Our great friends from the MPI Netherlands Chapter committed for nearly a year to “Changing the Game” at MPI’s European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC) 2019 in the Hague.
The host committee delivered on their promise after the 30th EMEC three-day education and networking event came to a close. From music- and dance-infused presentations to networking events in and around the central venue of the World Forum that showcased Dutch culture, food and beverage and learning journeys on four education tracks, EMEC19 was impressive on many fronts. The organizing committee should be proud.
The culmination of the event was an overwhelming emotional moment for Sven Boelhouwer, project manager for EMEC and a Netherlands Chapter board member for more than a decade, as he watched the final session conclude.
“I’m so very proud of the team,” he said, his eyes watering, his voice trembling. “We didn’t want something that everyone sees at a regular conference. I hope everyone out there will feel that we accomplished that.”
Beginning with a thought-provoking opening keynote from Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde, the conference featured inspiring presentations such as the powerful story from Dutch para-Olympian Bibian Mentel or the eclectic closing keynote from Irfan van Ewijk, who has influenced some of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals such as Mysterland, Sensation, Thunderdome and Tomorrowland. In all, the 330 attendees were treated to a cornucopia of education sessions and speakers that focused on four key areas—risk management, leadership, meeting perspective and design thinking.
One of the unique aspects of the conference: Attendees had the option of seven different learning journeys on the four education tracks that included sessions at venues such as TNO, a leading Dutch innovation lab; a wargaming room at Scenarios4Summits; the Rotterdam Zoo; and the historic concert hall Stadsgehoorzaal.
The opening reception at the impressive Louwman Museum, a mecca of automotive history, was a living laboratory where attendees had to match up with new people in order to get food from stands throughout the hall and then go on a scavenger hunt.
Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI, announced the appointment of Angeles Moreno (MPI Germany Chapter), a former MPI Iberia Chapter president, former EMEC host and 2018 chair of the European Advisory Council, to the position of strategic development, senior advisor for MPI in Europe.
Pieter Allaerts (MPI Belgium Chapter) will lead the advisory council in 2019.
The organization also announced that next year's EMEC would be held in Seville, returning to Spain for the second time since 2017, when EMEC was in Granada.
As you can see, much did change in The Hague, and all for the better.
To our colleagues in the Netherlands, a heartfelt dank je! To our colleagues in Seville, nos vemos el promixo año!
Until next time…
Rich Luna
Editor in Chief
rluna@mpiweb.org
Congratulations to our creative director, Jeff Daigle, who celebrated his 20th anniversary with MPI in March. Jeff and his team are responsible for the creative design of all of our member publications, including The Meeting Professional, as well as marketing materials. His work has been recognized and honored with numerous awards over the years. He is a staunch voice and advocate for the members and a good friend to many, including those of us who work with him on the Media team at MPI. Congratulations Jeff!