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  • Posted by Veleisa Patton at
    12:00AM 08/08/2011 • 0 Comments

    Summing up the WEC Experience

     

    You know how you see a kid at the fair, little arms wrapped around those huge prize stuffed panda bears, filled with such glee? That’s how I feel when I try to encompass all the news, networking, education, connections, business and more from WEC 2011 in Orlando. With the new rules of engagement in full effect, our community embraced the energy and created an experience that people are still buzzing about.

    Let’s get a few statistics out of the way first:

    • More than 3,500 Hosted Buyer appointments with 225 participating supplier companies
    • 6,579 unique visitors to the WEC Live Online experience
    • A #WEC11 twitter transcript that is nearly 250 two-sided pages long
    • 55 participants in the Clean the World CSR project alone (seven total projects)

    Whew! That’s a lot said, especially in three days. The graciousness and professionalism of Orlando’s hospitality industry, the outstanding displays and culinary delights on show during the Epcot Alive! Opening Reception at Walt Disney World, rocking Closing festivities at Universal Studios & Hard Rock and the strength of the professional development and business opportunities presented at the Orange County Convention Center left attendees feeling empowered to enact what they learned in their offices and their lives.

    There are far too many favorites to properly list but several speakers inspired attendees, leading them to share the tidbits and quotes that resounded from presentations both on-site and online. Simon Sinek, the opening general session speaker, celebrated the importance of meeting professionals as the last line of defense in bringing people together in an increasingly digital world, and led attendees in questioning their personal “why” to bring clarity to their actions.

    Kathleen Madigan’s standup routine during the St. Louis (WEC 2012 host city) luncheon brought laughs and had the crowd excited about next year’s event. On Tuesday, Joe Calloway  and Kelly Cutrone enjoyed chemistry onstage during closing general session, leading to long lines at their book signings and a packed house at Kelly’s community Q&A session.

    The HIVE fulfilled the vision of being the epicenter of meeting technology and social media, with Tech Shootouts that enlightened those in search of solutions for meetings and events and starting conversations on social media inclusion best practice. And if anyone knows the identity of the Ghost of WEC11, who seemed to frequent the HIVE, let us know (seriously, best kept secret of the conference).

    Blog posts have a limited length before the mind becomes overwhelmed so I welcome readers to leave their own impressions from WEC in the comments. What was your favorite session/speaker? What kind of business have you generated? What session impacted you the most? Even more importantly, go and experience anew (or for the first time) dozens of the sessions from WEC 2011. 



  • Posted by Veleisa Patton at
    12:00AM 07/24/2011 • 0 Comments

    Not Your Mom's Tee Time

    The sun coming over the horizon as a heron soars over the lake. No, it’s not a turn-of-the-century period movie. It was the scene for the MPI Foundation Players Golf Tournament, where East Coast versus West Coast wasn’t a reference to 90s rap music but to the Ryder Cup-style friendly competition between chairs Richard Harper, Executive VP of Sales with MGM Resorts International and Margaret Moynihan, Director with Deloitte.

    The game began with the shot-gun start from all 18 holes at 7:30 a.m.,  and continued as teams played through, with sponsored holes and a long drive competition, keeping the action and conversations going. Players discussed the ways that MPI Foundation helps the community, referencing scholarship and grants, as well as research, and the sense of community they feel in associating with their peers who value investing in the industry.

    When the dust settled, the East Coast won in points but everyone gained through the networking, sharing and sportsmanship experienced on the beautiful greens at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando. Thank you to all sponsors who contributed to the event; check out players’ feedback on the tourney through the WEC Live Online experience, where pictures and social media are constantly adding to the discussion around WEC 2011. 



  • Posted by Veleisa Patton at
    12:00AM 07/20/2011 • 0 Comments

    WEC Daily Download Details

    As Theresa said in her post “With the Attendee in Mind,” one of the focuses of the re-designed WEC experience is including our community in the process of developing the content that is presented at conference. Daily Download, a new addition to WEC, will take the insights and opinions of attendees that are shared online throughout the day and filter into one session onsite. The event design team is using Wiffiti, a service of Locamoda, to crowd-source the social media stream from Foursquare, twitter and Flickr, as well as mobile and web messages, and present it to Daily Download attendees. To make it easier for professionals to contribute to the discussion, the following hashtags have been specially created. We encourage attendees to tag their photos and tweets from pre-conference events, education sessions on Sunday through Tuesday and the Flash Point presentations with these hashtags:

    #WEC11pre (Friday/Saturday Sessions)
    #WEC11Sun (Sunday Sessions)
    #WEC11Mon (Monday Sessions)
    #WEC11Tues (Tuesday Sessions)
    #WEC11FP (Flash Point)


    You can also quickly send in details by texting "@WEC" and your message to 87884 or sending an email with the message in the subject line to wec@wiffiti.com. See you in Orlando!



  • Posted by Theresa Davis at
    12:00AM 07/08/2011 • 1 Comments

    With the Attendee In Mind

     

    The other day on twitter I noticed @tracibrowne made a comment about how refreshing it would be if conferences kept their attendees needs in mind (I'm paraphrasing).  And I wanted to chime in and say but that's what the new WEC experience IS.  But I totally understand that people aren't going to really "get it" until they experience it.  And that actions certainly speak louder than words - especially if they're just tweeted. ;)

    One of the re-design elements that I think attendees will be thrilled with was created by Diana Rogers and Liz Luna here on Team MPI specifically with the attendee in mind. You know who it is because it's probably been you before - the attendee that can't clone themselves and be at every session they want to be at. So their creative solution? We're calling it the Daily Download. This open session at the end of the day engages attendees for peer learning and enables them to revisit and continue conversations from earlier conference sessions, aggregate comments and much more.

    For the first time at WEC, event designers will crowd-source attendee observations and feedback using social media channels and community notes. The opinions, tips and best practices of attendees are the catalyst that will launch conversations. Daily Download attendees can discuss their opinions and insights as well as those of their peers, beginning a new round of discussion expanding the learning potential for attendees.

    When I talked with Diana, she told me that attendees who are looking for the most efficient ways to connect on-site, the Daily Download is the place to be to transfer insights and elevate your daily learning. Here is a chance to network based on the session topics of interest whether you were able to attend it or not. I expect this to be one of the most popular times of day.

    So if you're attending by yourself, meet up with other members of your chapter or twitter followers or heck, the person sitting next to you at the RISE Awards lunch and divide and conquer when it comes to the schedule of sessions.  Then you can meet back up at the Daily Download and share notes, ideas, observations. We're encouraging speakers and presenters to visit the Daily Download to experience their feedback instantly and to interact with the individuals that attended their presentations.

    Oh, and if you loved Meeting Madness in March & April, you'll really want to stop by the Daily Download where you'll be able to vote for sessions you want repeated during reserved time slots on Monday, July 25 and Tuesday, July 26. For those unable to attend WEC and who will be following conversations online, Daily Download and the crowd-sourced Google Docs will give a preview of the sessions professionals you can view either on-demand (free for members) or purchase in the future.

    WEC Daily Download will be in S320GH at 4:30 p.m. on July 24 and 4:15 p.m. July 25 – 26.


  • Posted by Theresa Davis at
    12:00AM 07/06/2011 • 0 Comments

    It's hip to be square

     

    So last year at WEC in Vancouver we experimented with a scavenger hunt via foursquare as an experiment in driving attendee traffic to interesting areas within the conference.  Well, it worked well and we're at it again for WEC 2011 in Orlando, thanks to some help from our very friendly and fun social media sponsor, Ottawa Tourism.

    This year, with the help of some of our twitterati @ElizabethB, @MeetingPlanning and @VeleisaP we've established a number of check points throughout the Orange County Convention Center, Peabody Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Epcot and other key locations.  The game this year is that as you check in at different activities like The Big Deal, Rendezvous, RISE Awards ceremony or even The HIVE and Blitz! that you'll not only see who else is there, but also find clues in the tips section of the app.

    The clues will actually be words that will create a "winning phrase".  Once you have the winning phrase on Tuesday, July 26, you'll need to check in at the HIVE for the official #WEC11 tweetup at 1 p.m. and on your check-in comment with the winning phrase.  Ottawa Tourism will draw a name from all correct entries for a grand prize.  Additional prizes will also be awarded to tweet up participants.

    Other benefits of using foursquare at WEC are that some of our host committee are working with local Orlando businesses who may offer special discounts to WEC attendees, so be sure to check in throughout your stay in Orlando. 

    Personally, I love watching people as they check in at the airport and post to twitter. It's a rolling wave of attendees as they hit MCO.  In Vancouver it also proved useful when trying to track down friends and colleagues.

    Now if you're not familiar with foursquare CNN did a fun piece on it a while back that you can watch on YouTube. If you're still not sure you're using the app properly, you can always stop by the HIVE and have the technology concierge help you out when you get to WEC. 

     




  • Posted by Theresa Davis at
    12:00AM 07/05/2011 • 1 Comments

    This just in...

     

    So as many of you who are professional planners know, the last few weeks leading up to conference or major annual event gets pretty hectic and exciting.  And of course here at MPI it isn't any different. The office is abuzz with the latest reports, numbers, updates etc.as the final touches are put on WEC 2011 in Orlando.

    The latest news to surge down the hallway is that we have already exceeded the number of registered planners that attended WEC 2010 in Vancouver - and registrations are still rolling in.  So after a celebratory "happy dance" it got me thinking, well, are all those planners hosted buyer? 

    And lo' and behold, they aren't.  There are actually more than 75% (growing daily) of our planners that are attending WEC who are not - I repeat not - part of the hosted buyer program. Which means they'll be networking at every opportunity WEC provides them.

    Translation - savvy suppliers who want to can connect with planners throughout conference sessions, CSR activities, the Blitz ... the list goes on and on. 

    Actually, let me create that list of leveraged networking for you in case you or a colleague need some encouragement to attend if you haven't already registered.

    1. Opening Reception at Epcot - excitement is high, people are reuniting with friends - ask for introductions!
    2. Educational and Co-Creation Sessions - smart suppliers need to stay in the know too, jump into discussions and meet planners on a peer-to-peer level
    3. Chapter Receptions - these are combined regional parties that allow you to meet up with other chapters, expand your network and meet together first and foremost as MPI Members
    4. Big Heart Activities (aka CSR) - when you bond over a common love of dogs while puppy cuddling wouldn't you be more likely to take a call from someone after the conference?
    5. Career Resource Center - this is an area that's more than just a job bank, explore recruitment opportunities, learn from resume experts, network and expand your circle
    6. RISE Awards - this year the celebration takes place over a free luncheon and can provide great opportunities to discuss the award-winners as best practice case studies, you can treat them as great conversation starters
    7. The Blitz! - mixing business and fun creates great opportunities to establish rapport and build relationships
    8. The HIVE - a great area for the tech savvy and tech curious to meet, discuss and explore the potential of the future of meetings
    9. The Big Deal - planners get in free and there will be plenty of them in an atmosphere charged with possibility and luck
    10. Rendezvous - perhaps you've met a prospective employee or client you'd like to woo a bit - buy tickets to one of the hottest nights on the town and take them to Rendezvous
    11. Closing Reception at Hard Rock - a great place to find and connect with people you met during conference. Don't shuffle business cards around, but grab emails and phone numbers in your phone if you haven't gotten them already. Most of all, celebrate a great conference with new friends and hopefully long-term business colleagues.
    And honestly, there are more, but you should really explore them here.


  • Posted by Veleisa Patton at
    12:00AM 05/24/2011 • 0 Comments

    Ante Up with "Go Kevin!" and The Big Deal 2011

    We all are familiar with that pivotal moment where the main character goes all in. The resigned push of all their chips, hopes riding on that one last chance for redemption. The dice roll, the final card comes out, the roulette wheel skips to a stop …

    This is not the story for Kevin Hinton, the 2010 The Big Deal poker tournament winner. As the final hand was played, Kevin went all in but for a different reason. He meant for his peer to win. Imagine his surprise to find out that he was the winner of the tournament and the recipient of a $10,000 seat at the 2011 World Series of Poker® Main Event, Las Vegas.

    The One+ team spoke with Kevin for the May issue, where he said he is ready to defend his title at the second annual Big Deal event in Orlando (July 24, 2011). Kevin is relying not only on his own intuition and skills picked up from TV but also on the guidance of his fellow meeting professionals.

    “Go Kevin!” is our campaign to keep you informed about Kevin’s progress in preparation for the WSOP® Main Event. While you read about his (mis)adventures, leave your words of wisdom, playing tips and advice on wardrobe (sunglasses versus visor versus hood) in the comments section. Then be sure to bring your skills to The Big Deal at WEC 2011, where planners attendees who register online get in for free and everyone can network like there’s no tomorrow!



  • Posted by Theresa Davis at
    12:00AM 01/12/2011 • 5 Comments

    The Hive comes to life

    Once upon a time in a small coastal Spanish city of Malaga, three meeting and event professionals began to chat at an opening reception. Each pro had a penchant for technology and social media and the conversation over tappas soon led to how at the next major event they could take away some of the mystery from technology and social media.  And an idea was born.

    The opening reception was at EMEC 2010 and the three pros were Theresa Davis (@MPITheresa), Samuel Smith (@samueljsmith) and Miguel Neves (@miguelseven).  The exciting thing is, that the initial idea of offering tutorials on how to use an even mobile app at a "genius bar" has now evolved.

    When I arrived back at MPI HQ from EMEC 2010 we were diving right into our preparations for WEC10 in Vancouver.  As any conference planner knows, it takes a while to develop a comprehensive idea that actually fits into meeting design. I as an enthusiastic PR chick wanted to jump right in last year with this idea.  But, no, I was schooled in the ways of patience, concept development and event design.

    So in collaboration with not only my team in communications and social media, but also creative services, publications, event management, content and (oh yeah don't forget) our leadership - MPI will launch "The Hive" at WEC 2011 in Orlando, FL.  The Hive became our working name as a tounge-in-cheek idea answer to the question, "Where will the 'buzz' at WEC be?" Then, as things tend to do when you let them organically develop, we realized that The Hive really works.  And if it works, don't try and fix it.

    Now I will say, that we did come up with some outlandish ideas in brainstorming.  The two-story lounge with diving board and trained bees didn't make it into the final design, but in all honesty we had a hard time justifying the ROI on the diving board and PETA probably would have had issues with trained bees serving cocktails (even if they were tiny, tiny cocktails).  What has made the final cut is a unique blend of areas where the tech-savvy and the tech-curious can meet, learn and share.

    We've evolved far beyond a standard bank of desktop PCs at the cyber-cafe and wrapped that feature around an area encompassing a tech concierge station, a demonstration/education stage, a rear projection screen that can run the #WEC11 twitter fountain or other presentations, and then there's One+ unplugged.  In the One+ unplugged area WEC participants will get to see bloggers, writers, and designers in action during interviews or production on the WEC Dailies.  The Hive will also house lounge areas with charging stations and provide areas to meet with speakers and facilitators.

    So we're at a cool place now from concept through development and now seeing The Hive begin to come to life. I hear from Meg and her team in Marketplace that savvy sponsors are looking at how they can interact with WEC guests in The Hive and that just makes me want to do a happy dance too.

    So while we're not at a wrap, and won't be for many months - I wanted to thank both Sam & Miguel for a stimulating conversation a year ago that has led to one of the coolest projects I've ever had a chance to be a part of, and to Team MPI for sticking with this wacky idea. When we meet, we change the world.



  • Posted by Kristen Kouk at
    12:00AM 01/10/2011 • 3 Comments

    News Flash: Meetings Are Worth It


    Photo courtesy of flickr

    Huge news hit the meeting industry today. And how do I know this? Because I wrote the press release, ha!

    In all seriousness, I would like to introduce an extremely intelligent MPI staff member, Marj Atkinson. Marj is our resident statistics expert. Marj, MPI’s Manager of Research, is instrumental in developing all of MPI’s research studies (hence the title).

    The most recent MPI report, with 48% of respondents being planners, tells us that WEC attendees benefited from a 300+% return on investment. I sat down with her recently to discuss what this major performance measurement announcement really means…


    Why is it important that MPI undertook this study?
    The Business Value of Meetings is now more important than ever. To actually prove a positive ROI as a result of attending an educational conference like WEC (or any meeting) is tremendous. It shows the purpose of holding a conference and educating attendees is all worth the effort.

    What do the results mean to you? Are you surprised?
    The 300+% return on investment indicates overwhelmingly that the experience attendees take from WEC is positive. Attendees measured cost savings and revenue generation and included intangibles along with the measurements such as the value of networking and learning from peers. I am not surprised that there was a positive ROI from attending WEC, but I was a bit surprised and very pleased at the incredibly large ROI average.

    Did you receive any personal feedback from respondents?
    Yes, I got very positive feedback from a number of people that were glad we were doing this and that they couldn’t wait to see the results. One independent planner told me they got an immediate positive ROI by connecting with someone at WEC that brought them business.

    Some other responses were:

    “2010 was my first WEC. While I have attended other large national meeting industry conferences, I was truly impressed by the energy at the entire conference. I attended ASAE in August and really felt it didn't compare to WEC.”

     “Honestly, the networking is the best part. Meeting vendors and having the opportunity to meet face-to-face with them and fellow planners is great.”

     “The hosted buyer was a great way to network and gather leads. This was the most beneficial aspect of the conference for me.”

    “I used what I learned from sessions to plan various events this year that have been successful.”

    Do you have any ideas on how to improve the study?
    Yes. We enlisted the help of about ten MPI members to be a part of a feedback group. They provided great insight on how to improve the email communications related to the MyROI program, the timing of the survey, the questions on the survey and how to handle those that couldn’t answer the entire survey (not everyone could calculate cost savings or revenue generation just yet as they hadn’t planned another conference since WEC). We also learned to notify attendees ahead of time that the MyROI program will be available and to plan ahead for it as they’re picking their sessions at the next WEC.

    WEC 2011 – here we come!

    Would you like to learn more about the ROI of events? Connect with world-class MPI content covering ROI and event measurement here.