What is the difference between ethics and integrity? It’s that fine line between doing what others believe is right and what we personally believe to be right, which is a line that we all toe in our professional lives. In other words, those who wish to be ethical are often doing so simply to avoid conflict, while those who have integrity do the right thing regardless of what others may think. I often wonder how this fine line fits within the context of business as a whole, and specifically within the meeting and events industry. And, by the way, who sets these ethical standards anyway?

Karen Kotowski, CEO of the Events Industry Council (EIC) and a Penn State alumna, has joined the Penn State School of Hospitality Management (SHM) Industry Advisory Board. The board invites industry experts to strategically advise SHM on industry trends and guide students who are studying hospitality management. The members are leaders in the field, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents of large companies and executive vice presidents, chief operating officers and CEO’s of smaller companies.

Planning your trip to CMP Conclave, November 13-15, 2017 at MGM National Harbor, Maryland? We continue to announce the latest sessions and speakers!

This year IMEX America, held October 10-12 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, celebrates its sixth year of providing high quality education and networking opportunities, in addition to a first-class trade show for the global meetings, incentive travel and events industry. We invite you to apply for Hosted Buyer status to join the Events Industry Council’s CMP Hosted Buyer Group for IMEX America 2017 in Las Vegas.

Three new webinars have been added to the Sustainability Webinar Series. Be sure to register today!

Elaina Spring, CMP, co-owner of Woven Wineworks, has been exploring wine’s full sensory experience through a series of pop-up events that began in May. She orchestrated a journey of taste for her inaugural gathering at Cellar 503 in Portland.

In a crowded marketplace, potential clients will choose you over your competitors by their sense of comfort working with you. Do you provide direction and advice or are you just an order taker?

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) have partnered to inspire a culture shift in the way food is managed across the entire sales and event cycle within the hospitality sector. As part of this effort and to better inform final project outputs, WWF has developed a short 15-minute survey to gather data from key stakeholders in the catering and event management process.

The United Nations General Assembly designated this past June 18 as "Sustainable Gastronomy Day." This day can serve as an inspiration for us to expand our implementation of sustainable food choices and practices in the events industry. While that day has past, the impact of what it stands for is sustainable.

Are you interested in learning more about how to make your events sustainable, but you’re not sure who to ask? We’re here to help! The Sustainability Initiative of the Events Industry Council offers tools, tips, and education to help planners and other events industry stakeholders make their events sustainable. Sustainability isn’t a fad – it’s a growing movement that makes good business sense too.

Katherine Fox Ehlert, MM, CMP Emeritus, recently ended her 30-year hotel and tourism career. She was an MPI member from 1983 to 2011 and on the boards for both the Northern California Chapter and the NM Chapter, for which she was also President from 2007 to 2009. Today, she is a member of PCMA and enjoying retirement, giving back to hospitality and tourism students. We caught up with Katherine to get her perspective on a career in hospitality, earning her CMP and what it’s like to be enjoying her CMP Emeritus status.

Recognizing CMPs who are starting exciting, new opportunities!