As you may be aware, the CMP Commission has a Global Task Force that is in year two of working with the Events Industry Council and staff on global expansion strategies and initiatives. The CMP Commission and Events Industry Council board have engaged a company to conduct research to assess market readiness and make recommendations on how to customize and prioritize our approach in the targeted countries and regions. They are working alongside the Global Task Force of the CMP Commission chaired by Alisa Peters.

We need your help in distributing this survey so that you can help us to chart the future course of global growth and development of the CMP Programme. To encourage completion, the Events Industry Council is awarding 50 $15 USD-equivalent gift cards from a drawing of names of completed surveys. We hope you will take a few moments to distribute and complete the survey: https://www.research.net/r/EICSurvey2018. The survey will close on 16 July.

By Miguel Neves, CMP, Co-Chair of the Events Industry Council's Industry Insights Council

The events industry is global both by nature and by design. In our work to bring the world together, having a common understanding of the terminology used in different global settings is helpful for us in being able to activate the vision for our events. The Events Industry Council Glossary is used to help CMP candidates prepare for their exam, as course material for college and university programmes and as a useful resource for educating industry professionals about events-related terminology. Our vision for the glossary is for it to provide greater guidance on terminology that is used both regionally and globally.

The Events Industry Council is seeking engaged CMPs for volunteer leadership roles with the 2019 CMP Governance Commission. The deadline for nominations is Friday, 31 July 2018. Selected commission members serve three-year terms beginning 1 January 2019.

apply here

This exciting opportunity to give back to your profession will be an impressive addition to your resume!

In order to qualify, you must demonstrate:

• Leadership within the meetings and events profession.
• Ability to provide strategic direction to the CMP Programme.
• Ability to objectively represent the needs of the CMP Programme over the needs of the organization or industry sector the commission member represents.
• Willingness to become knowledgeable about CMP Programme policies and procedures as well as certification best practices through education provided by staff and certification experts.

CMP Conclave 2018 will take place 16–18 November in Birmingham, AL, USA We are planning a great educational programme, and Birmingham has many special things to enhance your stay.

To be in Birmingham is to be in the arms of the south, where the energy is palpable and a spirited nature is tempered by cosmopolitan charm. It’s to be in a place that’s as modern and contemporary as it is classically southern. Additionally, you'll experience something you won’t soon forget.

Watch the video to learn more about this vibrant, diverse city.

The call for proposals for CMP Conclave 2018 is open! The theme of this year’s conference – Contribute l Inspire l Elevate – reinforces Events Industry Council’s mission to enhance the knowledge and performance of event professionals. Events Industry Council certifies more than 11,000 CMPs in 50 countries. 400–450 of those CMPs will be joining us 16–18 November in Birmingham, AL, USA. CMP Conclave is the only exclusive meeting of CMPs in the industry and the people in that room execute some of the industry’s top events and experiences worldwide each year.

We are sourcing content for three distinct types of sessions this year. Please consider submitting one or more proposals and forward this along to your industry peers.

Breakout: These are 60-minute conference breakout sessions. We're looking for innovative content that challenges our CMPs to think differently.

EventX:These are thought-provoking 10-minute short talks given from the main stage. The CMP participants themselves chose the final presenters as we get closer to Conclave.

CMP Lab: The CMP Lab will be open throughout CMP Conclave. There will be unique experiential opportunities. They can be 10-minute micro-learning moments or 90-minute deep dives. Do you have a great idea that just doesn't "fit" into a traditional breakout? This format is for you!

#CMPConclave2018 is the only conference developed by and exclusively for CMPs. We hope you consider sharing your expertise with our group and submit a proposal before 31 July 2018.

Join us at Connect, 23-25 August, 2018 in Salt Lake City, UT, USA at the Salt Palace Convention Center. We'll be offering sessions in the Professional Development Lounge on how to obtain or renew your CMP and will present an update at the CMP/CMM Breakfast on Friday, 24 August. For more information, or to register, please visit: http://www.connectmarketplace.com/.

Join us at the NACE Experience Conference in Palm Springs on 22–25 July to obtain your Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC). We'll be offering the certificate programme as a pre-conference workshop on 21 July. The SEPC is eligible for eight hours of Continuing Education credits (CEs) towards CMP application or re-certification. Get more information and register today online!

If you meet these requirements, we invite you to apply for hosted buyer status at IMEX America in October.

• Complimentary admission to the Hall of Leaders and Pacesetters Awards Celebration at Jewel Nightclub at ARIA Resort & Casino
• Round-trip flights
• Hotel accommodations
• Airport transfers
• Access to hosted buyer lounge

Learn more about the hosted buyer programme and register here before space runs out. There is no charge to apply and no cancellation fee should your plans change later.

Toronto-based events and sustainability expert, Mariela McIlwraith, CMP, works to promote sustainable practices for meetings and events. As the director of industry advancement for the Events Industry Council, Mariela has helped create educational tools and resources that inspire environmentally conscious event planning and design. Recently, the Trade Show News Network (TSNN), interviewed Mariela to get more information on her environmental advocacy mission and her passion for events. Read the full story on their website.

Being a dynamic leader in a global economy is a key skill for those who want to enlarge their impact, influence positive results in a diverse world and inspire others to work efficiently, positively and productively – together – across borders. In my years of working internationally, living abroad and training global leaders to be their best, I’ve developed The Dynamic Leadership in a Global Economy skill sets for those doing work around the world.

To have success as a global leader, there are three leadership types and their core traits.

The Events Industry Council is proud to support CMPs all over the world. This month, we talked to Ainslie Lam, who just earned her CMP certification in May. Director of Catering and Convention Services at Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel and Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport Hotel, Ainslie shared her perspective on the CMP certification and the events industry below.

1. Can you tell us more about a personal career highlight?

   Working at the Wall Centre, I have the privilege to work on all different types of events and am able to be creative in what I do. For a past event during PCMA in Vancouver, we converted one of our ballrooms into a sports bar with lots of soft seating, bar tables and a circular bar with a "Build-Your-Own Caesar Cocktail" station (Canada’s version of a Bloody Mary). We also added TVs all around the room to broadcast an NFL game. The coolest events are the ones where I can convert a simple meeting room into a space that is unrecognizable, whether it is with floating candles, flowers or even simple drape.

2. Why did you earn your CMP?

   Earning my CMP was a goal and challenge that I set for myself this past year. I have been with the Wall Centre for a large portion of my career, and I feared that my meetings and events would become stagnant. I wanted a way to not only challenge myself, but also to learn a different perspective on executing and planning events.

3. What do you think is the biggest issue affecting the events and meetings industry today?

   I think the biggest challenge affecting the events and meetings industry is the meeting/event budget. There are a lot of different factors that affect a planner’s budget, such as fresh ingredients for the menus chosen, additional decor to add to a space or even audio-visual for the event. Meetings and events will continue to happen, but the planner, client and venue representative must be creative in ways to stay within the budget while also achieving a memorable and educational meeting or event.

Ainslie Lam is the director of catering and convention services at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel & Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport Hotel.

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!