MPI’s sustainability and CSR efforts revolve around the pillars of educating industry professionals through MPI’s events and MPI Academy offerings, as well as working with peer associations to elevate sustainability in the industry.

At the 2023 World Education Congress (WEC), which recently took place in the Mexican Caribbean, MPI worked with local partners and attendees on engaging CSR activities that made a positive impact on the local community.

• Attendees put together 90 backpacks, each packed with 13 to 20 different supplies. The backpacks will go to children who are living in group homes due to displacement from domestic violence situations. MGM Resorts provided items for this project, including backpacks, notebooks, writing utensils, art supplies and everything else students will need for the school year.
• Two full paintings (six panels each) were completed by WEC23 attendees. Throughout the show, attendees dropped by the Foundation for Hospital Art in the Marketplace to help paint selected panels of these fun, attractive murals. The final paintings will be displayed at a local children’s cancer treatment center. (Check out our interview with Scott Feight, executive director of the Foundation for Hospital Art, about how the organization got started and why the connection with meetings and events is so important.)
• Attendees also were invited to build pinatas for a local organization that assists people with developmental disabilities. In all, 22 pinatas were created.

MPI and Marriott International launched a strategic partnership focused on educating and creating awareness around sustainability throughout the events industry. The Sustainability Boot Camp, sponsored by Marriott, debuted at WEC23. (Read more about the partnership and insights on the latest trends in sustainability with Denise Naguib, global vice president, sustainability and supplier diversity for Marriott International, and Courtney Lohmann, who developed the boot camp curriculum.)

Also at WEC23, there was a campfire about community engagement and sustainability strategy, as well as a workshop focused on overcoming obstacles in sustainable events.

MPI Trivia: Did you know that MPI was a launch signatory and endorser of the Events Industry Council (EIC) Principles of Sustainable Events? Read more about them on EIC’s website.