Las Vegas, NV October 9, 2024,

Speakers: 

• Paul Van Deventer, President and CEO, MPI 

• Rachel Benedick, Chief Revenue Officer, MPI 

• Michelle Allgauer, 2024 MPI International Board of Directors (IBOD) Chair and Senior Vice President, Education & Engagement at Financial Services Institute (FSI) 

• Rebecca DeLuca, 2025 MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees (GBOT) Chair and Vice President of Destination Sales, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority 

Moderator: Drew Holmgreen, MPI Chief Experience Officer 

IMEX America 2024 Recap: Michelle Allgauer 

Meetings Professional International (MPI), the world’s largest association for meeting and event professionals worldwide, and IMEX enjoy a 20-year partnership that continues to strengthen IMEX America’s standing as a must-attend event for industry professionals.  

Every year, MPI Academy provides complementary education and professional development opportunities during Smart Monday. More than 1,590 attendees participated in 2024 Smart Monday education, an increase of 30% over 2023, spread across 46 concurrent sessions, compared to 30 in 2023. New this year, MPI unveiled three educational experiences, which allowed for a highly customized approach: 

• Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate & Medical Meeting Professional Certificate at Viticus: Attendees can choose from MPI Academy’s two robust medical meeting certificate courses while making connections and celebrating HMCC’s 10th Anniversary. 

• MICE Fundamentals Certificate Course: Perfect for attendees who are new to the industry and are looking for skill development and pan-industry immersion.  

MPI extended its education for IMEX America 2024 by sourcing all three keynote speakers, each aimed at inspiring attendees to challenge conventional thinking. A total of 1,250 attendees participated in the keynote sessions:   

• Monday (725 attendees): Andre Norman – “Prison to Harvard: The Power of Belief and Self-Motivation” 

• Tuesday (325 attendees): Justin Wren – “Purpose. Performance. Impact” 

• Wednesday (200 attendees): Olympia LePoint – “Making New Artificial Intelligence Technology Ethical & Accurate” 

MPI hosted 15 micro-learning sessions at the MPI booth in the Expo Hall with a diverse selection of topics including creative thinking strategies, advancing careers through MPI, maximizing multigenerational team potential, enhancing digital presence, and pursuing carbon-neutral meetings. Attendees were treated to a free headshot station at the MPI booth, sponsored by Visit Raleigh and Chuck Fazio and special MPI swag.  

MPI continued its tradition of helping IMEX America attendees establish meaningful business connections through its popular hosted buyers reception, sponsored by Jamaica and attended by 80 planners.  

On Wednesday morning, MPI and Caesars Entertainment, alongside Dianne Devitt, hosted Media and Momentum, its first annual recognition event for industry media. During the event, representatives from across the industry, including DMOs, associations and others, met over breakfast to celebrate and recognize the remarkable efforts from those who provide coverage for the meetings and events industry. While celebrating the entirety of the industry media, special individual recognition was provided to industry veterans Harvey Grotsky, Laurel Herman, Sol and Gloria Herman and Marin Bright (posthumously).  

MPI Business Update: Paul Van Deventer 

MPI remains committed to elevating the member experience in 2025 by focusing on education, connections and leadership development. Recognizing the strength of chapter leaders, MPI will introduce new technology tools to help chapters manage events and marketing initiatives, and launch new DEI training to ensure our chapters remain inclusive and welcoming to all. 

The MPI Academy continues to grow and based on insights from our community, the MPI Academy will introduce new learning opportunities and fresh subject matter experts to help our members stay competitive.  

In 2025, we welcome our incoming MPI International Board of Directors Chair, Rob Adams, President and Owner of Bishop-McCann. Rob has served on the MPI Board for 6 years, including Chair of our Finance Committee. Rob’s a staunch advocate for our MPI Chapters, including his home chapter in Kansas City, one of our consistently strongest-performing and award-winning chapters. 

We also welcome our MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustee Chair-Elect, Rebecca DeLuca, VP of Destination Sales, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Rebecca has dedicated her career to supporting the MPI Community with MPI Chicago Area Chapter, as well as volunteering for over 3 years with MPIF Global Board of Trustees championing all MPIF regional councils. 

MPI released the results of its Q3 Meetings Outlook, which provides a comprehensive forecast of trends and expectations for the industry. In a slight increase from last year, 72% of respondents report an optimistic outlook for business conditions and budgets for 2025, signaling confidence in the financial health of the industry. Additionally, 76% of respondents reported favorable projections for in-person event attendance, which highlights the continued resilience and growth of face-to-face events. Respondents reported the most balanced market that we’ve seen in a while, with a mix of 43% of respondents describing the current environment as a seller’s market, 31% as a buyer’s market and 26% as a balanced market. This shows stability in the market, which will benefit both buyers and sellers in the year ahead. 

MPI is proud to honor Stephen Revetria, President of Giants Enterprises, as this year’s recipient of the MPI Industry Champion Award, which will be presented at the 2025 WEC President’s Dinner in St. Louis. Stephen’s commitment to the industry is admirable, including serving as chair of both the MPI Board of Directors and the MPI Foundation Board. His dedication to giving back to communities in need is commendable, and his work through the Foundation has impacted countless individuals. 

MPI Experience Updates: Drew Holmgreen 

MPI is thrilled to announce the launch of its new brand positioning, “Run the Show,” unveiled at IMEX America. This dynamic slogan captures the essential role event professionals play as the visionaries and driving forces behind transformative experiences in the meetings and events industry. Through this positioning, MPI underscores the significant impact that event planners have in shaping the future of the industry. 

“Run the Show” reflects MPI's dedication to empowering event professionals with the necessary education, connections, and leadership opportunities to thrive. This campaign highlights how MPI continues to support the events community, providing them with the tools and confidence to lead successful initiatives. The campaign will be featured across MPI’s messaging and initiatives throughout the year, reinforcing its commitment to helping professionals run the show in every sense. 

On September 26th, MPI announced that the European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC) will return to Istanbul, Türkiye, from February 22-25, 2025, marking the second time in its 35-year history that the event takes place in the city. EMEC, known for its innovative approach, serves as an idea incubator designed by Europeans for Europeans, while reflecting the host destination's culture. Additionally, the RFP for EMEC host destinations for 2026-2027 will be distributed within the next week, opening the opportunity for future hosts. 

Continuing its tradition of exceptional experiences, MPI is excited to announce that the World Education Congress (WEC), its largest annual event, will take place in St. Louis from June 18-20, 2025. Following a highly successful event in Louisville with over 700 planners and nearly 2,000 attendees, WEC continues to grow year over year. Registration for WEC St. Louis is now open, and MPI expects attendance to exceed 2,000. The full event schedule, including keynotes and sessions, will be available soon.  

Looking ahead, San Antonio will host WEC June 1-4, 2026, and MPI is currently in the process of reviewing prospective host destinations for 2027 through 2029.  

MPI recently concluded its first-ever takeover of the EVENT in Ottawa, solidifying its presence in Canada’s meeting and events industry. Originally launched by MPI’s Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal/Quebec Chapters in 2018, the EVENT has grown to become a signature experience, bringing together over 300 attendees in immersive formats. This year’s theme, "Origin Stories," was woven throughout the event, from education sessions to networking activities. With overwhelmingly positive initial feedback, MPI is exploring future host destinations with an RFP currently in market for 2025 and plans to release the RFP for 2026-2027 next year. 

MPI Academy Updates: Rachel Benedick 

The MPI Academy continues to grow with significant involvement and satisfaction across the industry at each of our four major events. Attendees stated a 90% satisfaction in the education at EMEC, 92% satisfaction at WEC, 100% satisfaction at the Thought Leaders Summit and 99% satisfaction at the EVENT. 

Global Meetings Industry Day was successful yet again with 3,836 registrations logging a total of 283,230 minutes of education, or approximately 2.5 hours per person. Overall, the event was a success with an NPS score of 46, overall satisfaction 96% and relevant content 95%. 

MPI Academy issued more than 1,000 certificates from January to September 2024. More than 300 meeting professionals have earned certificates in the new AI-Enhanced Events, showcasing the need for quality education around artificial intelligence and event technology. Also new this year are the Event Welfare Champion certificate from Google’s The Neu Project, Golf Event Planning with partner Frisco, the Event Psychology Strategist certificate and Professional Development Coaching Cohorts with partner Visit Fort Worth—all to enhance and augment our industry professional’s toolbox with relevant industry education.    

MPI, in collaboration with VisitDetroit, launched its Workforce Development program in September 2024. The initiative includes a comprehensive toolkit provided to all chapters, featuring a career exploration guide, brochure, short sheet, and PowerPoint presentation for local schools. As part of this effort, MPI introduced "Meetings 101" for secondary students, with certificates being delivered at three Detroit schools this fall. The program aims to inspire the next generation of professionals by educating students on career opportunities within the meetings and events industry. 

MPI has launched two new industry association partnerships this summer, adding the Society of Government Meeting Professionals and LGBT Meeting Professionals Association to its growing list of partners.  

In addition, MPI together with the International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has relaunched the Global MICE Collaborative, delivering the all-new certificate, MICE Fundamentals: Introduction to Conference, Exhibition & Incentive Events, for its debut delivery at IMEX America Smart Monday this week. The certificate offers a strategic overview of all three event types for both emerging professionals and seasoned professionals who want a better understanding of the business event ecosystem. The course will be featured next at ITB Asia later this month, IMEX Frankfurt and America in 2025 with more dates to be announced in the coming weeks. 

MPI is collaborating with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to address global food waste reduction strategies. In 2024, WWF conducted a study, Unveiling the Appetite for Change, which found that while many meeting professionals recognize food waste as a significant issue, actionable solutions remain limited. Together with venues and global clients, MPI and WWF are setting new global norms for reducing food waste through the DREAM initiative, which stands for Divert, Recover, Empower (and Educate), Adjust, and Measure. 

MPI Foundation Updates: Rebecca DeLuca 

MPI continues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MPI Foundation (MPIF), marking four decades of significant contributions to the meeting and event industry.  

MPIF focuses on two specific efforts; Giving back and Fundraising. Since its inception in 1984, the MPI Foundation has distributed over $14.4 million to the industry, every chapter, and over 25,000 individual members.  

Most recently, the MPI Foundation acted swiftly in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, offering hardship support to more than 600 members impacted by this catastrophic event.  

Fundraising at conferences, like IMEX America, enhance their ability to focus on a cross section of needs. Here is a quick recap of recent initiatives that have helped complement MPI Foundation’s impact: 

• In August, Visit Indy proudly hosted the 9th Annual MPI Foundation Thought Leaders’ Summit, a two-day executive conference featuring educational sessions crafted by the MPI Academy and immersive, authentic experiences developed by the destination. Attendees once again rated it as one of MPI’s top events, and more than $155,000 was raised to support the MPI Foundation Endowment. 

• In September, as part of the EVENT in Canada, trustees and council members raised more than CN$17,000 by hosting a RENDEZVOUS. 

• IMEX America continues to be our largest annual fundraising week with multiple events and activations Sunday through Thursday, including: 

• 12th Annual VIP silent auction, Red, White & You, hosted by Mandalay Bay 

• Competitive golf tournament with partners at Meet In Ireland 

• Topgolf Tee Party on Monday afternoon to welcome planners 

• IMEX Silent Auction LIVE through Thursday at 12pm PDT 

• and the can’t miss late-night RENDEZVOUS in partnership with Caesars Entertainment and Drai’s Beach Club & Nightclub. For the 3rd consecutive year, RENDEZVOUS has sold-out. 

Early projections of donations, bids, and funds raised indicate over $500,0000 will be raised in celebration of our 40th year! 

These funds allow the trustees to plan for distributions in 2025, like scholarships to WEC and MPI Academy certifications. To help that effort and announced at IMEX America, Visit Seattle has created WEC Scholarships to fund female professionals’ attendance to next year’s event in St. Louis. 

Inaugural Event Golf Event Planning Certificate with Visit Frisco brought over 20 planners to Frisco, Texas in June 2024 with over two days of practical golf education with the following take aways to improve the meeting professionals’ skills around golf event planning.  The learnings included:  

• Gain Specialized Skills: Learn to master the intricacies of golf tournament planning, from venue selection and player management to seamless execution and post-event analysis.  

• Enhance Your Credibility: Stand out with a certification that sets you apart as a trusted, knowledgeable planner who understands the unique demands of golf events. 

• Expand Your Network: Connect with like-minded professionals and industry leaders who can open doors to exciting projects and collaborative opportunities. 

• Increase Your Earning Potential: With your newly acquired expertise, command higher fees and attract high-profile clients seeking reliable specialists. 

• Boost Your Confidence: Feel empowered and ready to tackle large-scale golf tournaments with the tools and strategies gained through this program 

Las Vegas, NV October 9, 2024,

Speakers: 

• Paul Van Deventer, President and CEO, MPI 

• Rachel Benedick, Chief Revenue Officer, MPI 

• Michelle Allgauer, 2024 MPI International Board of Directors (IBOD) Chair and Senior Vice President, Education & Engagement at Financial Services Institute (FSI) 

• Rebecca DeLuca, 2025 MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees (GBOT) Chair and Vice President of Destination Sales, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority 

Moderator: Drew Holmgreen, MPI Chief Experience Officer 

IMEX America 2024 Recap: Michelle Allgauer 

Meetings Professional International (MPI), the world’s largest association for meeting and event professionals worldwide, and IMEX enjoy a 20-year partnership that continues to strengthen IMEX America’s standing as a must-attend event for industry professionals.  

Every year, MPI Academy provides complementary education and professional development opportunities during Smart Monday. More than 1,590 attendees participated in 2024 Smart Monday education, an increase of 30% over 2023, spread across 46 concurrent sessions, compared to 30 in 2023. New this year, MPI unveiled three educational experiences, which allowed for a highly customized approach: 

• Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate & Medical Meeting Professional Certificate at Viticus: Attendees can choose from MPI Academy’s two robust medical meeting certificate courses while making connections and celebrating HMCC’s 10th Anniversary. 

• MICE Fundamentals Certificate Course: Perfect for attendees who are new to the industry and are looking for skill development and pan-industry immersion.  

MPI extended its education for IMEX America 2024 by sourcing all three keynote speakers, each aimed at inspiring attendees to challenge conventional thinking. A total of 1,250 attendees participated in the keynote sessions:   

• Monday (725 attendees): Andre Norman – “Prison to Harvard: The Power of Belief and Self-Motivation” 

• Tuesday (325 attendees): Justin Wren – “Purpose. Performance. Impact” 

• Wednesday (200 attendees): Olympia LePoint – “Making New Artificial Intelligence Technology Ethical & Accurate” 

MPI hosted 15 micro-learning sessions at the MPI booth in the Expo Hall with a diverse selection of topics including creative thinking strategies, advancing careers through MPI, maximizing multigenerational team potential, enhancing digital presence, and pursuing carbon-neutral meetings. Attendees were treated to a free headshot station at the MPI booth, sponsored by Visit Raleigh and Chuck Fazio and special MPI swag.  

MPI continued its tradition of helping IMEX America attendees establish meaningful business connections through its popular hosted buyers reception, sponsored by Jamaica and attended by 80 planners.  

On Wednesday morning, MPI and Caesars Entertainment, alongside Dianne Devitt, hosted Media and Momentum, its first annual recognition event for industry media. During the event, representatives from across the industry, including DMOs, associations and others, met over breakfast to celebrate and recognize the remarkable efforts from those who provide coverage for the meetings and events industry. While celebrating the entirety of the industry media, special individual recognition was provided to industry veterans Harvey Grotsky, Laurel Herman, Sol and Gloria Herman and Marin Bright (posthumously).  

MPI Business Update: Paul Van Deventer 

MPI remains committed to elevating the member experience in 2025 by focusing on education, connections and leadership development. Recognizing the strength of chapter leaders, MPI will introduce new technology tools to help chapters manage events and marketing initiatives, and launch new DEI training to ensure our chapters remain inclusive and welcoming to all. 

The MPI Academy continues to grow and based on insights from our community, the MPI Academy will introduce new learning opportunities and fresh subject matter experts to help our members stay competitive.  

In 2025, we welcome our incoming MPI International Board of Directors Chair, Rob Adams, President and Owner of Bishop-McCann. Rob has served on the MPI Board for 6 years, including Chair of our Finance Committee. Rob’s a staunch advocate for our MPI Chapters, including his home chapter in Kansas City, one of our consistently strongest-performing and award-winning chapters. 

We also welcome our MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustee Chair-Elect, Rebecca DeLuca, VP of Destination Sales, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Rebecca has dedicated her career to supporting the MPI Community with MPI Chicago Area Chapter, as well as volunteering for over 3 years with MPIF Global Board of Trustees championing all MPIF regional councils. 

MPI released the results of its Q3 Meetings Outlook, which provides a comprehensive forecast of trends and expectations for the industry. In a slight increase from last year, 72% of respondents report an optimistic outlook for business conditions and budgets for 2025, signaling confidence in the financial health of the industry. Additionally, 76% of respondents reported favorable projections for in-person event attendance, which highlights the continued resilience and growth of face-to-face events. Respondents reported the most balanced market that we’ve seen in a while, with a mix of 43% of respondents describing the current environment as a seller’s market, 31% as a buyer’s market and 26% as a balanced market. This shows stability in the market, which will benefit both buyers and sellers in the year ahead. 

MPI is proud to honor Stephen Revetria, President of Giants Enterprises, as this year’s recipient of the MPI Industry Champion Award, which will be presented at the 2025 WEC President’s Dinner in St. Louis. Stephen’s commitment to the industry is admirable, including serving as chair of both the MPI Board of Directors and the MPI Foundation Board. His dedication to giving back to communities in need is commendable, and his work through the Foundation has impacted countless individuals. 

MPI Experience Updates: Drew Holmgreen 

MPI is thrilled to announce the launch of its new brand positioning, “Run the Show,” unveiled at IMEX America. This dynamic slogan captures the essential role event professionals play as the visionaries and driving forces behind transformative experiences in the meetings and events industry. Through this positioning, MPI underscores the significant impact that event planners have in shaping the future of the industry. 

“Run the Show” reflects MPI's dedication to empowering event professionals with the necessary education, connections, and leadership opportunities to thrive. This campaign highlights how MPI continues to support the events community, providing them with the tools and confidence to lead successful initiatives. The campaign will be featured across MPI’s messaging and initiatives throughout the year, reinforcing its commitment to helping professionals run the show in every sense. 

On September 26th, MPI announced that the European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC) will return to Istanbul, Türkiye, from February 22-25, 2025, marking the second time in its 35-year history that the event takes place in the city. EMEC, known for its innovative approach, serves as an idea incubator designed by Europeans for Europeans, while reflecting the host destination's culture. Additionally, the RFP for EMEC host destinations for 2026-2027 will be distributed within the next week, opening the opportunity for future hosts. 

Continuing its tradition of exceptional experiences, MPI is excited to announce that the World Education Congress (WEC), its largest annual event, will take place in St. Louis from June 18-20, 2025. Following a highly successful event in Louisville with over 700 planners and nearly 2,000 attendees, WEC continues to grow year over year. Registration for WEC St. Louis is now open, and MPI expects attendance to exceed 2,000. The full event schedule, including keynotes and sessions, will be available soon.  

Looking ahead, San Antonio will host WEC June 1-4, 2026, and MPI is currently in the process of reviewing prospective host destinations for 2027 through 2029.  

MPI recently concluded its first-ever takeover of the EVENT in Ottawa, solidifying its presence in Canada’s meeting and events industry. Originally launched by MPI’s Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal/Quebec Chapters in 2018, the EVENT has grown to become a signature experience, bringing together over 300 attendees in immersive formats. This year’s theme, "Origin Stories," was woven throughout the event, from education sessions to networking activities. With overwhelmingly positive initial feedback, MPI is exploring future host destinations with an RFP currently in market for 2025 and plans to release the RFP for 2026-2027 next year. 

MPI Academy Updates: Rachel Benedick 

The MPI Academy continues to grow with significant involvement and satisfaction across the industry at each of our four major events. Attendees stated a 90% satisfaction in the education at EMEC, 92% satisfaction at WEC, 100% satisfaction at the Thought Leaders Summit and 99% satisfaction at the EVENT. 

Global Meetings Industry Day was successful yet again with 3,836 registrations logging a total of 283,230 minutes of education, or approximately 2.5 hours per person. Overall, the event was a success with an NPS score of 46, overall satisfaction 96% and relevant content 95%. 

MPI Academy issued more than 1,000 certificates from January to September 2024. More than 300 meeting professionals have earned certificates in the new AI-Enhanced Events, showcasing the need for quality education around artificial intelligence and event technology. Also new this year are the Event Welfare Champion certificate from Google’s The Neu Project, Golf Event Planning with partner Frisco, the Event Psychology Strategist certificate and Professional Development Coaching Cohorts with partner Visit Fort Worth—all to enhance and augment our industry professional’s toolbox with relevant industry education.    

MPI, in collaboration with VisitDetroit, launched its Workforce Development program in September 2024. The initiative includes a comprehensive toolkit provided to all chapters, featuring a career exploration guide, brochure, short sheet, and PowerPoint presentation for local schools. As part of this effort, MPI introduced "Meetings 101" for secondary students, with certificates being delivered at three Detroit schools this fall. The program aims to inspire the next generation of professionals by educating students on career opportunities within the meetings and events industry. 

MPI has launched two new industry association partnerships this summer, adding the Society of Government Meeting Professionals and LGBT Meeting Professionals Association to its growing list of partners.  

In addition, MPI together with the International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has relaunched the Global MICE Collaborative, delivering the all-new certificate, MICE Fundamentals: Introduction to Conference, Exhibition & Incentive Events, for its debut delivery at IMEX America Smart Monday this week. The certificate offers a strategic overview of all three event types for both emerging professionals and seasoned professionals who want a better understanding of the business event ecosystem. The course will be featured next at ITB Asia later this month, IMEX Frankfurt and America in 2025 with more dates to be announced in the coming weeks. 

MPI is collaborating with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to address global food waste reduction strategies. In 2024, WWF conducted a study, Unveiling the Appetite for Change, which found that while many meeting professionals recognize food waste as a significant issue, actionable solutions remain limited. Together with venues and global clients, MPI and WWF are setting new global norms for reducing food waste through the DREAM initiative, which stands for Divert, Recover, Empower (and Educate), Adjust, and Measure. 

MPI Foundation Updates: Rebecca DeLuca 

MPI continues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MPI Foundation (MPIF), marking four decades of significant contributions to the meeting and event industry.  

MPIF focuses on two specific efforts; Giving back and Fundraising. Since its inception in 1984, the MPI Foundation has distributed over $14.4 million to the industry, every chapter, and over 25,000 individual members.  

Most recently, the MPI Foundation acted swiftly in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, offering hardship support to more than 600 members impacted by this catastrophic event.  

Fundraising at conferences, like IMEX America, enhance their ability to focus on a cross section of needs. Here is a quick recap of recent initiatives that have helped complement MPI Foundation’s impact: 

• In August, Visit Indy proudly hosted the 9th Annual MPI Foundation Thought Leaders’ Summit, a two-day executive conference featuring educational sessions crafted by the MPI Academy and immersive, authentic experiences developed by the destination. Attendees once again rated it as one of MPI’s top events, and more than $155,000 was raised to support the MPI Foundation Endowment. 

• In September, as part of the EVENT in Canada, trustees and council members raised more than CN$17,000 by hosting a RENDEZVOUS. 

• IMEX America continues to be our largest annual fundraising week with multiple events and activations Sunday through Thursday, including: 

• 12th Annual VIP silent auction, Red, White & You, hosted by Mandalay Bay 

• Competitive golf tournament with partners at Meet In Ireland 

• Topgolf Tee Party on Monday afternoon to welcome planners 

• IMEX Silent Auction LIVE through Thursday at 12pm PDT 

• and the can’t miss late-night RENDEZVOUS in partnership with Caesars Entertainment and Drai’s Beach Club & Nightclub. For the 3rd consecutive year, RENDEZVOUS has sold-out. 

Early projections of donations, bids, and funds raised indicate over $500,0000 will be raised in celebration of our 40th year! 

These funds allow the trustees to plan for distributions in 2025, like scholarships to WEC and MPI Academy certifications. To help that effort and announced at IMEX America, Visit Seattle has created WEC Scholarships to fund female professionals’ attendance to next year’s event in St. Louis. 

Inaugural Event Golf Event Planning Certificate with Visit Frisco brought over 20 planners to Frisco, Texas in June 2024 with over two days of practical golf education with the following take aways to improve the meeting professionals’ skills around golf event planning.  The learnings included:  

• Gain Specialized Skills: Learn to master the intricacies of golf tournament planning, from venue selection and player management to seamless execution and post-event analysis.  

• Enhance Your Credibility: Stand out with a certification that sets you apart as a trusted, knowledgeable planner who understands the unique demands of golf events. 

• Expand Your Network: Connect with like-minded professionals and industry leaders who can open doors to exciting projects and collaborative opportunities. 

• Increase Your Earning Potential: With your newly acquired expertise, command higher fees and attract high-profile clients seeking reliable specialists. 

• Boost Your Confidence: Feel empowered and ready to tackle large-scale golf tournaments with the tools and strategies gained through this program 

Las Vegas, NV October 9, 2024,

Speakers: 

• Paul Van Deventer, President and CEO, MPI 

• Rachel Benedick, Chief Revenue Officer, MPI 

• Michelle Allgauer, 2024 MPI International Board of Directors (IBOD) Chair and Senior Vice President, Education & Engagement at Financial Services Institute (FSI) 

• Rebecca DeLuca, 2025 MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees (GBOT) Chair and Vice President of Destination Sales, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority 

Moderator: Drew Holmgreen, MPI Chief Experience Officer 

IMEX America 2024 Recap: Michelle Allgauer 

Meetings Professional International (MPI), the world’s largest association for meeting and event professionals worldwide, and IMEX enjoy a 20-year partnership that continues to strengthen IMEX America’s standing as a must-attend event for industry professionals.  

Every year, MPI Academy provides complementary education and professional development opportunities during Smart Monday. More than 1,590 attendees participated in 2024 Smart Monday education, an increase of 30% over 2023, spread across 46 concurrent sessions, compared to 30 in 2023. New this year, MPI unveiled three educational experiences, which allowed for a highly customized approach: 

• Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate & Medical Meeting Professional Certificate at Viticus: Attendees can choose from MPI Academy’s two robust medical meeting certificate courses while making connections and celebrating HMCC’s 10th Anniversary. 

• MICE Fundamentals Certificate Course: Perfect for attendees who are new to the industry and are looking for skill development and pan-industry immersion.  

MPI extended its education for IMEX America 2024 by sourcing all three keynote speakers, each aimed at inspiring attendees to challenge conventional thinking. A total of 1,250 attendees participated in the keynote sessions:   

• Monday (725 attendees): Andre Norman – “Prison to Harvard: The Power of Belief and Self-Motivation” 

• Tuesday (325 attendees): Justin Wren – “Purpose. Performance. Impact” 

• Wednesday (200 attendees): Olympia LePoint – “Making New Artificial Intelligence Technology Ethical & Accurate” 

MPI hosted 15 micro-learning sessions at the MPI booth in the Expo Hall with a diverse selection of topics including creative thinking strategies, advancing careers through MPI, maximizing multigenerational team potential, enhancing digital presence, and pursuing carbon-neutral meetings. Attendees were treated to a free headshot station at the MPI booth, sponsored by Visit Raleigh and Chuck Fazio and special MPI swag.  

MPI continued its tradition of helping IMEX America attendees establish meaningful business connections through its popular hosted buyers reception, sponsored by Jamaica and attended by 80 planners.  

On Wednesday morning, MPI and Caesars Entertainment, alongside Dianne Devitt, hosted Media and Momentum, its first annual recognition event for industry media. During the event, representatives from across the industry, including DMOs, associations and others, met over breakfast to celebrate and recognize the remarkable efforts from those who provide coverage for the meetings and events industry. While celebrating the entirety of the industry media, special individual recognition was provided to industry veterans Harvey Grotsky, Laurel Herman, Sol and Gloria Herman and Marin Bright (posthumously).  

MPI Business Update: Paul Van Deventer 

MPI remains committed to elevating the member experience in 2025 by focusing on education, connections and leadership development. Recognizing the strength of chapter leaders, MPI will introduce new technology tools to help chapters manage events and marketing initiatives, and launch new DEI training to ensure our chapters remain inclusive and welcoming to all. 

The MPI Academy continues to grow and based on insights from our community, the MPI Academy will introduce new learning opportunities and fresh subject matter experts to help our members stay competitive.  

In 2025, we welcome our incoming MPI International Board of Directors Chair, Rob Adams, President and Owner of Bishop-McCann. Rob has served on the MPI Board for 6 years, including Chair of our Finance Committee. Rob’s a staunch advocate for our MPI Chapters, including his home chapter in Kansas City, one of our consistently strongest-performing and award-winning chapters. 

We also welcome our MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustee Chair-Elect, Rebecca DeLuca, VP of Destination Sales, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Rebecca has dedicated her career to supporting the MPI Community with MPI Chicago Area Chapter, as well as volunteering for over 3 years with MPIF Global Board of Trustees championing all MPIF regional councils. 

MPI released the results of its Q3 Meetings Outlook, which provides a comprehensive forecast of trends and expectations for the industry. In a slight increase from last year, 72% of respondents report an optimistic outlook for business conditions and budgets for 2025, signaling confidence in the financial health of the industry. Additionally, 76% of respondents reported favorable projections for in-person event attendance, which highlights the continued resilience and growth of face-to-face events. Respondents reported the most balanced market that we’ve seen in a while, with a mix of 43% of respondents describing the current environment as a seller’s market, 31% as a buyer’s market and 26% as a balanced market. This shows stability in the market, which will benefit both buyers and sellers in the year ahead. 

MPI is proud to honor Stephen Revetria, President of Giants Enterprises, as this year’s recipient of the MPI Industry Champion Award, which will be presented at the 2025 WEC President’s Dinner in St. Louis. Stephen’s commitment to the industry is admirable, including serving as chair of both the MPI Board of Directors and the MPI Foundation Board. His dedication to giving back to communities in need is commendable, and his work through the Foundation has impacted countless individuals. 

MPI Experience Updates: Drew Holmgreen 

MPI is thrilled to announce the launch of its new brand positioning, “Run the Show,” unveiled at IMEX America. This dynamic slogan captures the essential role event professionals play as the visionaries and driving forces behind transformative experiences in the meetings and events industry. Through this positioning, MPI underscores the significant impact that event planners have in shaping the future of the industry. 

“Run the Show” reflects MPI's dedication to empowering event professionals with the necessary education, connections, and leadership opportunities to thrive. This campaign highlights how MPI continues to support the events community, providing them with the tools and confidence to lead successful initiatives. The campaign will be featured across MPI’s messaging and initiatives throughout the year, reinforcing its commitment to helping professionals run the show in every sense. 

On September 26th, MPI announced that the European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC) will return to Istanbul, Türkiye, from February 22-25, 2025, marking the second time in its 35-year history that the event takes place in the city. EMEC, known for its innovative approach, serves as an idea incubator designed by Europeans for Europeans, while reflecting the host destination's culture. Additionally, the RFP for EMEC host destinations for 2026-2027 will be distributed within the next week, opening the opportunity for future hosts. 

Continuing its tradition of exceptional experiences, MPI is excited to announce that the World Education Congress (WEC), its largest annual event, will take place in St. Louis from June 18-20, 2025. Following a highly successful event in Louisville with over 700 planners and nearly 2,000 attendees, WEC continues to grow year over year. Registration for WEC St. Louis is now open, and MPI expects attendance to exceed 2,000. The full event schedule, including keynotes and sessions, will be available soon.  

Looking ahead, San Antonio will host WEC June 1-4, 2026, and MPI is currently in the process of reviewing prospective host destinations for 2027 through 2029.  

MPI recently concluded its first-ever takeover of the EVENT in Ottawa, solidifying its presence in Canada’s meeting and events industry. Originally launched by MPI’s Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal/Quebec Chapters in 2018, the EVENT has grown to become a signature experience, bringing together over 300 attendees in immersive formats. This year’s theme, "Origin Stories," was woven throughout the event, from education sessions to networking activities. With overwhelmingly positive initial feedback, MPI is exploring future host destinations with an RFP currently in market for 2025 and plans to release the RFP for 2026-2027 next year. 

MPI Academy Updates: Rachel Benedick 

The MPI Academy continues to grow with significant involvement and satisfaction across the industry at each of our four major events. Attendees stated a 90% satisfaction in the education at EMEC, 92% satisfaction at WEC, 100% satisfaction at the Thought Leaders Summit and 99% satisfaction at the EVENT. 

Global Meetings Industry Day was successful yet again with 3,836 registrations logging a total of 283,230 minutes of education, or approximately 2.5 hours per person. Overall, the event was a success with an NPS score of 46, overall satisfaction 96% and relevant content 95%. 

MPI Academy issued more than 1,000 certificates from January to September 2024. More than 300 meeting professionals have earned certificates in the new AI-Enhanced Events, showcasing the need for quality education around artificial intelligence and event technology. Also new this year are the Event Welfare Champion certificate from Google’s The Neu Project, Golf Event Planning with partner Frisco, the Event Psychology Strategist certificate and Professional Development Coaching Cohorts with partner Visit Fort Worth—all to enhance and augment our industry professional’s toolbox with relevant industry education.    

MPI, in collaboration with VisitDetroit, launched its Workforce Development program in September 2024. The initiative includes a comprehensive toolkit provided to all chapters, featuring a career exploration guide, brochure, short sheet, and PowerPoint presentation for local schools. As part of this effort, MPI introduced "Meetings 101" for secondary students, with certificates being delivered at three Detroit schools this fall. The program aims to inspire the next generation of professionals by educating students on career opportunities within the meetings and events industry. 

MPI has launched two new industry association partnerships this summer, adding the Society of Government Meeting Professionals and LGBT Meeting Professionals Association to its growing list of partners.  

In addition, MPI together with the International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has relaunched the Global MICE Collaborative, delivering the all-new certificate, MICE Fundamentals: Introduction to Conference, Exhibition & Incentive Events, for its debut delivery at IMEX America Smart Monday this week. The certificate offers a strategic overview of all three event types for both emerging professionals and seasoned professionals who want a better understanding of the business event ecosystem. The course will be featured next at ITB Asia later this month, IMEX Frankfurt and America in 2025 with more dates to be announced in the coming weeks. 

MPI is collaborating with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to address global food waste reduction strategies. In 2024, WWF conducted a study, Unveiling the Appetite for Change, which found that while many meeting professionals recognize food waste as a significant issue, actionable solutions remain limited. Together with venues and global clients, MPI and WWF are setting new global norms for reducing food waste through the DREAM initiative, which stands for Divert, Recover, Empower (and Educate), Adjust, and Measure. 

MPI Foundation Updates: Rebecca DeLuca 

MPI continues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MPI Foundation (MPIF), marking four decades of significant contributions to the meeting and event industry.  

MPIF focuses on two specific efforts; Giving back and Fundraising. Since its inception in 1984, the MPI Foundation has distributed over $14.4 million to the industry, every chapter, and over 25,000 individual members.  

Most recently, the MPI Foundation acted swiftly in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, offering hardship support to more than 600 members impacted by this catastrophic event.  

Fundraising at conferences, like IMEX America, enhance their ability to focus on a cross section of needs. Here is a quick recap of recent initiatives that have helped complement MPI Foundation’s impact: 

• In August, Visit Indy proudly hosted the 9th Annual MPI Foundation Thought Leaders’ Summit, a two-day executive conference featuring educational sessions crafted by the MPI Academy and immersive, authentic experiences developed by the destination. Attendees once again rated it as one of MPI’s top events, and more than $155,000 was raised to support the MPI Foundation Endowment. 

• In September, as part of the EVENT in Canada, trustees and council members raised more than CN$17,000 by hosting a RENDEZVOUS. 

• IMEX America continues to be our largest annual fundraising week with multiple events and activations Sunday through Thursday, including: 

• 12th Annual VIP silent auction, Red, White & You, hosted by Mandalay Bay 

• Competitive golf tournament with partners at Meet In Ireland 

• Topgolf Tee Party on Monday afternoon to welcome planners 

• IMEX Silent Auction LIVE through Thursday at 12pm PDT 

• and the can’t miss late-night RENDEZVOUS in partnership with Caesars Entertainment and Drai’s Beach Club & Nightclub. For the 3rd consecutive year, RENDEZVOUS has sold-out. 

Early projections of donations, bids, and funds raised indicate over $500,0000 will be raised in celebration of our 40th year! 

These funds allow the trustees to plan for distributions in 2025, like scholarships to WEC and MPI Academy certifications. To help that effort and announced at IMEX America, Visit Seattle has created WEC Scholarships to fund female professionals’ attendance to next year’s event in St. Louis. 

Inaugural Event Golf Event Planning Certificate with Visit Frisco brought over 20 planners to Frisco, Texas in June 2024 with over two days of practical golf education with the following take aways to improve the meeting professionals’ skills around golf event planning.  The learnings included:  

• Gain Specialized Skills: Learn to master the intricacies of golf tournament planning, from venue selection and player management to seamless execution and post-event analysis.  

• Enhance Your Credibility: Stand out with a certification that sets you apart as a trusted, knowledgeable planner who understands the unique demands of golf events. 

• Expand Your Network: Connect with like-minded professionals and industry leaders who can open doors to exciting projects and collaborative opportunities. 

• Increase Your Earning Potential: With your newly acquired expertise, command higher fees and attract high-profile clients seeking reliable specialists. 

• Boost Your Confidence: Feel empowered and ready to tackle large-scale golf tournaments with the tools and strategies gained through this program