Join Meeting Professionals International Upstate New York Chapter for our premier annual education event, bringing together meeting professionals and industry suppliers for two days of learning, networking, and connection in the scenic Catskills.
Register Early: First 25 Planners to register receive $100 off their overnight stay!
Why Attend Education Summit?
MPI Upstate New York Chapter's Education Summit (formerly Fall Focus) is designed to inspire fresh ideas, strengthen professional connections, and deliver practical takeaways you can bring back to your team and organization.
Attendees will experience:
High-impact education sessions
Meaningful networking with industry peers and suppliers
Fresh ideas for meetings, events, and hospitality professionals
A vibrant resort setting at Resorts World Catskills
Opportunities to connect, recharge, and grow professionally
Event Details
Date: July 13–14, 2026
Location: Resorts World Catskills
888 Resorts World Dr, Monticello, NY 12701
Enjoy the amenities, entertainment, and hospitality that make Resorts World Catskills a standout destination for meetings and events.
Registration Fees:
- MPI Member: $225
- Non-Member: $275
- Student: $185
9:00 a.m - 11:30 a.m. Optional Tee Times
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Registration Desk Open
12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Lunch and Welcome Remarks
12:30 p.m - 1:00 p.m. Welcome - Meet the People Behind MPI
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Return on Events: What is your event's value in 2027?
Learn how to create a framework that measures the quantitative and qualitative aspects of your association’s flagship event across its many stakeholders. Then use this framework to ask important questions that will unlock hidden value from your event for your organization.
For your Organization: What value does your 2027 event bring to your organization? What makes it unique? And how does it help drive member recruitment and retention?
For Attendees: Why should they attend your event? What makes it important, urgent, and memorable for them?
For Speakers: Your event agenda plays a critical role in the success of your event. How are you helping your speakers reach their goals?
For Sponsors and Partners: Live events are uniquely positioned to drive human connections, and a highly preferred channel for marketers to drive tangible business results. How are you enabling this for your sponsors and partners?
Presenter: Sourabh Kothari, CEO, DemandGen Studio CMO, Lead2Pipeline
1 CEU - Strategic Planning
2:00 P.M. - 2:30 p.m. Return on Events: What is your event's value in 2027?
Roundtable Conversations
0.5 CEU - Strategic Planning
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Hotel Check-In
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Par for the Course: Planning Memorable Golf Outings & Conference Experiences
Join the event professionals from Resorts World Catskills for a practical and engaging look at the ins and outs of planning successful golf outings and complementary conference experiences. From logistics, timing, and attendee flow to creating meaningful moments beyond the main agenda, this session will explore how auxiliary events can enhance the overall attendee experience. Attendees will also discuss thoughtful planning strategies such as building in travel and downtime, offering “choose your own adventure” opportunities, and creating inclusive experiences that appeal to a variety of interests and comfort levels.
1 CEU - Meeting/Event Design
4:30 -p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Resorts World Site Visit & Networking Activity
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Sip & Swing Happy Hour
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner
8:00 p.m. - MPI After Hours Chat:
Navigating the Pressures of Meeting Planning
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m Coffee/Breakfast (cards with question prompts)
8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Coffee & Conversation: 5 Senses Blueprint
Did you miss out on the buzz surrounding the "5 Senses Lab" at the ESSAE Tradeshow? Or, if you did attend, are you ready to further explore our interactive lab? Either way, join us to get in on the action! This interactive session takes the 5 Senses Grid that we created and brings it further to life.
Together, we will actively build out two critical event moments—Registration and the Post-Lunch Session—weaving all five senses together to design them completely from scratch. You'll see real examples of how intentional use of sight, sound, scent, touch, and taste can elevate the attendee experience, shake off the mid-day slump, and create restorative meetings without big budgets.
Apply the 5 Senses Grid to design high-engagement event spaces.
Further build 2 key moments (Registration & Post-Lunch) using all five senses.
Boost attendee energy using practical, low-cost sensory tactics
Hosted by: Colleen Earley, CMP, HMCC, Fractional Meeting & Event Planner, CME Events
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Risk Management
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ (DHSES) Office of Counter Terrorism (OCT) Public Safety Unit provides a unique presentation tailored to the current threat environment relevant to your business or facility. The training educates employees on recognizing indicators and warning signs of suspicious activity that may be related to terrorism or other criminal activity, while also highlighting the work of the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) to protect and support New York State. Participants will gain insight into the number, sectors, and types of incidents CIRT responded to over the past year, key lessons learned from supporting local governments, and the top cybersecurity actions leaders can take to strengthen their organizations' defenses against evolving threats.
Presenter: Noor Gravelle and Tom Tockarshewsky, NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Coffee & Snacks
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. The Lean Technical Masterclass: Controlling AV Costs,
Contracts, and Production Value
You do not need a corporate budget to deliver a high-impact, professional live experience. For association event professionals working with fixed or limited resources, mastering the technical landscape isn’t about buying more gear—it’s about gaining negotiation leverage, avoiding devastating venue penalties, and maximizing every dollar spent.
In this highly tactical, budget-focused masterclass, we cut through the complex AV jargon to give planners and suppliers a shared framework for cost control. We will unpack how to audit venue labor rules and rigging plots to eliminate unexpected onsite overtime fees, and how to secure your event’s digital footprint without paying for expensive, over-engineered internet packages. We will also explore creative design hacks that transform sterile ballrooms using low-cost scenic lighting techniques, while seamlessly embedding universal accessibility into your floor plan for zero added cost. Planners will leave with practical checklists to safeguard their budgets, and suppliers will gain deep insight into how to become true collaborative partners in a resource-constrained market
Presenters: Justin Cheshire, VEMM, Brand Ambassador and David Vrecka, General Manager, Cheshire Audio Visual
1 CEU - Meeting & Event Design
Venue Details