How serendipitous…the 2009 World Education Congress (WEC) in Salt Lake City breathed the language of business and the value thereof for meeting professionals while acting as an industry example of the true value of human connections. As beautiful and mysterious as it may be, though, serendipity deserves only a nod; WEC delegates, MPI staff and volunteers drove the real magic.
Opening General Session
In a surreal moment, economist, actor and former political speech writer Ben Stein hit the stage in suit and eco-friendly tennis shoes, hurling zingers and engaging (if not altogether “outside the box”) anecdotes that left the audience in stitches, expressing his immediate gratitude for the meeting industry.
“Many of you have helped pay my mortgage,” he laughed at the WEC Opening General Session (OGS) before turning serious and touching. “You’ve made me feel like a part of your family…thank you.”
Stein then shared what would become a much-tweeted line: “Business meetings did not cause this recession!”
Mixing humor with tight economic and political logic, Stein postulated that bureaucrats have targeted meetings because they simply don’t understand what it takes for businesses to succeed.
“Business meetings are bringing oxygen to the living organism of the economy,” he poetically chimed.
He closed with a recommendation for the meeting professionals in attendance and watching online: “Keep preaching the good gospel of meetings,” he said, adding that bad policy works itself out of the body politic. In short, meeting pros, stay strong!
Gary Loveman, chairman, president and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., followed Stein’s strong lead, sharing via case study how meeting professionals can deal with challenges posed by the current economic and perceptual pressures and what executives weigh in making meeting decisions.
“We must find the new normal,” he said, and in doing so speak the language decision-makers understand and need.
Betsy Myers, COO of the Obama for America Presidential Campaign, then emerged on stage, jumping right into the day’s discussion.
“What I’m hearing is that I need to whisper in the president’s ear,” she said, responding to U.S. governmental pressure on aspects of the meeting industry this year.
Citing meetings-relevant anecdotes (ranging from a funeral to political meetings), Myers presented her seven principles of leadership, which include being authentic, clear and respectful. She closed with the reminder that meetings and events are a direct connection to the human heart.
OGS delegates also heard important talks from myriad contingencies of the industry and MPI.
• Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon along with Babs, Salt Lake’s “biggest fan,” dressed in their “guest service ranger” uniforms and kicked off the OGS with a humorous highlight on local hospitality.
• Keeping in line with the message of meeting professionals needing to speak the language of business, Ann Godi, 2009-2010 MPI chairwoman, exclaimed, “As an industry, we can no longer remain a best-kept secret. We must build the business case, measure and track the results and communicate the results to our stakeholders.”
• Margaret Moynihan, CMP, 2009-2010 chairwoman of the MPI Foundation, highlighted one thing that everyone in the audience can count on: Your MPI membership is a tremendous value.
• Larry Luteran, immediate past MPI chairman, presented the Chairman’s Award to Roger Dow of the U.S. Travel Association (who accepted via video), for his organizational efforts to help defend the industry.
• The OGS closed with a powerful message from Bruce MacMillan, CA, president and CEO of MPI, that yes, indeed, shift happens. But meeting professionals cannot be deterred and must never, ever stop storytelling. “Here in Salt Lake is where we start the next new beginning of our industry…The world is waiting. Enjoy the shift!”
Virtually There
Remote delegates received a great deal of conference content by taking advantage of the Virtual Access Pass (VAP), implemented at WEC for the first time.
The VAP offered live streaming sessions during the WEC and continues to offer dozens of recorded, multimedia educational sessions online. VAP users are eligible for CEUs by attending online. And daily publication One+ OnSite is also available online in its entirety—don’t miss the WEClusives, Hall ‘n Quotes, @WEC, Expert Excerpts and session recaps available nowhere else.
If you weren’t able to make the WEC in person or online—or you missed some important sessions because there was simply so much to see and do—rest easy, we’ve got your back. If you attended WEC, your registration included access to online content. If not, you can still join in on the fun and education. Visit www.mpiweb.org/events/wec2009/VAP.aspx.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
The WEC played host to multiple significant news announcements from MPI.
• MPI will establish as many as 15 training centers globally within the next year, each offering internationally recognized accreditations for the meeting and event industry. The curriculum is just a part of the Global Knowledge Plan unveiled on site.
• Strategic partnership agreements between MPI and the Beijing Tourism Administration and Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong were announced.
• The June MPI Business Barometer revealed that nearly 40 percent of respondents reported meetings spend has decreased by greater than 10 percent. However, there are also signs of industry stabilization—more respondents than last year predicted flat or improving conditions for the next six months.
• The MPI Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Best of the Best of the Tweets
Aw...Ben Stein was awesome. I’m sure everyone else will be great but I could have listened to him all day @MtgRevolution
One tip to navigate this conference is take advantage of networking for a lifelong connection @aricmievents
WEC’ers on Twitter. Remember, it’s not “what are you doing?” It’s “what do you WANT to do?” or “know?” Be heard. @jmcdo
#iHaveToAdmit - This is a Great Conference - @Pediatricians We are watching MPI’s WEC Conference. @HeartTransplant
Good talks about technology at #wec09. Social networking, virtual and logistics management are hot topics @Eric_Ols
Just left a FANTASTIC session on “Creating your Personal Brand Strategy” w/Peggy Stevens! Starting today I’m doing things different. @michellet827
Really had a great time on the morning walk. Thanks #wec09 volunteers. @tjworrell
Awkward having suppliers and planners in same session on hotel contract negotiations. @hellajoy
Here’s a thought: you should include WEC 09 on your resume under “Professional Development”! Don’t forget to boost your credentials! @dawnrasmussen
Body language secrets - picked to be on stage...scared @JonPetz
“Social media does not have rules, it has religions.” Patrick O’Malley at #WEC09 LinkedIn for Business @aprilbroussard
Cool Twitter-meetings idea: tweet discount codes to constituency to drive registrations. 5 Technology Trends @sallbee
A Message Gaining Momentum
The meeting and event industry has a letter for U.S. President Barack Obama and it made an appearance at the WEC MeetingPlace trade show.
“Dear Mr. President, it is a monumental time and we have a bold message for Washington. On the matter of meetings…meetings matter. Meetings are a part of the solution, not the problem.”
But it’s not just any old letter—this one is eight feet tall and 48 feet wide, consisting of three 16-foot-tall panels (one sponsored by MPI!) with thousands of signatures and hand-written notes from industry members—and a watermarked photograph of the U.S. Capitol Building. The intent is to make sure the message gets across loud and clear.
Beth Hamiroune, vice president of sales for the Krisam Group and Global Event Partners, began this grassroots movement during the MPI New England Meetings Industry Conference & Exposition (NEMICE) trade show in April. Originally part of her booth display, attendees began signing the panels in an overwhelming heartfelt response to express support for the industry.
She attended the 2009 U.S. presidential inauguration, where she snapped, on inauguration day, the letter’s photo.
“I was very emotional about the whole situation,” Hamiroune said. “When President Obama spoke out against meetings, I felt disappointed.”
The letter then traveled to an MPI chapter event in New York, and with the growing buzz found its way to the ASAE Springtime Expo. What has become referred to as The Wall just finished up its visit to WEC’s MeetingPlace trade show floor, garnering excited responses from new signatories.
Hamiroune hopes to deliver the letter to Washington this fall. Its path up to that time is still fluid, and MPI chapters are encouraged to play host to the letter at their events to add signatures and increase the impact of this powerful message.
MICHAEL PINCHERA is associate editor for One+.
Thank You WEC Sponsors!
Diamond Level
Freeman
PSAV
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake CVB
SMG - Salt Palace Convention Center
Utah Office of Tourism
VT2 Studios
Platinum Sponsors
Mexico Tourism Board
Vancouver Convention Centre
Gold Sponsors
Content Management Corp.
Keppler Power Keynote Series
MPI Foundation
Silver Sponsors
Canadian Tourism Commission
Detroit Metro CVB
The Grand America Hotel
Hilton Salt Lake City Center
Loews
Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corp.
Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City
Rentsys Event Technology
SLC Marriott Hotel Downtown
Bronze Sponsors
Hard Rock International
Hilton Hotels Corporation
GEP - Utah
IMEX
Marriott Salt Lake City Center
Proforma Makay Print and Promotions
Reflections Event Photography
Sheraton City Center
Showcare
Contributing Sponsors
AT&T Park
The Conference Publishers
Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
Crystal Inn - Downtown
DFW Meet Now Promise
Embassy Suites
Harrah’s Entertainment
Hampton Inn - Downtown
HelmsBriscoe
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts
Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City
MeetingMetrics
Omnipress
Pathable
pc/nametag Inc.
Peabody Orlando
Peery Hotel
Red Lion Hotel
Royal Garden Inn
Salt Lake Plaza Hotel
Shilo Hotel
Turning Technologies
Wynn Encore