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.

One+ contributor and best-selling author Douglas Rushkoff appeared on The Colbert Report on Tuesday. He was there to talk about his new book, Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now. It was an entertaining interview, and in the end, Colbert said that Rushkoff “blew my mind.”

Check out the video below, and get your own mind blown.

The following is a guest blog entry from Dana Perrino, CMP, one of MPI’s chapter business managers. It’s about an MPI member who has inspired her and continues to inspire her family, friends and fellow chapter members.

Inspiration is defined by Jennifer Leech, current vice president of finance and previous vice president of education for the MPI Pittsburgh Chapter. Jen was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer in March 2011. While balancing her full-time career—as well as being a wife and mother of three beautiful girls—she has never missed a board meeting or retreat while she continues on a road to beat cancer. Her commitment to contribute to the meetings and events community in Pittsburgh is truly astonishing. This level of commitment was displayed the times her husband was required to drive her to the MPI meetings because she was too weak from her chemotherapy sessions.

Though the Pittsburgh board has endured certain challenges, she has made an impact serving in the position of vice president of education. Her goal is to one day serve as this chapter’s president, but her current focus remains on elevating the chapter regardless of her role.

While attending the Pittsburgh Mid-Year Retreat in January, Jen told me her cancer had returned. It is because of Jen’s impressive personal fortitude that I wish to share her level of determination to continue being involved, engaged and invested in our business and in attendance at chapter events and meetings. Jen surrounds herself with the components of life important to keep her moving forward and leave the challenges she faces behind as best she can with a positive attitude and spirit.

I have always been in awe of Jen, but at January’s retreat she once again inspired me with her message to Pittsburgh’s board of directors. She told us the road ahead would be rough, and she may not be able to continue in her current capacity. The idea of this broke her heart. She communicated her passion for MPI, which was absolutely contagious. She also expressed that there would be no more excuses. If she could step up based on her personal situation, then they could also remain focused to strengthen the chapter. Since the retreat, she continues to engage the chapter at the same level. She admits to being stubborn and fiercely determined in everything she does and refuses to allow cancer to be her legacy. Instead, it is her desire that her family, her love for education and MPI will be her legacy. 

Jen has not allowed her battle with cancer to slow her down, and she continues to perform her MPI and director of catering role with the Sheraton Station Square Hotel well. In 2011, she was honored as the Greater Pittsburgh Hotel Association Manager of the Year. She was recently promoted to director of catering, a position she has worked hard the past 10 years to achieve. 

“I know that you already know how absolutely amazing and inspiring she is,” said Danielle Himes, president-elect for the Pittsburgh Chapter. “I first met Jen at our May 2010 Gala. She attended the Gala after receiving a chemo treatment that day, sporting a beautiful wig that she fussed over half the night. Needless to say, she still looked gorgeous, and I wouldn’t have known that she was even sick if she hadn’t asked me to check her wig for her. I was instantly amazed at her stamina and focus on succeeding in her oncoming role as vice president of education. Jen joined the board in July 2010. She inherited an incomplete calendar with no programs booked. Within her first year on the board, she was able to complete a successful education calendar that brought the focus of monthly programming back to event and planning topics.”

“I first met Jen at our annual retreat in June 2010,” said Becky McMillen, chapter president. “She came to the overnight retreat in her words ‘bald as a cue ball.’ She had just finished a chemo treatment. She was unable to drive, so her husband drove her and stayed overnight. Any other person would excuse themselves from the retreat, but Jen came and was focused the entire time. She did inherit a position that lacked direction and structure but despite the position she was given, she has held a passion for MPI Pittsburgh that was and continues to be inspiring. 

“Since the retreat, Jen and I have worked alongside to ‘discover’ MPI,” McMillen continued. “Not only does Jen get the job done, she does it with such a passion and drive for the industry. We have shared in personal moments after surgeries and doctors’ appointments and even celebrated the news of her being cancer free. Now, we sit with the news of the unknown and more questions. Except Jen seems to be the only person not sitting! She is up and working, sending RFPs to secure venues for our fall 2013 calendar, emailing, holding committee meetings and mentoring her director of monthly programs. She is truly an inspiration and a selfless volunteer for MPI Pittsburgh.” 

Jen Leech continues to be an inspiration to me. She is the model for my other chapter leaders who also have the courage to leap forward and lead, versus those that take more of a back seat. Whatever challenges you may encounter, I know my strongest board leaders have the same personal fire and professional savvy to push forward. 

Did I mention that inspiration is defined by Jennifer Leech?

When it came time to organize the Texas Hill Country Chapter’s Texas Education Conference 2012 (TEC 2012), event co-chairs, Mandy Begley and Paulina Van Eeden Hill, got creative, planning the entire event using Facebook chat, text messages, emails and phone calls, and it worked—flawlessly.

“We live about 45 minutes away from each other, and work for different associations, so during the day we would Facebook chat. Toward the end we would talk on the phone, but I mean, we met twice in person,” Van Eeden Hill said. “We never met with our committee; it was all over the phone or over the Internet.”

The key was organizing productive committee brainstorm “sessions.” 

“That part may not work for every chapter, or every event, and maybe we got lucky having just the right mix of people on our committee, but it worked really well for us,” Begley said. 

Collaborate Creatively 

The group using their own personal experiences and needs, as well as taking advantage of the expertise of their supplier partners proved successful. The committee brainstormed creative ways to turn the ordinary into unique and to foster new ideas for everyone in attendance.

From unorthodox meals like breakfasts on couches and outdoor lunches provided by local food trucks, to paper-topped tables meant to inspire creative doodling and idea sharing, the planning of TEC 2012 exploded into an eclectic mix of ideas that drove valuable takeaways for every attendee. 

“It was kind of like, how many ideas can we put into one bag,” Van Eeden Hill said. “We were hoping that we would provide hundreds of new ideas and maybe a couple of them could be integrated into all of our planners meetings.”

Collaboration wasn’t just between event committee members—Begley and Van Eeden Hill also looked to the event’s speakers and their supplier partners for creative ideas as well. 

“As planners, we’re always at our own meetings,” Van Eeden Hill said. “We don’t always get an opportunity to really go out and see what’s going on, so when you talk to your suppliers, and ask ‘Hey what’s the new set? What’s everyone doing differently?’ That’s a great way to get those ideas.” 

Push the Envelope

Begley and Van Eeden Hill agreed that the planning of past TECs had one thing in common—similarity. There was nothing unique about them—nothing that made the attendees uncomfortable. They decided right out of the gate they wanted TEC 2012 to be different. 

“It was funny to see people walk in the room, scan the room and see that there are no banquet rounds, that there’s actually bean bags and funky couches, and they all thought, ‘Where am I going to sit?’” Begley said. 

For this planning duo, the “old-school” way of setting a room banquet-style and hiring a speaker to simply talk to audience from behind a podium wasn’t going to cut it. 

“We are bound to get some negative feedback,” Begley said. “But I think it would actually be a compliment if we pushed someone beyond their comfort zone.”

Improvise Onsite

Not everything went according to plan on site, though—when does it ever?

The key, the organizers said, is to go with the flow and think on your feet, and most importantly, don’t be afraid to fail.

One particular flub came during the “tour sessions.” Begley and Van Eeden Hill had coordinated a series of concurrent tours that would feature the Dallas Convention Center and the newly built, attached Omni Convention Center Hotel. On one tour, planners could tour the Dallas Convention center and then brainstorm in a roundtable setting about how to make the transition from planning meetings in hotels to meeting in convention centers. 

“Once we got over to the convention center and did a poll of who was on the tour, there wasn’t a need for us to have that conversation,” Begley said. “The planners in the group were already meeting in convention centers. The takeaway for us was that we had to give attendees what they wanted, and they wanted to know what the convention center had to offer them. The scope of that session changed on the fly and I threw out all my roundtable questions, and we went with the audience questions. It ended up a very successful event, it just was not what we had planned.”

That’s okay, though. Don’t be so married to your idea that your attendees’ needs get lost along the way, Begley suggests.

Leave a Positive Impact

As little as five years ago, event organizers were trying to avoid having to plan a community service project, and attendees used that block in the schedule as free time to check email rather than get involved. Today, organizers are coming up with creative ways to leave a positive impact on local communities and attendees are excited to get involved.

“The Art of Meeting” was the theme of TEC 2012, so it only made sense to give back to an organization dedicated to fostering the arts in the community.

TEC attendees were asked to bring art supplies with them to donate to the Achievement Center of Texas, an organization that helps people with disabilities express themselves through art. 

But, Begley and Van Eeden Hill didn’t stop there. Besides collecting more than $1,000 worth of art supplies, they coordinated a “special delivery” to the Achievement Center’s CEO at the event’s closing luncheon, so attendees could see and hear first hand how their donations would leave a positive impact.

“You have changed lives with these supplies,” said Marilynne Serie, executive director of the Achievement Center of Texas. “The supplies are a godsend for the people we serve and to our organization’s efforts.”

Having the community organization tell their story (albeit briefly) at the event turned the donation of simple art supplies into a human story—touching the hearts of those in attendance. 

Don’t Miss TEC 2013!

Regardless of which MPI chapter you call home, the 2013 Texas Education Conference is going to be worth the trip to San Antonio, November 21-22. Add it to your calendar—it’s one you don’t want to miss!

Editor’s Note

I’d like to personally thank TEC 2012 event organizers Mandy Begley and Paulina Van Eeden Hill for the invite to attend the conference, and I’d also like to recognize all the wonderful and passionate members of the Texas Hill Country Chapter (and other MPI chapters as well) who were in attendance. You epitomized what the MPI community is all about—education, networking and leaving a positive mark on the community. Thank you.

Photos compliment of the Texas Hill Country Chapter.

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.

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. 

Two bombs exploded yesterday at the Boston Marathon finish line. As of press time, three people are dead and more than 150 are injured.

Many MPI members are concerned about our colleagues in the Boston community, and we reached out to Michelle Johnson, president of the New England Chapter, for more information and her account of the day.

“At this time, I have not heard of anyone in the chapter in harm’s way,” she said. “I will keep you posted.” 

“It was a bit of an insane day,” Johnson said reflecting on the events of yesterday. “I was there, not at the finish line, but was at the Red Sox game walking toward the Back Bay when we saw SWAT teams arriving and lots of helicopters above. I had no idea what was going on. Then I saw so many people crying and on phones, still no clue. I started talking to people and hearing that bombs went off at the finish line. So scary—cell phones were not working and texts were coming in but only when coverage opened up. I’m sure there was a flurry of activity and need for connections.”

MPI Central Michigan University students were also working at the marathon. 

“Courtney Stanley, who works for me, was there with them,” Johnson said. “We texted as she was leaving the city. I’m happy to hear they are safe.” 

For now, the chapter will continue its day-to-day business.

“We have a meeting scheduled for Wednesday night, and at this time I have asked that we keep it as status quo,” Johnson said. “If anything, this is a time when our community needs to come together and pause to reflect on today’s events and move forward. Boston is a very strong community and will rise above this tragic experience. We will know more tomorrow, and I will be on top of where our people are and keeping in communication with our teams. If it becomes in any way unsafe for this meeting to continue, I will pull the plug as I am advised.”

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.” 

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.

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.

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.

The following is a guest blog entry from MPI Italia Chapter member Chantal Bally, CMP, a former association planner in Canada who co-founded Venice à la Carte, a destination management company based in Italy, in 2002.

I was recently in Venice for some appointments and suddenly realized I had forgotten my mobile phone at home. I was actually a few minutes late and, out of courtesy, wished to advise the person I was meeting. I turned around to see if I could ask someone to borrow a phone, but received a few “No, sorry, I can’t help you” responses and therefore gave up on the idea. No one was willing to “donate” a 15-cent phone call.

This episode made me think of all the time we donate to potential clients. As a DMC operating in Venice, we receive requests for proposals that require a response within 24 to 48 hours. In an intricate city such as Venice, in order to prepare a proposal, one must go through the entire event’s logistics as if it were already confirmed. We then prepare a visual presentation with descriptions and a very detailed budget. All of this requires several days’ work, depending on the type of project that is requested. And this is all done free of charge. 

What value does one give to something that is free? If you buy a designer suit, you treat it with care. If you buy something less expensive, you automatically do not give it as much value. Unfortunately, this rule applies to our daily work. 

Potential clients—be they direct corporate clients or agencies—do not value the projects they receive, because they are free of charge. But one of the underlying problems is that, in the rush to present a client with a project in order to obtain the business, agencies are not asking the important questions:

• What is the purpose of the event?
• What is the budget per person?
• What is the profile of participants? Who are they?
• What are their expectations?
• What kind of a destination are they looking for? 

The end result is that these agencies then contact DMCs in various countries—let’s say at at least two per country. The final client himself has probably also contacted another two to three agencies. Therefore, the equation we get is the following:

Client = 3 agencies x 4 destinations each x 2 DMCs in each destination = 24 projects, all FREE-OF-CHARGE.

All of these projects will end up in a wastepaper basket, because they were drawn up without fundamental information from the final client. Twenty-four agencies will have worked for nothing and wasted precious time, and in most cases will not even receive a note saying, “Thank you for your time; unfortunately, your project was not chosen.” Remember, not only does the DMC fail to get the project, but in addition must donate even more time by writing to all suppliers to release the options.

Is this giving value to our profession? Would it not be more professional and more ethical to interview the final client, obtain answers to the above questions and then match the client’s needs with not more than two destinations? 

I will even take this one step further: Would it not be better for DMCs and agencies alike to charge a nominal fee for a project, just to give it value? I bet that if a final client had to pay US$150 for each project, she would cut down on the number of agencies to contact for a proposal. 

When you seek the services of a lawyer for an opinion or contact an architect to restore your home or a doctor for a medical problem, do these professionals donate their time to you? The answer is no. Why then are we, as meeting professionals, called upon to donate so much of our time? Let’s call upon the meeting industry to respond to this problem and strive to integrate more ethics into our profession. Because a profession it certainly is.