Last updated at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, April 5. Lead photo courtesy MPI Montréal/Québec Chapter.
From thought-provoking educational sessions to lively networking opportunities to impactful CSR initiatives, MPI chapters across the world celebrated Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) in style on April 4. The event, spearheaded by the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, showcases the true impact of the meeting and event industry on business, jobs and the economy. Let’s take a look at how some of the chapters marked this important occasion.
MPI British Columbia Chapter
The MPI British Columbia Chapter’s GMID partnership with ILEA and PCMA was an absolute success. All across B.C., from Vancouver to Victoria to Okanagan, the associations and their members were able to come together and passionately share thoughts, opinions and ideas about the important issues facing our industry and how to collaborate in order to make an impact.
MPI Chicago Area Chapter
More than 300 industry professionals gathered to celebrate GMID at the MPI Chicago Area Chapter’s Annual Industry Xchange event—tackling topics such as crisis communications in the age of social media, human trafficking and the economic impact of meetings and events.
MPI France-Switzerland Chapter
MPI Georgia Chapter
For GMID 2019, the MPI Georgia Chapter partnered with IAEE SE, GSAE, SITE Southeast and PCMA Southeast. There were more than 150 event professionals based in the southeast in attendance. The event started with networking, then moved to a panel discussion on “How We Can Help in Combating Human Trafficking.” This panel was moderated by MPI Georgia Director of Leadership Development Allyson Wagner, CMP. A reception at the Renaissance Waverly Atlanta followed the discussion.
MPI Greater Edmonton Chapter
More than 120 guests gathered at the Edmonton Convention Centre—formerly known as the Shaw Conference Centre—for a breakfast event celebrating GMID, joined by other meeting and event associations and industry peers. The event included a proclamation presentation from City of Edmonton Councillor Mike Nickel naming April 4, 2019, Global Meetings Industry Day in Edmonton. Reggie Lang from Meetings Mean Business Canada shared the group’s mission and goals for the coming year, and keynote speaker Hugh Culver gave an inspiring presentation about planning and productivity.
A variety of committed sponsors included FMAV, Edmonton Convention Centre, MyBadges, GES, Special Event Rentals, J. Gartner Studio, Etc. Decor, Envy Floral Studio, Showtech and Grant Cree Event Media.
MPI Heartland Chapter
Forty-four attendees joined the MPI Heartland Chapter to celebrate GMID by connecting via simulcast in two locations. The chapter spans two states and therefore hosted social networking events in Omaha, Neb., at TD Ameritrade Park and in Des Moines, Iowa, at the FFA Enrichment Center.
MPI Italia Chapter
The MPI Italia Chapter celebrated GMID Catania at Radicepura, a horticultural park in Catania. The chapter connected via streaming with Rome (an event organized by SITE) and Milan (an event organized by Federcongressi&eventi).
MPI Japan Chapter
The MPI Japan Chapter celebrated GMID with a networking event for about 50 participants.
MPI Kansas City Chapter
The MPI Kansas City Chapter celebrated GMID by hosting its annual Professional Education Conference. The event featured great guest speakers, delicious food, incredible networking opportunities and even a time to play with puppies from a local shelter!
MPI Montréal/Québec Chapter
More than 80 industry professionals from across Canada gathered at the Bonaventure Hotel to hear keynote speaker Kathleen Sears discuss the “Power of Sustainable Leadership.” Special guests Jennifer Spear, chair of GMID, and Darren Temple, COO of MPI, were on site to open and close the event, respectively.
The MPI Montréal Québec GMID event was the inaugural event for this year’s THE EVENT, a joint chapter (MPI Toronto + MPI Montreal/Quebec + MPI Ottawa) educational experience that is driven by creativity with a purpose to CULTIVATE new ideas, COLLABORATE on existing ones and ELEVATE the meeting industry as a whole.
MPI New England Chapter
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The MPI New England Chapter partnered with PCMA New England to celebrate GMID at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center. This second annual GMID collaboration of the two organizations brought together more than 250 planners and suppliers for a partner showcase and an educational program delivered by Andy Lansing, CEO of Levy, who discussed the “10 Things I’ve Been Thinking About Lately, Inside and Outside the Meetings Industry.”
Bryan J. Lavin, MBA, CHE, assistant professor for the College of Hospitality Management at Johnson & Wales University and current MPI New England Chapter president, says, “The meetings industry is critically important to the business landscape of New England, and GMID is a perfect opportunity for us to spread that message. Partnering with PCMA New England allows us to truly have a unified voice in the market and celebrate all of the contributions both of our organizations bring to this community.”
MPI New Jersey Chapter
The MPI New Jersey Chapter and ILEA NJ celebrated GMID by hosting 52 people at The Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick for a night of ultimate networking. Simple Creations Team Building created an art activity that started with nine canvases on separate tables. Guests filled in the canvases during the event, and at the end the canvases came together and created a beautiful piece of art representing what we can create when we all work together in this industry.
MPI North Florida Chapter
The MPI North Florida Chapter, in partnership with Bold Events, PRI Productions, Sustainable Events Network Florida & Caribbean, the National Association of Catering Executives and the North Florida Chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, welcomed experts to speak on industry trends and transforming events into experiences. Speakers included Chad Johnson, senior vice president sales and service and chief content officer, Jacksonville Jaguars; Alexander DeHilster, creative design manager, Meetings & Incentives Worldwide Inc.; and Daphne Wood, director, NFL Event Partnerships and Revenue, who provided insights on thinking outside the box on event venues, immersive events and expanding events beyond the session room.
This was the fourth year the chapter has hosted a GMID celebration, and this year’s event had the largest attendance yet with more than 200 in attendance. It was also the first event to be hosted on the field at TIAA Bank, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars. This partnership was also demonstrated by GMID supporters in attendance: SKAL, TPC Sawgrass, Visit Jacksonville and the Beaches, Visit Florida, Delaware North, Daytona Beach CVB, St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra CVB and SMG Jacksonville. The celebration was also marked by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s proclamation of April 4, 2019, as Global Meetings Industry Day in Jacksonville.
MPI Ohio Chapter
The MPI Ohio Chapter held a joint GMID event with PCMA, IAEE and OSAE, with a great turnout at Cleveland Marriott East.
MPI Ottawa Chapter
Ottawa members came together to celebrate GMID with “Events on a Global Stage - Marketing with a Global Reach,” featuring 65 registrants including the deputy mayor, who delivered the GMID Proclamation. The GMID Influencer Award was presented to the Shaw Centre for its policies and programs to eliminate food waste and its ecological footprint.
Drew Holmgreen, senior director of marketing and communications for MPI Global, kicked off the event with a keynote about the World Education Congress (WEC), June 15-18, 2019, in Toronto. Breakout sessions featured Holmgreen on event marketing essentials, Kelly Neall behind the scenes at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Rachel Stephen of Snöball Event Influencer Marketing on influencers as a secret weapon and Joanne Charlebois of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada on her experience planning multiple international events including an international conference in Toronto during the 2003 SARS virus outbreak.
The morning concluded with a panel discussion with the four featured speakers moderated by Louise Gervais, CMP, CMM, from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and vice president of education for the Ottawa Chapter.
MPI Philadelphia Area Chapter
The MPI Philadelphia Area Chapter partnered with the PCMA Philadelphia Chapter for GMID. More than 140 attendees represented both organizations and other hospitality industry leaders in the area. With a theme of “Meaningful Hospitality,” the afternoon kicked off with a community service activity benefiting Covenant House Philadelphia, which supports homeless youth.
This was followed by two timely panel discussions. “Homelessness and How it Affects the Hospitality Industry” featured John J. McNichol, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center, as moderator, with panelists Windy Christner, senior director, meetings and exhibitions, American Pharmacists Association; Liz Hersh, director homeless services, Office of Homeless Services, City of Philadelphia; and Hugh Organ, associate executive director, Covenant House Pennsylvania. “Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry” featured Julie Coker Graham, president and CEO, Philadelphia CVB, as moderator, with panelists Michelle Guelbart, MSW, director of private sector engagement, ECPAT-USA; Alexis Krieger, victim specialist, FBI; Caroline Meledo, director, corporate responsibility and human rights, Hilton; and Hugh Organ, associate executive director, Covenant House Pennsylvania.
A networking reception closed out the afternoon. The MPI Philadelphia Area Chapter sends special thanks to the Philadelphia GMID Committee and the many sponsors that supported the meeting.
MPI Pittsburgh Chapter
Local sustainability professionals spoke to more than 80 attendees at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh about “Sustainability in Meetings and the Workplace” for GMID. Attendees learned about sustainable venues, tackling the issue of food waste, how to plan a zero waste event and ways to build best practices for their company. They also had an opportunity to network after the program.
MPI Poland Chapter
For the second time, the MPI Poland Chapter celebrated GMID with Studenckie Kolo Turystyki Biznesowej 2B Vistula University and SITE Poland. The event included discussions about MICE industry trends for 2019, as well as goals and plans for the coming year. The chapter also celebrated 10 years in the Polish market. The event was held at the Sound Garden Hotel.
MPI Tennessee Chapter
Five meeting industry associations joined together across Tennessee to celebrate Meetings Mean Business GMID 2019 in Nashville, along with streaming to a group in Memphis. Together with the International Live Events Association (ILEA), National Catering and Events (NACE), the Tennessee Business Travel Association (TBTA) and the Tennessee Society of Association (TNSAE), the MPI Tennessee Chapter hosted a jam-packed program for more than 140 attendees.
The first discussion was about an outward LinkedIn presence with Mark Galvin of ePresence. Then a donation was made to End Slavery Tennessee, and attendees learned ways they can help fight human trafficking in the meeting industry. Kelly Treadway with EventProfsRun discussed how meeting professionals can take care of themselves in our harried world as members of the sixth-most-stressful job in the U.S. Great networking, music and food kept the program moving until the group toasted GMID 2019 in fine Tennessee fashion with a little moonshine!
MPI Toronto Chapter
The MPI Toronto Chapter had the great pleasure of celebrating GMID with more than 180 attendees in Toronto. It was a jam-packed morning filled with insightful keynote presentations, featuring topics on accessibility, human trafficking and the education shaping the future of our industry. Following the keynotes, a captivating panel discussion took place discussing the recent changes in Cannabis legislation and the impact on the meetings and events world.
MPI Upstate New York Chapter
More than 160 meeting professionals from the MPI Upstate New York Chapter convened at the River Stone Manor in Glenville, N.Y., to celebrate GMID for our annual Gala Celebration. Master of ceremonies and longtime tourism professional Todd Garofano, our 2018 Industry Leader, led the festivities that included award presentations for Industry Leader, Partner of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Planner of the Year and Rising Star. Participants enjoyed a 50/50 raffle benefiting the MPI Foundation, an online silent auction with Bidding for Good, a specialty wine pull, a fun photo booth, an Ale Trail tasting and a Taste of Italy antipasto spread.
MPI Virginia Chapter
The MPI Virginia Chapter recognized GMID and the importance of meetings, as an industry. The education topic was food and beverage trends, presented by Susan Hicklin, GM of Meriwether Godsey. She touched on how important food choices are for health and dietary needs of attendees, and brought to the attendees’ attention how the food was presented on the buffet so people could make their own choices based on their preferences. All food was also labeled with dietary information. Other discussion areas included decor, guest experiences and wow factors.
MPI WestField Chapter
The MPI WestField Chapter presented “MEETNow!2019: From Turbulence to Tranquility” on GMID. The Water Edge @ Giovanni’s in Darien, Conn., hosted the event for 76 attendees from the chapter and guests from surrounding areas. They learned that “You Can’t Go Through the Pigpen Without Getting Mud on Your Feet” from Jan Spence and then “How to Infuse Wellness Into Your Meeting Agenda and Workplace” with Patricia Donohue. Following those presentations was a “Let It Go” panel offering ideas, suggestions and tips to de-stress various parts of the event planning process, followed by productivity round tables and even a Tranquility Lounge...Namaste!
