Turning an event audience into a year-round community starts with connection and purpose, according to Stephanie Rapko, CEM, CMP, tradeshow and events specialist for Skyjack Inc. and president-elect of the MPI Toronto Chapter.

“As a meeting pro, you need to design moments that go beyond the program by creating opportunities for people to share, contribute and see themselves as part of something bigger,” she says. “When attendees feel they’ve been seen and their voices heard, they naturally evolve into ambassadors who will champion the experience long after the event is over.”

Rapko is one of several members of MPI’s Communities Advisory Board (she’s community leader for The Exhibitor Community) we spoke with about fostering engagement at events and why MPI Communities is an essential online platform for bringing meeting professionals together to share important insights and build camaraderie in particular focus areas.

Meeting and event consultant Susan Piel, CMP Fellow, CMM, HMCC (MPI Northern California Chapter), chair of the MPI Communities Advisory Board, says the MPI Communities are a very valuable platform for MPI members to connect with each other and bond over an identity that they might not find within their chapter.

“They provide a chance to find other planners and/or suppliers from around the globe with similarities to them to exchange ideas and information,” she says. “There are communities for the area of the industry you are involved in including Just Planners, Sales & Service Partners, Association Professionals, Medical & Healthcare Professionals, Small Business Owners and Administrative Professionals. There are also communities for special interests like Event Tech & AI Innovation, Content Creators, Experiential Marketers and International Meeting Professionals & Professional Congress Organizers. And there are communities for the demographics you identify with such as Women, Black Meeting Professionals, Asian American and Pacific Islanders and LGBTQ. I highly recommend that every MPI member join the Communities that they identify with.”

DESIGNING FOR BELONGING

The best events don’t end when the lights go down, but rather spark something that lasts, according to Deanna Griffith-House (MPI Carolinas Chapter), account manager for MGME and vice chair of the MPI Communities Advisory Board. 

“As meeting professionals, our role isn’t just to manage logistics—it’s to create experiences that inspire people to stay connected, long after the closing session,” she says. “So how do we turn attendees into ambassadors? It starts with designing for belonging. When participants feel seen, included and part of something bigger, they naturally want to stay engaged. From there, it’s about extending the journey: pre-event conversations, peer-to-peer learning onsite and meaningful follow-up touchpoints that keep the dialogue alive.”

The real magic happens when we empower attendees to lead, Griffith-House says, giving them recognition, platforms to share insights or ambassador opportunities.

“That sense of ownership turns an event into a movement and an audience into a community,” she says. “Because in the end, events aren’t just about gathering people together—they’re about creating ambassadors who carry the story forward all year long.”

GENUINE CONVERSATIONS

One of Rapko’s favorite design strategies is to build intentional spaces for peer-to-peer engagement.

“[Something] more than just a space to network, but to have genuine conversations that create connections and build relationships,” she says. “When designing your space, think small group discussions, experience zones or create moments for storytelling where your attendees can connect over shared challenges and experiences. When you create those moments, it will transform passive participation into active belonging.”

When you create event moments where people connect over something they truly care about, your event will feel less like a crowd and more like a community, according to Taya Paige, CMM, CIS, HMCC (MPI Southern California Chapter), strategic advisor for ITA Group Inc. and a member of the MPI Communities Advisory Board.

“One of my favorite approaches is using an event app not just as a schedule tool, but as a way to discover shared passions,” says Paige, community leader for the Medical & Healthcare Meeting Professionals Community. “Imagine finding out who else loves wine tasting, escape rooms or crafting—and then joining activities or activations built around those interests and bonding with people who get excited about the same things you do.”

You don’t even need a big budget to spark a sense of connection at events, according to Paige.

“Something as simple as placing different music genres on tables and inviting people to sit with their favorite vibe can completely change the energy in the room,” she says. “Add a music-themed twist to your general session and tie it into evening events with fun giveaways and you’ll watch the room light up with conversation.”

Paige says that some of the most meaningful moments at the ITA Group Annual Summit happen when attendees give back together, stepping away from the agenda to fold blankets, pack school supplies or write notes for local nonprofits.

“There’s something powerful about working side by side for a cause bigger than ourselves—it forges connections that last long after the event ends,” she says.

MPI COMMUNITIES: LEARN AND CONNECT BEYOND BOUNDARIES

You can connect with people in your backyard or people across the globe through MPI Communities, according to Erin Tench, MTA, CMM, CMP, an independent meeting planner and a member of the MPI Communities Advisory Board.

MPI Communities offer everything from live meetups to interactive forums to tools and resources for specific groups and areas of focus such as Association Professionals, Medical & Healthcare Professionals, Small Business Owners, Women, Black Meeting Professionals and more.

“If you have questions and are looking for professionals who have been in the situations you are trying to solve for, MPI Communities are a wonderful outlet to reach out to trusted members and colleagues,” says Tench, community leader for Association Professionals. “You can crowdsource ideas, find best practices and just have a forum to ask things so you know you are not alone in what you are experiencing or feeling. Try it out and maybe you will meet someone or learn something that will help you now or in the future.”

Rapko says MPI Communities are essential for deepening relationships and learning beyond the boundaries of a single chapter or event.

“Each community is unique in bringing together professionals who share the same passion or focus area,” she says.