-hour-long Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) virtual event to more than 1,000 attendees from around the world
MPI unveils Independent and Small Business Owners (ISBO) community
MPI Experiential Events Series at the NFL Draft welcomes 50 meeting professionals behind the scenes at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas
May
Coalition of meeting and event organizations, including MPI, forms to eradicate sexual harassment within the industry
The Plan Your Meetings Professional Development Guide debuts
June
With more than 80 education sessions, an overhauled World Education Congress (WEC18) attracts 2,200+ industry professionals from 35 countries to Indianapolis
The MPI Foundation raises more than $450,000 from nearly 1,200 participants for grants, scholarships and research through Rendezvous at WEC18
MPI President’s Dinner at WEC18 raises more than $250,000 to support the MPI Academy
1,000 users registered for the WEC18 Virtual Pass Program, which features select sessions from each day of the conference
The Essential Guide to Safety and Security: Best Practices for Meeting and Event Planning 2018 is published
Roger Dow given MPI’s Industry Leader Award during the president’s dinner at WEC; Dave Johnson named Industry Champion
July
MPI’s Jessie States receives the Event Industry Council’s Young Professional Pacesetter award
MPI Academy debuts Virtual Event Production virtual summit
August
MPI Mexico Chapter named as authorized MPI Academy training partner to deliver Spanish-language education
MPI Global executes regional Sunshine Education Summit (SES) for the first time, in collaboration with the four MPI Florida chapters
University of Virginia, Darden School of Business and MPI Academy partner to offer online executive short courses in strategy and innovation
September
MPI Academy launches new six-hour Business Value of Meetings Certificate Course
MPI launches its inaugural CMM program with Indiana University Kelly School of Business and the IUPUI Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management to enhance MPI’s Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM)
October
Kevin Kirby joins the MPI Foundation as executive director
MPI, IAEE and SITE launch Global MICE Collaborative to provide training and resources to meeting and event industry professionals in Africa, Asia and Latin America
Nearly $400,000 is raised for the MPI Foundation at IMEX America
More than 800 participants experience over 70 education sessions during Smart Monday, Powered by MPI, at IMEX America; more than 1,200 attend daily MPI keynotes
Global Economic Significance of Business Events, a report commissioned by the Events Industry Council and supported by industry partners including the MPI Foundation, reveals the global direct spend from meetings and events at more than US$1.5 trillion
MPI presented its Women in Leadership program for the first time in Asia, empowering future American Airlines leaders in Japan
MPI Academy partners with Alex Plaxen to deliver the Crisis Communications Certificate Program, which debuted at IMEX America
November
The MPI Thought Leader Summit takes place on the Riviera Maya in Mexico
MPI announces 2019 European Roadshow with MPI senior leadership
So far in 2018, the MPI Foundation has raised $900,000 for grants, scholarships, research and its endowment; awarded 169 scholarships
Debut of MPI MD Virtual Summit
