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  • Posted by David Basler at
    12:00AM 05/07/2012 • 3 Comments

    Our Industry Remembers Orlando's Gary Sain

    JUNE 4, 2012, UPDATE: The memory and contributions of Gary Sain will be honored by U.S. Travel, as well as other friends from the travel industry and beyond, on June 26 in Washington, D.C. Proceeds from the event, which will include receptions before and after the tribute program, will benefit the Gary C. Sain Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

    You can help carry on Gary’s legacy through participation in this event. You may pledge sponsorship, purchase tickets, buy an ad in the special program or simply send a contribution through a specially created event website. For more information, contact Peggy Marilley at (703) 739-4480 or peggy@teamprecision.com.

    The news of Orlando CVB president Gary Sain’s passing was top story on the evening news in Orlando Friday night. 

    The Orlando Magic held a moment of silence prior to Saturday afternoon’s NBA playoff game in Sain’s honor. 

    Both displays were testament to a man whose passion for his city showed in everything he did—from promoting the city he loved, to volunteering countless hours within its many communities. 

    Last July, when Sain presented during the Opening General Session at MPI’s World Education Congress 2011, which was held at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, the crowd roared with applause for a man whose influence within the meeting and event industry spilled out way beyond the city limits of Orlando. The success of our WEC conference last year had everything to do with the success of our many valuable partners in the Orlando area—and as the premier host sponsor of the event, Sain and the Orlando CVB led the charge.  

    “Gary was one of those few individuals whose personal passion for his community and our industry synched perfectly with his gift for story-telling,” MPI President and CEO Bruce MacMillan wrote on his blog over the weekend. “He made both his community and our industry better.” 

    Gary’s career in Orlando was, to say the least, impressive . . . and his passion for the meeting and event industry was legendary and second to none. It was well known in Orlando, Gary’s passion was bringing success to every conference or event that entered his city—promoting all that is good about Orlando. 

    We, at MPI, would like to offer our sincere condolences first and foremost to Gary’s family and extended family and also to his family at the Orlando CVB. We bid farewell to a great man who has left an indelible impression on our industry. We encourage you to share your memories of Gary as a comment below. 



  • Posted by Veleisa Patton at
    12:00AM 08/11/2011 • 2 Comments

    So Much Better Than a Three-Hour Tour

    It goes without saying that Visit Orlando does a fantastic job of showcasing their city for media. The tour created for WEC writers, in my opinion, went beyond the expected: the writers saw a side of the city I’m quite sure that not many, not even Orlando natives, have an opportunity to experience.

    Friday night, the host hotel for the media, Peabody Orlando, started everything with a welcome reception in the Rocks bar, where the journalists had a fantastic view of the refined dining space and the outdoor pool and water park area. The Peabody recently finished a half billion dollar renovation, and the results are dazzling. From there, it was on to the One Ocean Show in Shamu Stadium at SeaWorld Orlando. The Show, with trained killer whales as the entertainment, not only entertained but educated; between sets, the audience learned about the conservation efforts of the park. Afterward, the group even got to meet some of the animals helped by SeaWorld: a toucan, sloth and other curious animals that delighted everyone and caused a flurry of pictures. We capped the evening with an informational dinner in the private event space and a Q&A on how groups can enjoy the kind of experience we just enjoyed.

    Our group got an early start the next morning at the Citrus Club for a tourism roundtable with Visit Orlando CEO Gary Sain. While enjoying a private breakfast, the media learned about the city’s role as a leading meeting destination and the more than $4 billion in new developments. Gary had a great comment how Orlando works with planners to not only create incredible return on investment but also a return on ideas. After this, the topic turned to sustainability at a Clean the World hands-on recycling event at the organization’s headquarters. Clean the World works throughout the hospitality industry and the sanitizing session demonstrated the dedication that the organization and its volunteers have to providing soap for impoverished areas of the world.

    Next we were off to the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), part of the University of Central Florida’s Center for Emerging Media. Truly a highlight, the reps at FIEA explained the growth of the interactive and digital media industry, its tie to the local economy and how groups and associations are making use of the technology in learning and presentations.

    A behind-the-scenes view of the Amway Center, home to the Orlando Magic, revealed several spaces available for events, each with a distinct environment. The added bonus was a catered lunch provided by Amway in the Fairwinds Tower Room, with a clear view of downtown, and the opportunity to speak with Scott Joseph, Orlando restaurant critic and writer, who discussed the evolution of Orlando’s fine dining scene.  The day ended with a tour of Medical City at Lake Nona, an attraction for medical groups who use the research laboratories and education facilities, and one of the venues that makes Orlando a popular destination for medical meetings. After an extensive Q&A, the group was ready to make it back to the Peabody and prepare for the opening night reception at Disney’s Epcot Alive!

    A huge thank you goes to Jennifer Dienst and the Visit Orlando team, all host venues, the media themselves for being such a receptive audience to the locations and everyone involved. 



  • 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 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 02/25/2011 • 0 Comments

    CMP @ WEC 2011

    Don’t forget that you can take your CMP exam at WEC in July if you turn in your application before the March 01 deadline and your application is accepted. 

    The CMP certification program is a two-part process in which you must complete the CMP application to demonstrate your eligibility and then you must successfully pass a written examination.

     Why take the exam at WEC? You can participate in the CMP Boot Camp (additional fee) on Friday before the exam and get expert advice on areas of concentration, get test taking tips and get last minute hints.  Best of all this session is an open forum so you can ask advice of the many planners and suppliers that are also taking the exam the following day. 

    No CMP exam being held in your city?  Prove ROI to your manager by taking the exam in Orlando.  Utilize the airline discounts, reduced hotel costs, and meals provided during WEC and book early for reduced registration rates.  After the exam, you will immerse yourself in all things meetings and events.  Hear from cutting edge speakers who will cover topics important to the industry.  And by arming yourself with the latest the industry has to offer, you’ll not only stay effective; you’ll be indispensable.  

     Click here for more information on the CMP program and the cities the test will be available.