Citing its intent to "maximize opportunities for meeting planners and industry suppliers," the Greater New York Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPIGNY) has combined two of its signature events — its Annual Auction and NYMix show and conference — under a single springtime umbrella, it announced last week.
The new, combined event — called "The Mix Up" in honor of MPIGNY's objective to "try new and different twists on traditional strategies" — will take the form of a two-day gala, scheduled for April 11-12, 2012. The auction, celebrating its 25th anniversary, will take place the evening of April 11 and will raise money for meetings industry education. The NYMix show, meanwhile, will take place on April 12 and will include education sessions, networking and an exhibition.
"There's an old adage that says, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,'” said MPIGNY President Ken Edwards, who also is national account executive for Smart Source Computer and Audio Visual Rentals. "Yet we have a belief in the chapter that if we can improve upon even our most successful ventures and increase their value to members, then that's the course we are going to take."
According to MPIGNY, its new "two-in-one" events strategy will benefit planners by allowing them to commit to one two-day event rather than two one-day events, and by introducing them to two separate New York venues and two separate New York neighborhoods.
"In an effort to shake things up a bit, part of the strategy is to allow volunteers from across the association to work collaboratively to create a truly exciting, dynamic two-day experience," said MPIGNY President-Elect Meghan Schilt, event manager at Apax Partners. "This approach not only increases the value to the member who attends the event, but also allows for development for our volunteers who have been given the opportunity to rally the entire association together and feel like they were part of something special."