MPI Toronto Chapter Blog

Volcanic Ash Impacts on International Meetings in Europe

The spread of the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland has forced the cancellation of numerous meetings throughout Europe due to restrictions in air traffic. Conworld.net has contacted 159 European Convention Bureaus requesting updates from their destinations, and will be posting their responses online as soon as they are received.

MPI's One+ blog, PlusPoint, is also monitoring the story closely.

Here is a blog post from a fellow MPI member in the Netherlands about how to manage the impact on your event.

More analysis from M&IT magazine and MEETINGS: review.

Join our MPI Toronto Chapter LinkedIn group discussion as well to read about how our members are being impacted by this unprecedented situation.

Free MPI Webinar Series on H1N1

Responding to the needs of our member community, MPI has launched a 3-part webinar series on H1N1 pandemic. This is free for all members; non-members can attend for $40 USD.

This comprehensive program provides vital information on the H1N1 pandemic specifically in the context of the meeting and events industry. It begins this Friday, November 6, 2009. Please see the schedule below. We encourage you to attend as many of the webinars as you can.

11/6/2009 11:00 a.m. CST	The H1N1 Flu Pandemic: What Meeting Professionals Need to Know	Dr. Jonathan Spero
11/10/2009 11:00 a.m. CST	Be Prepared, Not Panicked (Or Complacent):  A Swine Flu Update	Dennis Petroskey
11/17/2009 11:00 a.m. CST	Getting your H1N1 Preparedness Plan to the C-level	Julia Silvers

To register for the webinars, please click here.

For more information on the H1N1 virus and the meetings and events industry, please click here.

Changes...

At the ASAE 2009 Conference in Toronto I heard Gary Hamel (http://www.garyhamel.com/) speak at the opening general session where he shared some best practices for management and business/organizational structure. To quote Hamel - "how do you thrive in a world that is shaken rather than stirred."  As we all know (and experience on a daily basis), the pace of change today is the fastest that it has ever been in history. The traditional change management model is flawed - it is reactive and often by the time change is being implemented it is too late or in response to a crisis. So how do we change the way we change? According to Hamel, becoming more adaptable involves four steps.

Get over denial. We need to start treating our beliefs as a hypothesis. Listen to the dissidents within our organizations. Challenge industry dogma. The longer we deny there is a need for change, the more expensive adaptation will become.

Create options for renewal. The case for change needs to be better than the case for the status quo.But to get to these ideas, individuals need to be able to express them and organizations need to be able to capture those ideas, and spend a  lot of time diverging before they converge on the idea(s) they will move forward with.

Realign talent and capital. We need to get better at moving resources to support new ideas. If we want to be truly innovative, we need to allow people time to do this and provide the resources to support new idea development.

Change your management principles.How do we build an adaptable/innovative organization? How do we create a workplace that inspires people to bring their best? We need to reinvent the management structures within our organizations. Creating workplaces that inspire people to bring their best.

If you were at the session and heard Gary Hamel speak, or if you have heard him before - let us know what you think about these ideas. Or if you are working in an organization that is adapting and thriving, share how. I look forward to your comments.

Nikki

Unique Venue Ideas

Some of these may be a little too adventurous for your meeting or event, but look what's trending around the world in unique venues.

60 Unique Nightclubs and Bars - From Dancefloors Over Shark Aquariums to Pop-Up Clubs (CLUSTER)

(TREND HUNTER) Now, these are unique nightclubs I'd love to party at! These innovative clubbing hot spots around the world go far beyond the regular dance floor with cute servers behind the bar -- these unique nightclubs… [More]

And in our own back yard (Toronto) O.Noir has recently opened. (http://www.onoir.com/TO/frames.htm) If you've dined in the dark... let us know what you thought.

Nikki

Canadian Meetings Industry Coalition

Earlier this week, a group of meetings industry professionals met to discuss how we can work together  to elevate the profile of the industry. As industry insiders, we understand the economic value of meetings and events, however those outside of our industry often fail to recognize their importance.

The meeting, to which all industry associations were invited to participate, lay the foundation for future meetings and activities. Doug Bolger, L(earn)2 facilitated the discussion and is encouraging feedback from the industry at large via the MPI Toronto's LinkedIn Group.

If you wish to add to the conversation, join the discussion on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestions=&gid=1888685&forumID=3&sik=1243627403094

Watch for updates on the Coalition and planned activities in the near future.

Nikki

H1N1 Update

From the US Travel Association

1 May 2009 -- WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A(H1N1) virus. Today, international travel moves rapidly, with large numbers of individuals visiting various parts of the world. Limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community.

Influenza A(H1N1) has already been confirmed in many parts of the world. The focus now is on minimizing the impact of the virus through the rapid identification of cases and providing patients with appropriate medical care, rather than on stopping its spread internationally. Furthermore, although identifying the signs and symptoms of influenza in travellers can be an effective monitoring technique, it is not effective in reducing the spread of influenza as the virus can be transmitted from person to person before the onset of symptoms. Scientific research based on mathematical modelling indicates that restricting travel will be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease. Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, have validated this point.

Travellers can protect themselves and others by following simple recommendations related to travel aimed at preventing the spread of infection. Individuals who are ill should delay travel plans and returning travellers who fall ill should seek appropriate medical care. These recommendations are prudent measures which can limit the spread of many communicable diseases and not only influenza A(H1N1).

Swine Flu and the Meetings Industry

Posted by Bruce MacMillan, CA on 4/27/2009 8:33:15 PM www.mpiweb.org

The rapidly developing global news story concerning the swine flu outbreak should be monitored closely by all meeting and event professionals. The situation is very fluid at moment, with new information, facts and misunderstandings emerging almost hourly as information gets gathered and analyzed. We want to help you stay connected to the facts as the evolve.

At this early stage in the outbreak, timely and accurate information is crucial to dealing with the torrent of information that could impact the professional lives and businesses of our members. To that end, today we participated in two conference calls with members of US Travel to structure key messages and primary channels of communication for this stage of the outbreak. Conversations and communications protocol are also being developed in Canada and Europe and I have personally reached out to our partners in Mexico.

It's no surprise that media around the world are capitalizing on this story, fuelling concerns beyond what the current facts suggest may be necessary at this time. Our ability to bring order to chaos as quickly as possible is vital and through industry and community collaboration, our response now can make a difference. The US Travel website will be a primary resource at this stage in the outbreak and the team at US Travel in collaboration with meeting industry organizations will be synthesizing relevant information to share across our industry and beyond. An MPI web resource has been created for our community with resource materials and will shortly have Web 2.0 connection tools for conversations. This has been updated with information from US Travel.

In conjunction with our industry partners around the world, we will continue to provide you and our chapters with timely and relevant information on a regular basis. We ask that you review it and share accordingly in order to ensure everyone has the most accurate information possible.

In the meantime, a key source of up-to-date information for you, your families/friends and your business is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Swine Flu resource.

National Meetings Industry Day - Key Messages

Yesterday, over 350 meeting professionals gathered at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto for National Meetings Industry Day. This year's theme People Power - Harnessing collective knowledge for economic success, allowed panelists and the audience to explore the opportunities and challenges of the current economic climate and the need to ensure that the industry message of the value of meetings is being heard by government, media and the general public.

The key points raised were:

• Metrics are essential. Meeting professionals must demonstrate to their companies and clients the value of meetings to the organization. Demonstrating the value (ROI) that meetings contribute to an organization's business objectives and bottom line is essential.
• Meetings Do Mean Business.  Government, media and the general public need to understand the economic impact of meetings and events. In Canada, we are fortunate that the MPI Canadian Economic Impact Study is available as a resource to us to demonstrate that economic value. We need to do a better job of communicating that message.
• We are in this together. National Meetings Industry Day - Toronto was supported by seven of the major industry associations. This speaks volumes. Now is the time for a collective voice, and collective action.
• Take Charge of the Future. In the US, they have developed policy guidelines for meetings. Leaders from key organizations representing the meetings, events and incentive travel industries united to issue guidelines on acceptable business travel practices to companies that have received emergency government lending. The guidelines, built upon existing corporate best practices, are designed to ensure transparency and accountability and protect the one million American jobs supported by corporate meetings and events.The standards support President Obama's recent call for the boards of directors of companies that have received emergency government lending to develop guidelines on conferences, events and employee recognition programs. (excerpt from https://www.mpiweb.org/cms/mpiweb/MPIcontent.aspx?id=23566)
• We Must Change Perceptions. How do we define this industry and what we do? The language we use to define our businesses and our industry is important. Think about your 30-second elevator conversation - Do you define the meetings and events business and your role in it? Do you explain how important meetings and events are to business performance?

If you attended National Meetings Industry Day we would love to hear your thoughts on the discussion. If you didn't attend and have an opinion, we'd also love to hear from you.

Nikki

US Travel Association and MPI defend meetings, conferences and incentive travel

By now, you've probably heard about the recent development in Congress which is sending shockwaves throughout the meetings industry. If not, check your inbox for an email sent last week by Bruce MacMillan, MPI's president and CEO. For a quick overview of the situation, you may also want to check out the following blog post. Then visit www.keepamericameeting.com to sign the US Travel Association petition.

This was a key focus of MeetDifferent in Atlanta, with Christine Duffy, president and CEO of Maritz and former MPI Chairwoman, along with Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association, discussing the industry coalition that has formed in response. Although happening south of the border, this issue affects us all.

LATEST NEWS - A new website has been launched by MPI for meeting professionals to connect to during this crisis: www.meetingindustrycrisiscenter.org. Included on the site is up-to-date information, resources such as the model meeting and event policy released in early February, a video summary of key information takeaways from the Opening General Session at MeetDifferent and more.

Spread the word: Meetings ARE the solution!

Connecting the Dots to Your Future

On Thursday February 5, those of you who were at MPI Toronto Chapter's Monthly Meeting know that Joan Eisenstodt's presentation sparked some lively conversation. Whether you think that the economic downturn spells disaster for the industry, or if you see this as an opportunity - your opinion is relevant and we need to hear from you on this issue.

There is a conversation going on at MPI Toronto's GroupSpace that was started as a follow up to Thursday's meeting. If you have an opinion - whether glass half full or half empty - I encourage you to join in this conversation.

http://www.mpiweb.org/cms/mpiweb/community/CommBoards.aspx?TopicId=4539

A salient point that comes out of this economic downturn is the reminder that we are all in this together.

Nikki

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favourite times of year. I have fond memories of trick or treating and how my costume choices changed with the times. From gypsy to pioneer to vampire to the bride of Frankenstein, the best costume memories were definitely the home made variety.

This year, with Halloween falling on a Friday, I expect the kids will be out in droves, not to mention the adults with a bevy of Halloween parties and festivities. I am always excited to see which costumes are a la mode.

What also fascinates me about Halloween, is of course its traditions and folk lore. Did you know that in England the tradition was to carve turnips or beets? And in Mexico, it's Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Some countries consider black cats lucky, and some consider them unlucky. Did you know if you see a spider on Halloween it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you?

If you are interested in learning more about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), there is an exhibit on at The Gardiner Museum running until January 18.

http://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/exbonnow.aspx?ImageID=1&TopNavImage=1#daysofthedead

If you are interested in learning more about Halloween traditions and lore, there are many websites that have information. Here are a few that I've found.

• http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=715&display_order=1&sub_display_order=2&mini_id=1076
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

And if you happen to have an event that falls around this time of year - how much fun can be had with décor, food and beverage, team building and even the venue selection.  In Toronto there are several venues that are reported to be haunted. For more information on haunted Toronto and around the world check out these sites:

• http://www.toronto.com/attractions/article/529748
• http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/story.html?id=9c0b9ab2-e432-4b28-90c7-60b9b64c5373
• http://www.hauntedhotelguide.com/
• http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/31/cx_cv_1031feat.html

If you have incorporated this holiday into any of your events, add a comment and let us know what you did. And if you've had any haunting experiences, we'd like to hear about that too!

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Nikki