Washington -- Event planners who want to earn a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation from the Convention Industry Council can now obtain the CMP application and handbook for free on the council's website, at www.conventionindustry.org.
The CMP is the most widely recognized certification in the hospitality and meetings industries, administered as it is by the CIC, which is an umbrella group representing 32 major meetings-related organizations.
CMP program director Chris Marshall said the free, online availability of the application and handbook will help people to better understand the program and its benefits without first having to spend money on it.
"By empowering (them) to review the application in advance, we allow them to deepen their appreciation of our program," said Marshall.
The handbook previously cost $45 and included the application form, according to Marshall. Plus, there was a $175 application-submission fee. Now, candidates for a CMP must pay $225 to submit their application, and those applying for recertification, required every five years, must pay $200, Marshall said.
The number of CMPs awarded have grown rapidly over the past few years. At present, more than 12,000 people in 34 countries have earned their CMP.
Planners who already have or are working toward their CMP can also now monitor their certification status and revise their individual profiles online at the council's website.
For more news on recent developments that could affect your plans,
get MeetingNews' weekly e-newsletter to your inbox.