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  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 01/14/2013 • 1 Comments

    IMEX America 2012 Generates $3.3 Billion of Business

    Analysis of business conducted by buyers at the second edition of IMEX America at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas last October reveals that buyers placed—or expect to place—US$3.3 billion of business as a result of attending the award-winning trade show. The figure is a 17.5 percent increase on the $2.8 billion achieved at and during the months after the debut show in October 2011.

    More than 1,000 hosted buyers and buyer attendees gave their feedback in the show’s exit survey which, according to IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, is “an exceptional response sample.” The post show surveys are used extensively by the IMEX Group to generate ideas and suggestions for refining IMEX America year-over-year and the high response rate reflects the enthusiasm for the show from the buyers.

    The post-show survey asked buyers a series of questions about their aims, objectives and behavior at IMEX America, including “what is the estimated value of orders you placed at the show and the estimated value of orders you expect to place as a result of the show?”—a question which produced the $3.3 billion value.

    “This is a firm endorsement of the high quality of buyers we attracted this year and proof, if any were needed, that the show delivers real business value and produces positive results for many months afterwards,” Bloom said.

    The post-show survey also revealed several other statistics about buyer behavior at the trade show. The introduction of a new, personalized hosted buyer email inbox on the IMEX website was widely praised for helping buyers to manage their communications with exhibitors. The new approach generated a single email every day to each buyer that alerted them to their new appointment requests. Of the 38,000 individual appointments made by buyers, 20 percent were made as a result of the improved email inbox. This new practice will now be rolled out to all buyers attending IMEX in Frankfurt in May.

    “I’m very impressed with IMEX’s focus on digital and what they’re doing to allow us as hosted buyers…to communicate on the mobile devices, on the Web before the show, during the show and, of course, way after the show," said hosted buyer Bryan Bruce of HPN Global. "Really, for me, the difference-maker has been the digital component of this show. It’s been very impressive.”

    It’s clear from this data that IMEX America is delivering on its promise of providing an active, high-quality global marketplace in which the meetings, events and incentive travel industry in North America can meet and do business, Bloom says. 

    "In the context of on-going economic challenges in many parts of the world, these figures are welcome and positive news all round," Bloom said. "The data also shows that the efforts we’ve made to perfect business interactions, such as the single email inbox and various other online appointment tools, are widely appreciated. They clearly provide added-value and true business efficiency at a time when buyers and suppliers want the process of qualifying each other and then doing business together to be as fast and seamless as possible.”



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 06/18/2012 • 0 Comments

    Howard Rheingold in Conversation

    The Global Business Network has posted these videos of a conversation with bestselling author and WEC 2012 speaker Howard Rheingold. This is outstanding introduction of the man and his latest points of discussion.

    Before moving on to the videos, have you signed up to be a hosted buyer at the 2012 WEC in St. Louis? It's free...and could make your entire WEC experience free. And once at WEC, you too will be able to engage Rheingold in conversation.

    Now enjoy the videos!



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 05/31/2012 • 0 Comments

    Learn to Thrive Online

    WEC Flash Point speaker, One+ profile subject and social network mastermind (is “godfather” a better title?) Howard Rheingold is getting more and more press as of late…

    Justin Ellis, over at the Nieman Lab, has written a wonderful introduction to and overview of Rheingold and his newest book, Net Smart: How to Thrive Online.

    "Net Smart is a book for an era where we’ve moved past just creating online identities and communities, but still have to educate ourselves on how to operate in day-to-day life. Rheingold said he believes a better understanding and deeper use of things like Google, Facebook, and Twitter are 'essential survival skills' that will last beyond today or the lifespan of those individual companies."

    As part of Flash Point ideas fest at the WEC, July 28-31 in St. Louis, Rheingold will expand on the Net Smart thoughts introduced at this year’s SXSW: the five essential web literacies.

    Want to see Rheingold for free? Qualify for the Hosted Buyer program to attend the entire conference for free.

    Image (CC) Oscar Espiritusanto


  • Posted by Veleisa Patton at
    12:00AM 05/06/2011 • 0 Comments

    Back Like We Never Left

    Fellow communicators and all-star editors at sister blog PlusPoint made a very good point to me: Engage has fallen off the blogging wagon! So Theresa Davis and I have rededicated ourselves to making sure we’re finding ways to get the latest news to you on this channel.

    So what’s been happening you ask? Quite a bit.

    We’ve launched a new portal at mpiweb.org: Professional Development On Demand, a.k.a. PD On Demand. Through this section of the site, we are able to bring more than 130 hours of CEU eligible content, which includes video and audio from events and webinars, which planners can use toward industry certification. We recognized that streamlining this library of information makes visiting the website easier for members who are preparing for the CMP or looking to maintain CEU hours. So if you haven’t gotten a chance to interact with the PD On Demand portal, consider this your introduction and go learn. 

    What else, what else? Oh yeah, the redesigned WEC 2011 experience. It’s kind of a big deal. New rules of engagement in our post-recession industry mean that professionals need brain, face, brand and personal time. We addressed this with the introduction of attendee driven content like Solution Rooms and the Hive and the continuation of the highly successful Hosted Buyer Program. The industry has noticed and responded with a resounding “yes!” to the WEC 2011 experience. 

    We have more stories to tell; Keep updated through following @MPI on twitter, becoming a fan on facebook and joining the official MPI group on LinkedIn. 



  • Posted by Theresa Davis at
    12:00AM 01/04/2011 • 0 Comments

    Time is money

    Time is money. That phrase has been rattling around in my brain the past few weeks as we at MPI prepared to welcome in the New Year. My team and I are striving to work more efficiently and effectively with an eye on a number of business objectives.  And I keep hearing "Time is money" in the back of my mind.  And in all honesty I've shouted it down the hall to some tardy meeting guests (all in good humour of course).

    The thing is, that phrase is as true now as it was when Benjamin Franklin penned it more than 200 years ago. And if anyone knew the value of a critical moment in time, the man who was inventor, author, politician, satirist, diplomat, civic activist and statesman would. And come to think of it, he was kind of a meeting planner wasn’t he? You know what I’m referring to – those little meetings in Philadelphia back in the 1700s.

    OK, so at MPI we aren’t contributing to the Age of American Enlightenment, but we are working to develop initiatives like the WEC Hosted Buyer Program that contribute to the development of enlightening business solutions for our members.

    Any time management seminar can help you save time (and I should know, I’m kind of addicted to them), but I’ve learnEd that the right hosted buyer program leverages the time you do have to conduct business to its fullest, richest potential. It's about getting back to that efficiency and effectiveness I mentioned earlier.

    Meaghan, Bridget and the team here developing the WEC Hosted Buyer Program are creating a program that can do just that for you. By vetting qualified planners and matching them to exceptional suppliers, business gets done quickly and effectively. Pre-conference communication prepares you for one-on-one face time that cuts through the chit chat and gets right down to what matters—Business. Done.

    We’d love to hear from hosted buyer participants out there who have either done an MPI program or perhaps something like IMEX, and hear how you’ve leveraged your time in a hosted buyer program into either saving you time and money (or heck, making you money in some cases).

    How have you best prepared to take old Ben’s sentiment and turn it into better business?



  • Posted by Theresa Davis at
    12:00AM 12/01/2010 • 1 Comments

    Beyond Inspiration. Into Action.

    So one of the cool things I get to do here at MPI is tell stories. I do my best to do so at the right time, to the right people in the right way.

    I work with a wickedly creative team and even though our laundry list of tasks might be daunting some days, we always perk up when it's time to write a new story.  But honestly? It can also be a challenge when you're writing an story about an event that happens every year for the same target audience. 

    I'll admit, I now have a small dent in my forhead from hitting the wall on how to best balance feedback from all areas of MPI on how to best tell the story of WEC 2011.  We're doing so many things differently, but you don't want to scare away people who love WEC, and you want to entice people who have not attended before, but you also want to intrigue, and you also want to inform, but you also want to speak real words - and not corporate gobbledygook.  Thankfully, this isn't just my story to tell, and that wickedly creative team I mentioned earlier? Yeah, they kicked in some creative juice. As we gear up and launch registration, I think we're set with a pretty solid story.

    And heck, it's just the foreward of greater things to come.  So without further ado, once upon a time and all that jazz...

    __________________________________________________________

    WEC 2011 - When we meet, we change the world.

    Exceptional performance is inspirational; whether in the entertainment or professional world. But complete confidence in knowing that you have the business intelligence to be exceptional is rare. A pro who really wants to succeed seeks out the skills to change that rarity into reality.

    What can really change your world? An event that not only inspires, but also empowers you to succeed; that coaches you and provides you with strong strategies and business connections. That event is priceless – because it’s actionable and empowers change.
    It’s time to turn inspiration into action, and MPI’s 2011 World Education Congress in Orlando will show you how. You will be empowered through knowledge and networking to create amazing events that deliver real business value—every time.

    Whether you learn on your own or by collaborating, have been in the industry for 20 years or for two, WEC is an immersion in the event industry. Customize your personal learning path while being surrounded by the industry’s greatest experts and success stories. Know that you will have the opportunity to take your career to a level that will surprise your peers, your boss and most importantly you.

    Join the best of the best in Orlando, where business is booming, strategy is the order of the day, and ideas for great events are everywhere. It’s time to go beyond inspiration and get into action- so you can perform and deliver events that are exceptional.

     



  • Posted by Theresa Davis at
    12:00AM 11/11/2010 • 0 Comments

    How does hosted buyer measure up?

    I promise this post won’t be riddled with official mumbo jumbo.

    ::insert  grin here::

    That being said I do want to talk with one of my MPI colleagues who manages our expanding hosted buyer program, and our efforts to make sure that it measures up to our member standards and to the expected ROI of participants.  And when it comes to hosted buyer the official party line here at MPI is:

    “MPI encourages members and industry professionals evaluating their 2011 live events opportunities, and whether to participate in hosted buyer programs, to take a strategic approach to what's best for their business and suits their needs now and in the future. “

    And we really do.  Business is picking up and budgets are tight.  At the same time we hope that all the hard work going into planning for our hosted buyer program with our World Education Congress (WEC) really pays off and we impress our members.

    I think I’ve lost count of the planning meetings, versions of package plans, room layouts, budget reviews and drafts of communications pieces, brochures and just general “stuff” you need to get a program like this off the ground.  But I think we all can feel that way some times. Right?

    Veleisa (Leisa) Patton on our team here at HQ in Dallas, recently sat down with Meaghan Ferrazza, events manager for the WEC Hosted Buyer Program.  Meaghan (pronounce mee-ann), explains what makes the MPI program unique in the industry and a leader in developing business strategies for our members.

    ____________________________________________________

    Leisa:  Most people know by now that the traditional WEC tradeshow is gone, and is being replaced in part by the Hosted Buyer Program. What are the advantages of the Hosted Buyer Program?
    Meaghan: Our Hosted Buyer Program has the specialized attention needed for those who focus on North American business and beyond.

    Leisa: And by specialized attention, what do you mean?
    Meaghan: I mean you get my undivided attention and all the support of the MPI events team.  In this program, buyers are pre-qualified to bring business from various markets directly to eager suppliers who are ready to discuss business. The Program also speaks to individual ROI.

    Leisa:  ROI is a popular buzz word nowadays.  How is this program delivering greater ROI than before?
    Meaghan: For suppliers, primarily because there is no longer a tradeshow tethered to the HB Program. So we’re delivering qualified planner/buyers who we know need your services without all the costs that go into designing, building and staffing a tradeshow booth.

    Leisa:  Okay, so what sets the MPI program apart from other association programs?
    Meaghan:  The main thing is that you don’t have the expense of a tradeshow in order to participate in our hosted buyer program.  That frees up supplier participants to invest in other networking areas of WEC to expand their presence and brand recognition.
    Now the difference for planners is that buyers are pre-qualified, and must bring at least two (2) pieces of business to discuss during their appointments. Pre-show communication allows both planners and suppliers to view profiles and create a schedule of appointments based on mutual business needs.

    Leisa:  So what if someone is hesitant about going the hosted buyer route? I’m talking about the skeptics. Are there other opportunities to meet qualified planners?
    Meaghan:  When a participant looks at their overall WEC experience, they should see that participating in any of the 12 other networking opportunities being hosted by MPI, the MPI Foundation or event sponsors allows them to meet talented professionals.  The Hosted Buyer program goes the extra step by creating a space in which one-on-one conversations happen that lead to real business with someone you know is already matched to your business objectives.