As part of a
partnership that was announced this summer, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is host two education sessions at HSMAI's MEET National conference, taking place today and tomorrow in Washington, D.C., the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) reported yesterday.
MPI and HSMAI's first joint effort took place at MPI's World Education Congress (WEC) in July, where suppliers HSMAI offered education tracks for suppliers focused on hotel sales and marketing.
"We enjoyed taking part in MPI's World Education Congress as the inaugural launch of our partnership and wanted to offer attendees of HSMAI's MEET additional educational offerings," said HSMAI Executive Vice President Fran Brasseux. "We think our expertise in hospitality sales and marketing training and development and MPI's added expertise in education sessions for meeting planners will provide increased benefits for both HSMAI and MPI members attending HSMAI's MEET."
MPI's hosted sessions at MEET National are: "Strategic Meetings Management (SMM): Working from the Planner's Side of the Equation," which offers an in-depth look at best practices for streamlining an organization's meeting processes, and "Creating a Web of Influence," which focuses on the importance of building strong relationships with key stakeholders.
"Our members are the heart and soul of MPI and we're thrilled to combine our extensive knowledge with HSMAI to offer more comprehensive events," MPI COO and interim CEO Cindy D'Aoust said upon announcing the HSMAI partnership in July. "This partnership allows us to better serve our supplier members and heightens the business value of our events for all members."
A re-imagined, re-named and re-branded version of HSMAI's signature series of "Affordable Meetings" conferences and exhibitions, the MEET series — which stands for Meetings, Events, Education, Technology — debuted in September 2011 with the inaugural MEET National.
Key components of the MEET series include an educational program known as MEET University, which replaces traditional classroom-style learning with hands-on workshops that include case studies, peer-to-peer roundtables and "Top 10" stations; a reverse trade show buyer appointment expo known as TEEM Up, where exhibitors visit and meet with planners, instead of the other way around; a MEET Concierge, which assists exhibitors before, during and after the show with appointment setting, sales and marketing; and a virtual extension of the two-day conference called MEET On, the purpose of which is delivering MEET educational content to a wider audience and connecting exhibitors with planners "365 days a year."
For more information, visit www.hsmaimeet.com.