MPI Toronto Chapter Discussion Board
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February 5th Monthly Meeting at Direct Energy Centre
Reminder that we have a Professional Development and Monthly Meeting Luncheon this Thursday. Registration is almost sold out!
Posted by Monika Radicevic on 2/2/2009 5:15:16 PM
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What a wonderful meeting it was, it really got everyone engaged and speaking about what is currently going on in our industry and its future. There were many of you that had excellent opinions. Let's share these thoughts, for those that were not at the meeting and continue the conversation. One thought was that the Media has made our economy look worse than it is and has blown it out of porportion....do you agree/disagree...let's continue the conversation!
Posted by Theresa Cragg-Gatto on 2/6/2009 9:02:29 AM
The MPI Toronto Chapter February Monthly Meeting provided a great forum to share opinions on the economy and its effect on our industry.
There are so many issues for us to deal with, accelerated changes in these uncertain times. Certainly makes for interesting and passionate conversations !
My personal observations:
Being an optimist, society as a whole will learn a lesson from how the economy got into this mess. It may take a year, or two, or more, to regain stability. But we will.
Once there, lets hope the next chapter in our global society will be smart growth instead of needless greed.
In the meantime, we will all be affected by siginificant changes, both good and bad, in our personal, professional and business lives. Deal with them by staying informed, communicating, and being positive.......... RG
Posted by Ron Guitar on 2/6/2009 11:00:38 AM
The measure of a good organization is how it deals with adversity aka econmic times like we find ourselves in now. It is also not critical how we got here but what we do about it is the key.
In my humble opinion the glass half full attitude is preferable and I believe Joan's presentation was more the glass half empty. No one knows what the correct answer is re when will we reach the bottom or more importantly when will the economy demonstrate positive growth. I must say everything I have heard is talking about 2010 though not 3rd quarter of 2011 as Joan mentioned.
As long as we don't take success as a given and prosperity as a right of passage I think we will all come out of this recession in good shape but there will be significant change even in Canada and especially in the structure of the manufacturing sector.
Posted by Barry Webb on 2/6/2009 1:37:55 PM
Mr. Webb, good observations. There will be siginificant changes, some good, some not so good. Just need to contribute to the process to ensure more good.......... Rg
Posted by Ron Guitar on 2/6/2009 2:07:20 PM
This past Thursday's meeting provoked alot of thoughts, conversation and opinions. I was excited to see that Joan Eisenstodt's presentation helped members to get up and make their opinion known.
Yes, the topic of trends within the economy is open to interpretation - and we heard Joan's opinions based on her experience and knowledge of the meetings industry. Let's face it we can only be sure of what has already happened and are best guessing what might happen in the future based on what we've heard in the media (too much negative info in my opinion) and from other "experts". But I strongly believe that the past few months have made us realize how much we've taken granted - how lucky we've had it - and perhaps to value what is truly important.
I do look at the glass as half full - attitude and state of mind is so key, in my opinion and will affect what we do and how we do it. We have to be realistic - times are tough - and we need to have conversations about it - to help each other. So I was thrilled that we have started talking out loud about the economic situation and I encourage all of you to keep the conversation going.
This chapter is 760 strong from varying backgrounds and levels of experience - what better way to make our way through these times - sharing our concerns, challenges and also our wins!
Posted by Suzanne Forster on 2/7/2009 7:16:56 AM
Thank you all for allowing me to be part of your Chapter's program. I would like to continue this conversation w/ you here -- and hope you will encourage others in the Chapter to join in.
If I sounded glass half-full ..I was and am. In reading statistics in the last few issues of The Economist, it is bleak around the world. Canada has, evidently, been fortunate. (I am trying to confirm w/ the CTC some stats I've heard about US meetings and incentives canceling in Canada, and to find out what the impact of US and world tourism is in Canada. Will update when I learn it. It may be that one of you has data at your fingertips.)
After the program, a colleague who was there sent me this information: >>TD Canada Trust predicts a loss of 325,000 jobs over the next year. Since there are 'only' some 30 million people brave enough to withstand the Canadian winter every year that translates into an increase of 3% in unemployment - up to 9%! <<
In the US, those who are not counted in the unemployment figures are those who can no longer collect unemployment compensation (usually meaning they've been out of work too long), those (like my husband) who worked for a religious institution (which can be a church, synagogue, mosque, or even a provider of services), and those of us who are self-employed or work for small companies.
For addl. information, you might subscribe to any of the PKF Consulting information for the US and for Canada; to information fro Smith Travel Research; and this link looks like there is good information specific to the industry.
http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/research/subject_&_course_guides/index.cfm?fuseaction=SubjectGuides.getGuide&code=HTM3060
Posted by Joan Eisenstodt on 2/7/2009 6:18:23 PM
It was great to see all of you at the Feb Monthly Meeting - I am glad to be back!
The meeting has definitely inspired some some great feedback.
I believe that as long as we continue to Inform our clients of the need for meetings and events, and we keep abreast of the issues, then we will continue to grow as an industry.
I believe that the National Meetings Industry Day is one of the opportunities for us to inform the general public (our bosses, clients etc) of the Importance of meetings and events.
Posted by Heather Dahmer on 2/9/2009 9:08:06 AM
I too felt that February's meeting was very good. Great thought provoking topic/content. Thanks Joan.
I am with those who feel that the media has really hyped this up and has put more of a negative spin on the whole situation which has scared a lot of people. I don't deny that we are in a bit of crisis, but as others have said, we have to stay informed and keep others informed on what's going on.
In the last few weeks, one major accounting firm has had "two-thirds of their staff signed up to ground-breaking flexible working proposals that could provide a blueprint for other white collar firms facing slowing business. As of Friday, 69 per cent of the firm’s 11,000 staff had volunteered to either work a four-day week with a proportionate pay cut or take a sabbatical of up to three months on reduced pay!"
Many of us could possibly be faced with offers like this in the coming months. We need to keep each other informed on what our organizations are doing so that we can provide our own companies with positive options other than letting people go due to lack of business - Half a job is better than none!!!
This is also the time where planners and suppliers have to be more flexible with other. Planners need to promote Canadian properties to their companies along with attractive cost-saving options that may be available to them.
Let's work together and get through this!!!
Posted by Jennifer Campbell on 2/9/2009 2:33:39 PM
Great conversation - tell your friends and colleagues - let's get more people involved in this discussion about the economy!
I am a glass is half full kinda gal - however, I do believe that we need to educate ourselves on what the economy is doing in Canada as well as globally and be careful not to always be looking through rose coloured glasses.
We know there are going to be challenges this year and most likely beyond - perhaps we can help all our chapter members by reading and spreading the word about what companies, StatsCanada etc. are predicitng. Joan's stat from TD Canada was an eye opener for me and I want to read more - thank you Joan for the link and I'm going to see what other information I can find to share with all of you you (would love to see the same in return).
I'm in Atlanta right now - at MPI's Meet Different Conference(formerly PEC) and there is alot of talk about the economy - and they are being realisitic (as we know it's quite bad in the US). BUT ....the opening session was geared towards looking at reality and banding together to prove that the meetings industry is what's going to be a part of the solution - and that we need to help organizations, the public and the press get over the perception that an incentive trip is not valuable or doesn`t deliver any ROI, that training sessions held at resorts are not vacations - because we all know this is simply not true.
It came to me while sitting in the opening session, that we've been trying to have employers look at our profession as a "real job" for years and although there have been some successes in the past, there is still the idea that meetings aren't all that important. We (our industry) are now getting more attention from our companies - shouldn`t we be fighting for our indusrtry by providing informatioin such as the ROI of a meeting, showing our Executives the dollars that planners can and have been saving their employer.
We also heard in the opeing session that leaders from key organizations rêpresenting the meetings, events and incentive travel industries have come together to address some of the needs of our industry. The organizations include MPI, SITE, PCMA, NBTA just to name a few and although it is Amercian based right now - I believe that it will be of great value to the Canadian and global industry sooner, rather than later. There will be more information sent out as the coalition gets going.
This is just my current take on it and we`d love to hear more opinions. Keep the conversation going!!
Posted by Suzanne Forster on 2/9/2009 5:24:57 PM
There will be a lot to report on from the conference in Atlanta and its been refreshing to see that the talk has not been all doom and gloom. Certainly we know that right now the industry is being hit and much of it is out of our control. However every single member can help by checking out the membership directory and seeking out the services you need from members first. Buy MPI has never been more important than it is now. Belonging to an organization like MPI for many is to make those connections, to build up relationships and trust.
The industry associations have banded together and they are working for their members. Keep reading your emails and watching the website for updates.
I know the Board members who are attending MeetDifferent are taking in as much information as possible and will be reporting back to you quickly after the conference.
Posted by Leslie Wright on 2/10/2009 1:40:09 PM
These are fantastic comments from everyone!
I thought that the February meeting allowed us to connect with each other and share our ideas and thoughts (and of course our opions) on the current state of the Canadian economy as well as the economy in the US. Even though they are at different stages, the US economy does effect our Industry and the groups that are travelling into Canada which has an impact on our bottom line.
I left with some valuable information not only from the speaker but also from the discussion that was generated at our table.
I love the fact that the February meeting got the conversation started and that it is being contiued between members.
Let's keep it going!
Posted by Kelly Shannon on 2/18/2009 1:20:53 PM
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