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  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 05/20/2013 • 0 Comments

    The Top 20 Cities for Meetings

    The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) recently released its latest top 20 rankings for cities. It’s always interesting to see which cities remain on the list and which are new. For example, Vienna kept its No. 1 status, Berlin climbed one place to third and Copenhagen took the biggest leap, moving into the eight spot. Beijing, though, fell out of the top 10 to land at No. 13.

    We editors have been fortunate enough over the years to visit some of these cities, either for business or pleasure. Here we each offer some thoughts about one place in a highly ranked ICCA city that we particularly enjoyed experiencing. 

    Michael Pinchera, editor, One+:

    In Prague, requiring a relaxed experience to conclude what had been a strange day, I could have wished for nothing better than stumbling upon the Reduta Jazz Club. Wonderful music, cozy seats/couches, low lights, a friendly crowd—after a week of exploring the Czech Republic, this was a heavenly way to wind down. Note: The Reduta’s live music goes until midnight, but if you’re relying on mass transit don’t get too comfortable because that’s the same time the city’s subway stops running for the night. Plan accordingly. http://www.redutajazzclub.cz/

    Jason Hensel, multimedia editor, One+:

    The Bassy Cowboy Club is located in the Mitte neighborhood of Berlin, and it’s a place my wife and I stumbled across when the doorman asked if we liked to dance to 1960s-era rock. We would’ve had our red-blooded American cards taken from us if we said no. The club only plays music pre-1969 and frequently offers live music. From leopard printed wallpaper to disco balls hanging from the ceiling to a huge mural of Saddam Hussein watching you dance, Bassy is a great example of what I love about Berlin—taking the past, twisting it up and making it seem brand new. http://www.bassyclub.de/

    Blair Potter, managing editor, One+:

    Despite the dropping temperature—and Vienna can get quite cold in the winter—the high spirits of the crowd, a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts and a mug of spicy orange punch will keep you warm when navigating the Christmas markets of Vienna. The markets, some small (inhabiting a few side streets) and some massive (the town square by city hall), are located throughout the city, and they’re easily accessible on foot from many of the hotels and public transportation stops. You can enjoy a baked potato, pick up something handcrafted or just enjoy the sights. If you’re looking for a place where you can really absorb the holiday spirit, these markets are a must (especially when a light snow begins to fall). http://www.wien.info 

    Here are the top 20 cities measured by the number of meetings organized in 2012:

    • Vienna
    • Paris
    • Berlin
    • Madrid
    • Barcelona
    • London 
    • Singapore
    • Copenhagen
    • Istanbul
    • Amsterdam
    • Prague
    • Stockholm
    • Beijing
    • Brussels
    • Lisbon
    • Bangkok
    • Helsinki
    • Seoul
    • Buenos Aires
    • Budapest


  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 05/14/2013 • 1 Comments

    Learning, Your Way

    Andragogy is the art and science of helping adults learn, and for most people, education continues throughout their lives. How they learn, though, is key to internalizing content and letting it transform the person.

    Consider the classroom. I’m sure many of you grew up being lectured to by a teacher, who gave you assignments that were graded on a point or letter scale. Some of you may have excelled with this method. Others, however, may have wanted a more hands-on approach. I have plenty of friends who found more success in woodshop compared to world history class for just this reason. Then you have the people who seem to only learn by being part of a group where ideas and thoughts can tumble around the circle. 

    Discovering what style works best for you is a personal journey as well as an organizational goal, and in an effort to be more inclusive and sensitive to your individual learning needs, we’re introducing sessions in three distinct learning styles at WEC this year. 

    “Over the years, we have adjusted our tagging strategy to assist our participants in making the best educational choice for them,” said Miranda van Brück, MPI’s team leader of professional development. “We learned a lot, and the biggest learning of them all is that in the past we have often used tracks and novice/all/advanced level distinctions. While they made absolute sense in the planning process, for the actual participant they were more confusing than helpful. In talking to members and learning from other industries we moved towards our current approach which focusses on how you prefer to learn at a conference.”

    The three styles are:

    • Lecture (listen and learn)—If you like to listen to a speaker deliver a lecture and just absorb the information, then these sessions will definitely resonate with you. These sessions will be presented in lecture style, with a low level of interactivity. 
    • Interactive (learn from experts and practice)—Hands-on learning with expert guidance—listening, moving, touching, doing and discussing. A selection of our educational sessions is designed to provide a medium to a high level of interaction. If you like to learn from experts, but also have the opportunity to discuss how this can be applied to your world, then these are not-to-miss sessions for you. If you like learning this way, also make sure to check out the WEC learning labs, which will provide a hands-on approach that allows attendees to learn, get up, touch and do, which will enhance retention of information. 
    • Peer-to-Peer (learn from each other)—Participant-led sessions, with the highest level of interactivity. These are sessions where you learn from your peers through discussions and sharing of your own experiences. A facilitator will drive the process, but not the content.

    We’re also providing a tag that lets you know if session content is specific to the meeting and event industry or if it comes from an outside source. 

    • Inside Industry (topics specific to the meeting and event industry)—Most of the times these sessions qualify for continuing education credit on the CMP application or recertification and really provide industry specific education. 
    • Outside Industry (general business topics from outside our industry, delivered by non-industry experts)—These topics and experts are selected as they bring valuable knowledge from outside into our world and have been coached on how their knowledge can be made relevant for a meeting and event professionals. 

    “We still use the ‘level’ distinctions, but in line with the advice of our members, we will only point out the novice sessions and the truly advanced ones, in order to level expectations for participants,” van Brück said.

    Now that you know more about the ways we’re providing education at WEC, check out the sessions, speakers and entertainment and make plans to join us in Las Vegas, July 20-23, for a truly transformational event.



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 04/22/2013 • 2 Comments

    Industry Needs Less Talk and More Action

    The following is a guest blog entry written by MPI Chicago Area Chapter member Kyle Hillman, CMP, who recently participated in the U.S. Travel Association advocacy fly-in to Washington, D.C.

    Kyle Hillman

    Kyle Hillman

    Since the bailout event backlash and the government meeting scandals that include the now legendary US$16 muffin, our industry has been scrambling to put together a cohesive advocacy message to mixed results. So it was with great interest that I found the most recent U.S. Travel Association advocacy fly-in to Washington, D.C., April 10-11. 

    I am probably not like most MPI member planners in that half of my job consists of legislative tracking and organizing advocacy/educational event efforts for the social work association I work for. I see first-hand every day the power of a vocal and active membership, and it is likely why our industry’s timid approach to advocacy irks me so much.

    While I have my own reservations about U.S. Travel steering our advocacy message, give credit where credit is due in that they are at least trying to organize this beast that is a collection of loosely associated associations that make up the meeting and event industry. 

    The fly-in was very much like other advocacy efforts I have attended in the past—speakers updating you on important issues, a review of talking points and a quick tutorial on advocating on Capitol Hill. U.S. Travel organized the attendee meetings with legislators (or more often their staff) and prepared leave-behind packets on issues U.S. Travel is most eager to push. All you had to do was show up on Capitol Hill and tell your story—an easy enough task. 

    Surprisingly, my group (who visited the Illinois delegation) really didn’t run into opposition to U.S. Travel priorities such as the JOLT Act or modernizing air travel, although I can’t imagine having these talks now that the Boston tragedy has thrust immigration and visa access to the front of the political rhetoric line.

    While the event was successful, I couldn’t help but think, "Why isn’t the meeting industry here in larger numbers?" Why are we not as organized or as proactive as the U.S. Travel Association?

    It isn’t a lack of industry awareness, as I haven’t been to a major industry conference or event that hasn’t had at least one panel pontificating about why the industry should be involved in advocacy efforts. In fact, it seems an entire profession—telling the industry why they should be advocating—has been born from this movement. What we are missing is the concrete plan to make it happen and the will to get it started.

    That is what I learned most from U.S. Travel Association’s event. We need to stop speaking out about why we should be in advocacy and start speaking to our legislators about what we do and why certain policies are hurting business growth here and abroad. 

    In Chicago, the city recently passed a new ordinance that results in increased fees on hotel parking. This is yet another fee that will directly affect the hotel’s ability to be competitive with cheaper options outside city limits and will become yet another factor for planners or event producers to take into consideration when looking to produce their shows in the city. Tax/fee policies like these are occurring in every city and every U.S. state, and, without a cohesive response and mobilization of the industry, will continue to happen. If the squeaky wheel gets the grease, than the quiet one will have to carry the unfair load. 

    While I appreciated the experience with the U.S. Travel Association Fly-In, my next trip to D.C. should be under the banner of MPI or the Convention Industry Council carrying talking points important to our industry. My next call for action should come from my chapter legislative committee asking us to speak out about proposed local legislation that may help or hinder our industry and the businesses that we support. 

    We need to stop talking about advocacy and do it. 



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 04/18/2013 • 0 Comments

    Get to Know the New CEO

    The MPI board of directors named Paul Van Deventer as the association’s new CEO and president on Tuesday (click here to read the full press release). His official first day is April 29; and he was in the office this week to meet the international headquarters staff and learn more about the departments and individuals serving the MPI community.

    He learned a little about us. So now, let’s learn a little about him.

    One+ editor Jason Hensel: Whose style has inspired you as a leader?

    Paul Van Deventer: For personal leadership inspiration, I say the style of my parents and what I’ve learned from them. For business leadership inspiration, the most significant is Kenneth Chenault, CEO of American Express, because of his focus on the people and leadership development side of the business. 

    JH: So, what’s your management style?

    PVD: I’m a manager who likes a collaborative approach and to empower leaders by giving them a clear definition of expectations and the tools to get things done.

    JH: Do you volunteer or work with any charities?

    PVD: I have worked with several different charities, engaged on boards for my kids’ school systems, as well as a group called Go Lightly Travel, an educational academy built in the Detroit inner city, to help underprivileged students find a career path. Other travel executives and I made a commitment to hire students from the academy as they came through the school. It was inspirational to be involved with it. Currently, my family is engaged in supporting a homeless shelter for men in Carlsbad, Calif., by helping deliver food to them.

    JH: What will you bring from your previous business experience to the association world?

    PVD: My work experiences have been primarily working in the B-2-B environment, working with large employers, specifically in lots of cases, travel providers. When you look at what we’re doing at this association, it’s very relevant from a B-2-B perspective, because the funding source is primarily coming from large employers and corporations, including travel providers. I think those relationships I built and my understanding of those industries will be very helpful for us.

    The other side of my business experience has been very customer and relationship focused. The association business is all about leveraging relationships, building value for our members and being able to engage and leverage the skill set of volunteers. I’ve done a lot of that in my career. 

    JH: What are some of your favorite books?

    PVD: I’m always reading several books at once. I read a lot of historical books, especially around military history and American campaigns. I like to read a little bit of easy-reading junk every so often, and I tend to follow my kids’ lead there. I just finished the Hunger Games trilogy. I also just read a really interesting book called The Admirals, which is about the leading admirals of WWII. You can learn a lot about leadership through history books.

    JH: What’s your favorite vacation spot?

    PVD: I grew up and was raised on the Jersey Shore, and I try to take my kids back there every year. It’s the most comfortable place to vacation for me. 

    JH: Who are your favorite bands?

    PVD: I like Bruce Springsteen, the Counting Crows. I love Jimmy Buffet shows—I’m somewhat of a parrot head. I tend to fall back in the 1970s rock era. Stones, Eagles . . . I love live music. The challenge is staying up late enough now to go see shows. Satellite radio is the worst thing ever given to me, because I drive my wife and kids crazy by going back and forth between show tunes to acid rock to classical music to some bubblegum pop from the 1970s.

    JH: What are some of your hobbies?

    PVD: Reading, cycling, spending time with my kids, golfing and traveling. 

    JH: Do you play any sports?

    PVD: I’m no longer competitive in any sports. I do a lot of road cycling. I snow ski with my kids. And I play golf. 

    JH: What are some of your favorite movies?

    PVD: From a funny side, My Cousin Vinny. From a historical side, I like Galliopli. From an inspirational side, I love Brian’s Song (the original, not the remake). I worked the reel-to-reel in a theater as one of my college jobs, and we showed Brian’s Song one week. I sat there and cried three times a night for a week. 

    I also like The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz. I love the new Les Mis. It’s my favorite play, and I thought they did a great job with the movie. The only challenge was Russell Crowe’s voice was so bad. 

    JH: Oh, you like plays?

    PVD: I used to try to go to two a year. The last play I saw was Wicked. By the way, if you follow theater, the La Jolla Playhouse in California has been just an incredible theater system for Broadway. A lot of shows out of there end up on Broadway. 

    JH: It was great getting to know a little more about you. Any other thoughts you’d like to share with the members of the MPI community?

    PVD: Well, I’m excited to be back in the travel community, and I’m excited to be a part of the MPI organization and working closely with the community, and I look forward to meeting everyone face-to-face at WEC this summer in Las Vegas.



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 04/16/2013 • 3 Comments

    New MPI CEO Announced

    After a comprehensive search, that began in June 2012, the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Board of Directors announced Monday, the appointment of Paul Van Deventer as MPI president and CEO, filling the top leadership role for the largest global meetings and events industry association.

    Van Deventer will begin his new role leading the association’s global staff, including its offices in Europe and Canada, on April 29, 2013. 

    “The search committee looked at a broad array of candidates within and outside the industry,” said Michael Dominguez, MPI CEO Search Committee chair and senior vice president of sales at MGM Resorts International. “Our primary focus was to find a high-caliber, globally-minded leader with exceptional communications skills, brand building experience and the ability to drive incremental growth and engagement. Paul was that person. We believe he will prove to be a collaborative leader whose conviction, focus and intensity aligns well with the job at hand at MPI.”

    Most recently, Van Deventer served as a vice president in the health and wellness division at Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in the United States. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing revenue generation and client retention for Walgreens’ $500 million suite of employer-focused healthcare solutions. During his tenure at Walgreens, Van Deventer also led the national sales and account management team for the company’s $1 billion Prescription Benefit Management (PBN) subsidiary, Walgreens Health Initiative. 

    “Having led business groups for blue chip Fortune 100 companies, Paul is a seasoned senior executive with both international and travel industry experience and a proven track record for driving growth, creating brand value and developing high-performing, engaged teams from the inside out,” said Kevin Hinton, current MPI chairman and executive vice president of Associated Luxury Hotels International.

    Earlier in his career, Van Deventer spent 22 years with American Express. While there, he had direct experience with the business travel sector and meetings and events when, as senior director of multinational sales and operations, he led a $350 million global business unit with responsibility for more than 50 business travel customer service centers, 500 employees and a meetings/events group focused on the automotive industry. He also spent two years directing American Express’ $3 billion travel and corporate card businesses in Australia and New Zealand. In his last position at American Express, Mr. Van Deventer built and led a team managing $8 billion in global corporate card relationships with the company’s largest multinational customers. His team achieved annual double digit top-line revenue growth, while delivering 32 percent year-on-year international growth, $1.9 billion in new sales and achieving “world-class” status in 14 of 14 employee satisfaction dimensions.

    “Paul is client-focused, smart and engaging, possessing the skills and experience to build strong relationships and transform businesses,” Hinton said. “We believe he’s the right leader to leverage our existing strengths and strategy to broaden MPI’s impact – be it through new partnerships, products or market opportunities. He will be a compelling evangelist for MPI, as we look to expand our engagement with members, chapters, the business community and the broader meetings and events industry.”

    Van Deventer feels fortunate to be stepping into a strong organization primed for continued success.

    “MPI has a rich history of industry leadership, education and best practice facilitation, led by a group of passionate and engaged volunteers and professional staff,” he said. “I am excited to be returning to my meetings and travel roots to help leverage MPI’s strong brand and vibrant chapter network to invigorate and engage MPI members and expand MPI’s global reach and role as an industry advocate.” 



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 04/15/2013 • 0 Comments

    How Associations Can Help Your Career

    A co-worker passed along an article the other day titled “10 ‘Sit Up Straight’ Exercises to De-slump Your Career.” It included tips such as “make learning a priority,” “adopt an attitude of gratitude” and “pay attention when people make suggestions.”

    Once suggestion, though, really stood out to us: “Join an industry association.” The article says that the “payoff in terms of networking opportunities, early insights on industry developments and heads-up on emerging opportunities will be invaluable.”

    Of course we agree with that statement, and it’s not just individuals who benefit from joining industry associations. 

    “Membership in trade associations not only benefits employees of your company, but it also projects a positive image of your firm to your customers,” said Betsy Demitropoulos, senior editor of American Business Magazine. “Membership in associations shows a business’ initiative, its engagement in a particular trade and its commitment to staying abreast of current developments in the market.”

    Staying abreast of current trends is one of the many valuable benefits of joining (or retaining) MPI membership.

    “The value of joining an association, especially MPI, allows you access to 24/7/365 learning from more than 190 education sessions that can count toward clock hours for your CMP,” said Brad C. Shanklin, IOM, MPI senior director of chapters and member services. “MPI also provides you with access to a 20,000-member global community comprised of powerful decision makers representing 67 percent of Fortune 100 companies. Through your membership, you can make crucial connections to people, ideas and marketplaces that can take your career and your business to the next level.”

    So, help take your career and business to the next level and please join or renew your MPI membership. And while you’re at it, consider volunteering with your chapter. Applications close this Friday, April 19.



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 04/15/2013 • 0 Comments

    Cast Your Vote

    It’s clear from such platforms as American Idol, all-star ballots and Reddit that people love to vote. The desire to decide fates is a godlike ability that is too powerful to resist.

    Consider Reddit, “The Front Page of the Internet.” It’s a message board where users submit links, which are voted on by clicking either an up or down arrow next to the story. Those posts that receive the most up votes rise to the top, where they’re viewed by more people. It’s a community’s way of declaring what’s important. 

    MPI has decided to do something similar this year with Meeting Madness, our annual contest of chapter-submitted sessions for the World Education Congress (WEC). You receive five votes each week. You can use all of those votes on one session, or you can spread them among other sessions. Every Sunday, you get another five votes. By May 8, the two sessions receiving the most thumb-up votes will be declared, and subsequently and presented at WEC 2013 in Las Vegas.

    Ready to exert your power? Then head over to our Meeting Madness page and let the votes begin.



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 04/15/2013 • 0 Comments

    Audio for Engagement

    Music can help breathe life into meetings and events and engender greater attendee engagement. And that’s what Australia-based Song Division is all about. Founder Andy Sharpe is leading a session at IMEX Frankfurt, May 21-23, with the aim of sharing practical ways to use music (in ways that don’t cost a cent) to enhance the success of meetings. One+recently chatted with Sharpe about his upcoming session and some current hits and misses in the aural realm.

    ONE+: What inspired you to begin discussing with meeting professionals the transformational power of music at events?

    ANDY SHARPE: There’s no training for meeting professionals on how to use music to deliver a great event. Playing the right music at the right time can help you create emotional connections between your attendees, the organization, your content and each other. But music is often an afterthought. Like the food and decor, it needs attention! The Song Division team and I have been designing music for meetings around the world for 10 years, so I’m looking forward to sharing some of that experience at IMEX in Frankfurt. 

    ONE+: What are some widespread mistakes meeting professionals make regarding music at events? How can they most easily overcome them?

    AS: A common mistake is leaving the music to someone who doesn’t know your audience. Asking the sound guy you met minutes before the event to play something off his iPhone mightn’t ruin the day, but it probably won’t help you achieve your event objectives. You know your audience and you can put them in the right emotional state—pumping them up for a sales kick-off, relaxing them before a potentially heated stake-holders meeting or getting the party started at a Gala Awards. Ask your music-savvy colleagues for help; just don’t leave it up to a complete stranger at the last minute.

    Another big mistake is not rehearsing. Whether it’s piped music or a live band, rehearse the music that will be playing when the ballroom doors open, the CEO takes the stage or during dinner. Sit in different spots around the room to make sure the volume is appropriate. If it’s background music, then make sure everyone can talk without straining. If it’s the big opening number, make sure it’s got impact without bursting eardrums in the front rows. 

    ONE+: What audio innovations are you watching most closely?

    AS: I think the most exciting audio innovations are the subscription-based music services such as Spotify and Rhapsody. Rather than buying CDs or paying for songs on iTunes, you pay Spotify a US$9.99 monthly subscription for unlimited access to more than 20 million songs. Someone raves about the new Mumford & Sons single, you type it into the app on your phone and it’s instantly in your collection. It’s a great tool for meeting professionals—you can put together your own playlists for upcoming events and share them with your colleagues online, who can add their suggestions.

    Unfortunately, playing songs directly from the Spotify app at the actual event is still a cloudy issue in terms of streaming copyright laws, so to err on the side of caution, you would still need to purchase the final songs you decide to use via iTunes or alike. I’ll be giving everyone an update on any copyright developments at the Campfire session in Frankfurt.

    ONE+: Be honest: How do you feel about auto-tuned vocals?

    AS: I…DON’T... KNOW...WHAT...YOU...MEAN...MICHAEL...(said in 1960s robot voice). Auto-tune can be used for good or evil, but I have to say it was a breath of fresh air hearing Adele, Shirley Bassey and Babs blast their naturally tuned pipes at the Academy Awards this year.

    ONE+: What is your favorite instrument or musical tool? Why?

    AS: The human voice. Whether it’s The Beatles, The Black Keys or a corporate group at a Song Division event, it’s the vocals that get me all emotional!

    Check out IMEX Frankfurt and contact Andy Sharpe with your event+audio questions and stories at andy@songdivision.com. And if you still doubt the power of music, check out the results of Song Division’s recent CSR program with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and ING. 



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 04/12/2013 • 0 Comments

    Social Media's Impact on Profit Still Questionable

    This report comes from Rowland Stiteler, a meeting industry journalist who attended digitalNow for One+.

    If you’re looking for detailed specifics about how social media impacts the profits of your business or the membership levels of your association, they may not be out there yet.

    That’s the conclusion of Susan Etlinger, social media analyst and strategist for the Altimeter Group, a consulting agency with a Fortune 500 clientele.

    “If you are looking for outside standards and outside benchmarks as to what constitutes an effective social media program, right now you are wasting your time, because they are just not out there…maybe two or three years from now, but right now the standards are not out there,” said Etlinger, a keynote speaker on the second day of the digitalNow 2013 conference.

    Etlinger is in a good position to know about this. For 20 years, she has been in the electronic media strategy business, working for Charles Schwab and then the Horn Group before joining Altimeter.

    “Right now, most companies are in a rigorous test-and-learn phase with regard to social media,” she said.

    According to Etlinger, there is still plenty of testing and learning to be done before the impact of social media on profitability can be easily measured.

    That, of course, doesn’t mean it’s not important for organizations to forge ahead with social media campaigns, which clearly allow both corporations and associations to learn a lot of detailed information about the likes and dislikes of their constituencies. Certainly there is a high volume of information coming back at the purveyors of social media campaigns, and clear results in spreading brand awareness and other valuable goals. 

    One+ has, however, led the field in broaching these important questions about social media. In October 2010, Editor Michael Pinchera spoke with leaders at the cross-section of social media and business for the cover story, “Untangling the Value of Social Media.” The fact remains, the value of social media can be measured—it just depends on how you wish it to be quantified.

    “There will never be a single equation from which to determine the value of any and all social media campaigns,” Pinchera said. “If you want to measure engagement, start building your metrics well in advance of starting social media campaigns and identify your goals. The value is based on the results in relation to your goals—much like determining the ROI, or other returns, on a specific meeting or event. That value can be determined, but one must come to the game with data and clear goals.”

    Participants in this year’s sold-out digitalNow conference—held at Walt Disney’s Contemporary Resort—included a who’s who of professional associations: the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Institute of CPAs, the Professional Golfers Association. Digital media directors for the various associations conducted workshops and symposia, sharing best practices and strategies, and about a dozen corporate resource partners—companies specializing in communications and association management software—provided a trade show component to share insights about the use of digital tools.

    A star of the show this year was the new digitalNow smartphone app, which allowed participants the ability to do everything from keep up with the conference schedule to download presentation screenshots from various individual symposia and workshops to post and share their own personal agendas within the conference.

    “This new app is a key tool to making the conference experience more effective for every participant,” said Hugh Lee, president and CEO of Fusion Productions, which produces the conference.

    Dr. Michio Kaku, the Henry Semat Professor of Theoretical Physics in the City College of New York, also spoke at the event. Kaku is a futurist, a bestselling author and a science media guru. He is a frequent contributor to The Discovery Channel, the BBC, the History Channel and the Science Channel. He gave key insights into where social media is going in the near future, but also how science will shape the world in the next 30 years. Be sure and check out the June issue of One+ for our exclusive interview with Kaku.



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 04/09/2013 • 0 Comments

    Best Practices to Enhance Delegate Experiences

    The following is a guest blog from Dr. Eliza Hixson, a professor at the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality at Leeds Metropolitan University (ICRETH) and one of the lead researchers on MPI’s Strategic Meetings Management project.

    Dr. Eliza Hixson

    Dr. Eliza Hixson

    I often tell students that event management is like juggling, because there are so many elements to consider. You have to make sure you take into account all stakeholders in the process and be mindful of their perspectives and what they are aiming to achieve. At the same time, you need to make sure you provide a quality event experience to the participants. This can be very tricky, especially when trying to strategically manage events. 

    The Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) resource center has been created as part of an MPI Foundation study and produced by the ICRETH team alongside Betsy Bondurant of Bondurant Consulting and Peggy Hemphill of Your Corporate Source. The center provides a succinct way of viewing meetings and explains how you can make the most out of your events whether you are a buyer, supplier, planner or intermediary. It illustrates that the key features of SMM are supply-chain management, procurement, centralization of processes, meeting quality/participant experience and executive sponsorship. This center highlights several key developments for SMM, including the need to be more focused on the delegate experience. As Lisa English of Cvent believes, “We need to get people engaged and get the most ROI from a meeting experience.”

    The center, produced after a thorough review of more than 100 resources—including white papers, reports and case studies as well as interviews with practitioners—demonstrates how you can reduce costs and increase value by implementing best practice strategies. The MPI SMM resource center contains loads of resources that can help you to understand SMM and how you can implement it for your events. Whether you have an established SMM program, are just starting to embark upon the journey or have never heard of SMM before, the SMM resource center suggests several ways to gain the best strategic outcomes from your meetings. We hope you enjoy reading and get SMM-inspired.



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