MPI reaches out to Europe and Asia
The theme was "Transformation" but the focus was global as Meeting Professionals International (MPI) held its annual World Education Congress (WEC) in Las Vegas this week.
The organization named a new director of European operations and signed a partnership designed to grow the meetings business in Thailand.
"The meetings and event industry is changing," said new MPI president and CEO Paul Van Deventer. "By developing and offering new tools, techniques, and learning experiences, we want to help meeting planners evolve as well."
MPI welcomed Michael Dominguez, senior vice president of sales for MGM Resorts International, as new chair of its board of directors, and Pierre Fernandez as its new senior director of European operations, overseeing European membership, chapter relations, sales, and strategic partnerships.
Fernandez, who 10 years ago helped found MPI’s France chapter, has worked for Four Seasons Resort Provence, Disneyland Paris Business Solutions and the InterContinental Carlton Hotel in Luxembourg and Cannes.
At the conference MPI signed an official memorandum of understanding with the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau to collaborate on educational programs for meeting professionals in Thailand.
Thailand this year expects to welcome almost a million MICE visitors and generate almost $3 billion in revenues.
A third of its meetings are international; corporate meetings and incentive travel each make up about a fourth of the total.
MPI currently has two chapters in Asia, in South Korea and Japan, which were established in 2008 and 2010, respectively, and members in Australia, China, and Singapore.
By Cheryl Rosen
Cheryl
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