When I started my entrepreneurial journey one of the first things I did was join the International Live Events Association (ILEA). Although I had been a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) on and off for about 15 years, it had never completely felt like the right fit for me. ILEA on the other hand seemed more my speed. It was where the business owners and creatives that I aspired to collaborate with chose to volunteer their time and…
From pet cameos on video calls to virtual office parties, the ‘new normal’ of remote work comes with some interesting realities. With many teams continuing to work from home for the foreseeable future, remote onboarding of new team members is becoming inevitable for growing companies. It’s no minor task considering the way you choose to welcome an employee can have a lasting impact on their job satisfaction and ability to excel. But without the usual in-person introductions, office tours and…
Q&A with the Montreal venues new general manager 19 years after joining Centre Mont-Royal’s founding team, Luis Ribeiro is now general manager of the iconic Montreal venue. We reached out to learn his plans and discover what’s next for the city’s premier event destination. Now that you’ve had a few months to settle into your new role, what’s on your radar? My priority as general manager is to keep the Centre steady and moving in the right direction, which our…
By Sheila Wong Common courtesy is not just something we remember from the past – it can be an asset in recruiting today. How you treat your candidates before, during and after the interview process is very telling of the type of manager you are perceived to be. It is instrumental in attracting the kind of candidate you need in our service-based industry. How does this apply? It’s a lot like dating. After talking to a classmate from his MBA…
As an association manager, I’m regularly coming up reasons why professionals should join their industry associations, and different ways to market and share their value propositions – and yet, there is still work to do around awareness in our own meeting planning industry! How do you get your professional development? What networks have you joined? Is it time to start being more active in your industry’s association? Or, maybe you’ve already had a full career and it’s time to give…
In the face of today’s fast-moving, highly-volatile business world and the ongoing disruptions it brings, many businesses and individuals continue to struggle with the concept of innovation. But according to leading experts (and Merriam Webster’s dictionary), innovation is far simpler than you may suspect: By definition, it’s simply the introduction of something new. But innovating is often far easier said than done: If it were simple, everyone would be doing it, naturally. Surprisingly though, as we’ve found through our ongoing…
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has selected Julie Holmen to serve as Director of Business Development covering Canada, Europe and Asia, effective December 4, 2017. Based in Toronto, Holmen will be responsible for revenue generation and management of strategic partnerships for the association and the MPI Foundation within her assigned markets, and reports to Evan Casey, MPI’s Vice President of Global Sales. Holmen has 20 years of experience working in the meeting and hospitality industries. Prior to joining MPI, she held…
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Lorenz Hassenstein to the position of General Manager. Hassenstein joins the MTCC team after serving as General Manager for the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Recognized as a dedicated leader, Hassenstein brings over 23 years of experience and an impressive record of accomplishment in general management, trade/consumer event management and strategic business development to his new role. Prior to his most recent position as General Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, he held various…
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has announced the approved slate for its 2018 International Board of Directors and the 2018 MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees. “I am very proud of the interest received from our membership to be part of MPI’s International Board. The new slate of directors represents thought leadership and experience that will make a difference at the leadership level of this organization. Their perspectives and contributions will help to grow and advance the global meeting and event community,” said Fiona Pelham, chair of the MPI Board Development Committee. Board…
By Sheila Wong Like the real estate market, the events industry takes its cue from the state of the economy. The events industry can be more of a lagging indicator because of the advanced planning required. In recent months, there’s been a hiring buzz in the meetings and events industry for event support staff. Hiring managers are starting to feel the squeeze when it comes to finding good people. This is due to the unemployment rate dropping to a nine-year…
