The minds that created the slogan “We the North” for the Toronto Raptors professional basketball team wanted a theme that would unite people around a mindset and pride of place, an example of how an identity-shaping truth could spark a brand crusade.
MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC), the association’s annual signature meeting industry event, concluded in Toronto on Tuesday, having struck a similar chord over the four-day course of the event.
More than 2,550 attendees gathered at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) for a shared experience centered on thought-provoking education from the main stage to intimate breakouts throughout the Social, Leadership, Experiential and Innovation villages located on a massive show floor of innovative open areas, a concept infused by the success of WEC18 in Indianapolis, which was named the best association meeting by Eventex.
“WEC has been front and center, laser focus for us for some time now,” said Andrew Weir, executive vice president, destination development, for Tourism Toronto and co-chair of the WEC Toronto Host Committee. “We always want to work with organizations and clients that are pushing like that—we want to be pushed and, frankly, we’ll push you back.”
Weir and the city certainly did throw some challenges at WEC, thanks to the aforementioned Raptors, who delivered an NBA championship, energizing the city—and all of Canada—with a groundswell of support and pride, all stemming from the aptly named Jurassic Park plaza outside the basketball area—located a three-point jump shot from the convention center.
WEC attendees were witness to massive street celebrations, first on the night the Raptors won the title, then smack dab in the middle of the conference when more than 1.5 million fans (many more were turned away) united for a parade throughout downtown Toronto—passing right by the convention center—to honor their basketball champions. Raptors jerseys and fan gear was just as prevalent in the MTCC as were conference name badges. For meeting planners, it was a hands-on lesson in crisis management, with offsite planning and transportation logistics in play.
But the energy of the community only seemed to fuel the spirit inside the convention center, particularly the emotion-charged moments in the general sessions, from Vinh Giang and Jade Simmons to the powerful, personal themes delivered in the Dear World session led by Robert X. Fogarty and Lynetria “Fresh” Johnson.
Another memorable moment came when Sunday’s first general session, which took place on Father’s Day, honored all of the dads in attendance. Darren Temple, chief operations officer for MPI, shared the stage with his son Cody, who is following in his father’s footsteps in the meeting and event industry. WEC host Dena Blizzard, the famously One Funny Mother, suggested all dads come on stage for a selfie—and more than 100 quickly responded.
“I don’t think they understand the concept of a selfie,” she joked.
MPI made several important announcements during WEC. The RISE Awards recipients were named: Member of the Year Joe Marcy, Young Professional Achievement recipient Julia Spangler and Meeting Industry Leadership recipient Gary Murakami.
RISE chapter awards were also presented: Innovative Educational Programming, MPI Montréal/Québec, Ottawa, Toronto chapters; Marketplace Excellence, MPI Southern California Chapter; Membership Achievement, MPI Greater Orlando Chapter; and Industry Advocate, MPI Northern California Chapter.
Michel Wohlmuth (MPI Mexico Chapter) was honored with the Chair Award, presented by Steve O’Malley, chair of MPI’s International Board of Directors.
MPI’s 2018-19 volunteer chapter leaders were honored at the President’s Dinner along with outgoing board members and Anne Hamilton, vice president of global travel for The Walt Disney Company, who received the Industry Leader Award.
There were 19 clock hours of professional education offered throughout WEC19, while the association’s Hosted Buyer Program celebrated 10 years of creating businesses exchanges for the meeting industry community.
The MPI Foundation hosted its annual Rendezvous event, raising more than $220,000. The Foundation now begins a yearlong celebration of its 35th anniversary. Since 2009, the Foundation has distributed more than $4.2 million to the MPI community and the meeting industry. The Foundation awarded nearly 300 scholarships and grants, including 89 for WEC19.
MPI announced its first new chapter since 2012, with the formation of the Caribe Mexicano chapter, which will represent the Yucatan Peninsula.
“MPI has grown a lot in Mexico,” said Valeria Serrano, managing director of CTA, a Cancun- and Riviera Maya-focused DMC, who will be the chapter’s first president. She said the chapter has attracted 50 members in 32 days.
“With the great engagement of our Mexico community, MPI’s presence across Latin America has been growing significantly,” said Paul Van Deventer, MPI president and CEO. “The addition of a new chapter in that region will support and enable continued growth for the community.”
MPI also signed an agreement with the Thailand Conference and Exhibition Bureau to organize MPI-licensed education programs in southeast Asia for three years, beginning in 2020.
“We continue to look at how to grow this community is a responsible way,” Van Deventer added. “MPI is your community—there’s a place here for you.”
Two MPI members who passed away recently were recognized during WEC: Carol Norfleet, MPI Tennessee Chapter and the 2016 RISE Award recipient for Member of the Year; and Peg Wolschon, MPI Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter, whose work led to the 2017 RISE Award for Innovative Educational Programming.
Next year’s WEC will take place June 6-9, 2020, in Grapevine, Texas. Register now at mpi.org/wec20!
