I’ve got your back. While this is a phrase that can often feel overused, when it comes to our industry it is simply the truth. We rise to the occasion repeatedly to support our colleagues and the hospitality industry as a whole. We come together to support industry advocacy, such as the Meetings Mean Business Coalition and the Meetings Industry Advocacy Hub, but most importantly we simply have each other’s back time and time again.

You worked hard to become a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). For those of you whose certification is due to be recertified by December 31, 2017, do so now. Especially with the holidays coming up, we recommend that you don't wait until the last day! Visit the Events Industry Council website for information about recertifying today. There’s a growing demand for qualified events professionals. Recertify your CMP today to demonstrate your professional competency and credibility in this thriving industry.

There are 380 CMPs registered to attend CMP Conclave 2017. Will you be among them? Join your fellow CMPs just outside D.C. at the MGM National Harbor, Md., November 13-15, 2017 for the industry’s only exclusive meeting of CMPs. Join your peers for education and to gain insight on unique perspectives and experiences throughout the industry. Can’t attend? CMPs will be able to access session recordings for CE towards their CMP recertification. Look for more details in the next edition of CMP Today.

The Events Industry Council has commissioned Oxford Economics to measure the significance of the meeting industry’s impact on the economy in 2016. We have been asking meeting planners/organizers, exhibitors and venues to please complete the survey so that we can better understand and communicate the industry’s value to key stakeholders. Thank you to those who have already participated. For others, you may be receiving another reminder email in coming weeks. Please take the time to contribute!

As part of the Events Industry Council's APEX initiative on cyber security, we ask that you take 7-10 minutes to complete a survey that is designed to help us assess the readiness of our industry to prevent and respond to cyber security threats. By participating in the survey, you are helping set the direction for the work group for the next 12 months. Output is expected to include educational content and planning tools for data security.

The Events Industry Council honored its industry pioneers and trailblazers at the 2017 Hall of Leaders and Pacesetter Awards Celebration earlier this month during IMEX America in Las Vegas. Congratulations to our new Hall of Leaders inductees and Pacesetter award winners, particularly to CMPs Janet Sperstad, CMP; and David Peckinpaugh, CMP,CIS.

As M&C's third annual Top 25 Women in the Meetings Industry shines the spotlight on individuals who have displayed extraordinary leadership and skills, Janet Sperstad and Lindsay Arell are proud to carry the CMP designation amongst this group.

Social media has changed the way delegates experience, engage with and think about events. From the time a delegate registers for an event through every session and workshop, they’re searching for ways to engage online. The good news is that there’s no shortage of opportunities to interact and engage with event attendees. Here are a few ways to create a buzzworthy event.

Check out this profile from Meetings Today on MGM National Harbor, the scene of CMP Conclave, November 13-15, 2017!

Adding a corporate social responsibility or community service project to your event is a great way to support the community and engage your event participants. It can also introduce new types of risks that need to be managed in order to ensure the health and safety of your participants and community members. Good risk management planning for your projects is important for health and safety, as well as to safeguarding your organization’s reputation. Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you in your planning:

Do you know what personal data you hold and why you are holding it? Do you know how you are securing personal data? What measures are you taking to make sure your entire team knows the importance of protecting data? Do you know how long you are holding data? If someone wanted their personal data removed from your system, how quickly and thoroughly could you respond? Do you have specific information on when individuals in your marketing database provided permission to send them communications? In order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you’ll need answers to these questions.

Brett Krafft,CMP has been appointed to the position of general manager of Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre hotel. Previously, Krafft has served as hotel manager for Hilton Anatole in Dallas where he had responsibility for the rooms division, events department, capital improvements, special projects and property operations for Hilton’s largest revenue producing hotel in the central region.

Have you been quoted in an article? Do you have some exciting news to share? Contact us at cmptoday@eventscouncil.org and we can share it with the leading individuals and companies involved in the events industry!