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Latest Associations/Organizations News & Views...

The 2012 List: 10 Event Professionals Worth Knowing on Social Media

It’s almost been a year since we came up with the list of 10 Event Professionals Worth Knowing on Social Media. In 2011, it proved popular in search results, LinkedIn discussions and on Twitter for industry professionals, including those who were looking for a resource of people to follow. While social media has been an open door that constantly introduces us to a plethora of talented people in the meetings and events industry, we decided to only choose 10 again for our 2012 edition. So, if you’re new to social media or you are interested in finding publications and people who are new to you, this list is intended to help you.

Balancing Sponsorship Recognition with Audience Engagement

The generous support and collaboration of PCMA’s partners assists us in bringing superior speakers and affordable education to our audiences. Yet, as post-event surveys have revealed, our audience is turned off by the traditional talking head, on-stage commercial messages of the past.

For our 2012 Convening Leaders program we took a new approach to sponsorship recognition. We wanted to ensure that the attendees heard and engaged with the partner’s message while increasing our partner’s impression returns – we went VIDEO.

Our mantra for this new partnership initiative was “fast, fluid and flexible.” Full Story...

An Interview with Conor Cunneen - MPI Chicago Area Chapter

Recently I caught up with Conor Cunneen, MPI-CAC Board Liaison for TechCon. Connor has been very busy preparing for this “rockin’ event” coming up on February 8th, so I was lucky enough to chat with him briefly to discuss his MPI involvement and of course, technology.

WHY MPI?
Conor joined MPI about four years ago for two reasons. First as a keynote speaker, MPI was an obvious and fruitful business networking group to help him grow his business. The second reason was for educational purposes. Conor admits that when you work in a small business it is easy to get out of touch with what is happening and MPI’s education programs and content effectively keep him at the cutting edge of what’s happening. Full Story...

MPI-WI Strategic Meetings Management

The Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-WI) will host a unique learning opportunity on Strategic Meeting Management on February 9th at the Menominee Casino Resort in Keshena, WI. Full Story...

PCMA: Meetings Gamesmanship

Once I tried to play Prince of Persia, but I couldn't stop the Prince from leaping off the palace wall to his doom whenever he saw his enemies. I tried to play Warlock, but I didn't move quickly enough and was clubbed to death by gladiators. On Second Life, I was cornered in a gazebo by a stalker and had to Ctrl-Q to escape. But in the first general session of PCMA's Convening Leaders, I saw a inspiring presentation. Full story...

Innovative Meeting Design Elements of EMEC Revealed

Leading-edge meeting design components at the European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC) will demonstrate how new ideas in room layout, technology, collaboration techniques and even catering can be put into practice immediately by EMEC attendees, driving business performance and attendee success from their own events. Full story...

ISES Announces Partnership With Eved

The International Special Events Society (ISES) today announced a new strategic partnership with Eved. ISES believes that shared technology platforms and online communities can help member companies by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes, position members to provide value to their customers, and promote growth opportunities. Full story...

2012 Events Market Predictions from IMEX America

The inaugural IMEX America tradeshow last fall flooded meetings media pipelines with US and global industry buzz, plus tons of post-show survey data. From there, the IMEX Group released its predictions for the 2012 meetings, incentive travel, and events market, including the following. Full story...

Incentive Research Foundation Survey Says: Economy Impacting 2012 Incentive Trends

What a difference a year can make. Unlike the start of 2011, the Incentive Research Foundation’s (IRF) latest survey of incentive industry trends finds planners struggling with the effects of an economy caught in a slow recovery. Full story...

FICP 2012 Leadership Announced

The members of the Financial & Insurance Conference Planners (FICP) elected one new member to serve on the association’s board of directors at the 2011 FICP Annual Conference. Wayne Robinson, CMP, head of conferences and events for Guardian Life Insurance Company will serve a three-year term, which becomes effective January 1, 2012. Full story...

Reed Partners With Professional Convention Management Association

Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) today announced a partnership with the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). The agreement, which was revealed at EIBTM in Barcelona and commences in January 2012, will see PCMA supporting RTE’s IBTM exhibition portfolio, providing educational content at a series of events in key markets, as well as contributing to RTE’s global hosted buyer program. Full story...

ISES Celebrates 25 Years: The Inspiration Continues

The International Special Events Society (ISES) announces that it is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The celebration will culminate at ISES Eventworld 2012, August 2-4, in Dallas, Texas at the Dallas Fairmont Hotel. Full story...

RCMA Announces Leadership Transition

Dr. Woodring

The Religious Conference Management Association’s longtime leader, Dr. DeWayne Woodring, has announced his retirement as executive director. He will continue to serve as an advisor/consultant through December 31, 2011. The RCMA board unanimously appointed the Rev. Harry Schmidt as the new executive director, effective immediately. Schmidt, who was the vice president of RCMA’s board at the time of his appointment, has served as president of Christian Life College, Mount Prospect, IL, for nearly two decades. Full story...

Two Chicago Area Meetings Industry Organizations Form Partnership

MPI-CAC and HeresChicago.com announced a partnership that supports both organizations’ growth goals. With today’s challenging business environment serving as motivation, the leaders of MPI-CAC turned to their membership base in search of prospective win-win partnerships. Full story...

MPI Headquarters Issues World Series Challenge to St. Louis CVC

In the spirit of friendly competition, MPI president/CEO Bruce MacMillan and his team at MPI’s HQ issued a challenge to Kathleen (Kitty) Ratcliffe and her team at the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission. MPI’s annual World Education Congress arrives in St. Louis, MO July 28-31, 2012, where thousands of meeting and event professionals from around the world will gather for professional development and to enhance business relationships. Full story...

MPI-WI Hosts Open Space: The Future of Meetings and the Meeting Industry

The Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-WI) Education will be hosting a discussion on the future of meetings and the meeting industry that will be held on October 20th at The Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau, WI. More information...

PCMA Announces Proposed Slate of New 2012 Board Officers and Directors

MPI Announces Host Cities for Future Live Events

Introducing HSMAI’s MEET: The Evolution of Affordable Meetings

Message to Congress: You Need Meetings

The U.S. Travel Association will lead an initiative to convince members of Congress of the importance of meetings to their districts and to the nation’s economy as a whole.
“We are targeting 43 members of Congress, based on a variety of factors, including the importance of meetings in their business,” said Erik Hansen, director of domestic policy for U.S. Travel. “The goal of this campaign is to build new champions. Read More:

Geoteaming Wins MPI Supplier of the Year Through Volunteering

John Chen plans over 100 meetings per year for 10,000 people by creating innovative corporate team building events and brings that passion for meetings to furthering the field through MPI. John said, “This is a great honor to be acknowledged by my peers. I have always made volunteering part of my life and this award, this night is one of my highlights of the year, something I’ll treasure in my life. Like all great organizations, the more you give, the more you get!” Full story...

MPI-OH Hosts 24th Annual Education & Scholarship Fundraiser

Join your fellow MPI members for this exciting chapter event. The event promises to be a "wild journey" with lively entertainment, networking with friends, exceptional auction items, and great values. Fabulous items to bid on ensure the Ohio Chapter of Meeting Professionals International's continued commitment to bringing outstanding education programs, certification programs, and scholarship opportunities to the industry. More information...

IMEX America Association Day Kicks Off Debut Show With Energy and Business Focus

Two hundred association meeting planners from across the U.S. and 20 countries around the world are coming together today for a power-packed afternoon and evening program of learning and networking as part of the first-ever IMEX America Association Day. Full story...

IAEE President Steven Hacker to Step Down Next Year

When his current employment agreement expires on Sept. 30, 2012, longtime president and CEO Steven Hacker will resign his executive post with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the association announced last week. Full story...

New Best Practices in Event Marketing

If only attendance was the measure of success. Then, the ILA Berlin Airshow, the biannual aerospace industry event with routine attendance of 1 million plus, would be among the most successful events in history. “But how many of the million are going to buy an Airbus A380?” asks Colja Dams, CEO of Vok Dams Group, an event management agency based in Germany. Full story...

New HSMAI's Meet National Sees Strong ROI For Planners and Suppliers

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's cutting-edge education and marketplace event, HSMAI's MEET: Meetings, Events, Education, Technology, the successor to the renowned Affordable Meetings®, kicked off Sept. 7-8 in Washington D.C., to glowing reviews. With more than 2,000 meeting, event and industry professionals in attendance, the show provided a platform that encouraged new business bookings, networking events, continued education and the utilization of industry-changing technology. Full story...