Ahead of MPI’s European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC), 21-24 February in Barcelona, we speak to some hosted buyers about why they chose to participate in the programme and what they aim to take away from investing their time with MPI in the Catalan capital.
Alexis Cartamil, event manager at Ewald Consulting, tells us, “I was drawn to the hosted buyer programme because of the opportunity to build meaningful, in-person connections with suppliers beyond emails and phone calls.”
It’s a good reminder of how important it is for people to meet face to face.
This is a view echoed by Meg Sytnick HMCC, MMP at Amera Travel Consulting LLC.
“What drew me to the hosted buyer programme was the opportunity to align my international networking with the way my work is evolving,” she says. “As a U.S.-based buyer and MPI member, I’ve participated in hosted buyer programmes in the States and have long worked with partners beyond the US. EMEC’s hosted buyer programme builds on that foundation by offering a curated way to deepen relationships with international destinations and suppliers that match my current book of business and future growth.”
Staying connected to trusted partners and keeping up with market developments is also essential for Roxana Radu, healthcare events manager at PR Medical Events.
“MPI’s EMEC Barcelona provides an excellent opportunity to build relationships with key suppliers, gain fresh destination insights and identify venues that align with our future business opportunities, all while fitting a lot of productive meetings (and hopefully good coffee) into a few very busy days,” she says.
Allison Burkey, director, exchange programs for MPI, has her work cut out to meet these expectations, but she’s confident that the programme will be another success.
“EMEC Barcelona will be full of culture and history with surprises around every corner,” she says. “This year's group of hosted buyers will experience a firsthand look at the city of Barcelona while enriching their business relationships through intentional networking opportunities and carefully curated one-on-one meetings.”
Burkey says the hosted buyer programme, taking place at the newly designed SLS Hotel, offers guests the opportunity to experience an immersive evening exploring the city.
“Additionally, they will enjoy a highly engaging B2B workshop breakfast focused on the Andalucia region of Spain and connect with new suppliers and like-minded peers throughout the programme,” she says.
At the end of EMEC, Cartamil is looking forward to coming away from EMEC feeling inspired and energised. She works with associations that host conferences around the world and is looking to learn from other planners who are navigating different cultures, destinations and audiences.
“I’d love to bring back fresh ideas, new connections and practical takeaways that help me create even stronger, more engaging experiences for my clients,” she says.
Sytnick, sums it up nicely: “Ultimately, I’m looking for the mix EMEC is known for: fresh ideas, honest conversations and a few ‘this changes how I’ll do things on Monday’ insights that raise the bar for every event I touch.”
