By Barbara Connell, CMP, CAE | Chair of the CMP Governance Commission
This year, Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) had a very significant meaning.
I find this day is always a great reminder and celebration of what we do as meeting and event planners, but in the face of a global pandemic it had an added importance to it. The Events Industry Council, along with several partner organisations, put on a series of live webinars and Twitter chats covering a wide variety of topics (if you'd like to see these videos, they are available on the Event Industry Council's YouTube channel). These virtual events served as an opportunity for us to not only educate, but also to bring people together over common concerns and interests.
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At this important moment in time for our industry, we are being called to redefine our relationships with each other and to redefine how we deliver business value. In addition to the global financial impact that our industry makes, we also support communities and create environments for innovation. All of this work is deeply rooted in powerful connections we all make in our global events network.
In this GMID session, moderated by Events Industry Council CEO Amy Calvert, industry leaders shared personal reflections and talked about the future for our industry. Calvert opened the discussion by inviting the panelists to look at the significance of this current challenge and consider new ways to unite as an industry and to think about adaptation and transformation.
We unfortunately need to announce that Prometric, the official testing center for the Events Industry Council and the CMP exam, has canceled the CMP exam scheduled for May in the United States and Canada, due to COVID-19. We know this is a major disappointment to our candidates, and we share that disappointment.
Impacted candidates have been contacted directly and offered the opportunity to reschedule during the August 2020 CMP exam window. Anyone looking to confirm the operation status of a testing center outside of the United States or Canada can do so at https://www.prometric.com/closures.
EIC, working with the CMP Commission, will quickly consider ways that we may provide support and offer resources between now and the next scheduled exam. Our team is ready to work with impacted candidates. You can reach us at certification@eventscouncil.org or +1 202 367 1190.
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We know that the effects of COVID-19 will be ongoing for the near future, and its impact on our global community continues. We know that many people will need to make adjustments to support their families as well as their professional roles and businesses. EIC wants to support our CMP community and in particularly those most affected.
We are offering an extension to CMPs who had renewal deadlines of 31 December 2019. The amnesty period will be valid through 31 May 2020.
You may reinstate your CMP during this time without retaking the exam. EIC is offering additional CE opportunities through the EIC Knowledge Hub, which you may access at www.eventscouncil.org/knowledgehub.
EIC has also created a resource center sharing factual and timely resources on our website at www.eventscouncil.org/coronavirus as the situation evolves day-to-day. If you need additional continuing education credits, we have posted additional hours of free CE credits about coronavirus that are available at www.eventscouncil.org/coronavirus.
To reinstate your CMP, follow the steps noted below by 31 May 2020.
- Go online to www.eventscouncil.org and log in (button in top right corner) using the email address on file with the Events Industry Council.
- Click the "recertify" link in the CMP Certification box
- Enter the required continuing education hours or verify/claim those that may have been pre-populated into your account by attending Preferred Provider programmes. Upload a copy of your current CV demonstrating that you have been working for at least three of the last five years in the industry, and enter your work experience in the online grid.
- Process the recertification application fee of $375 USD.
The EIC team will review your application and send an update within a few weeks. If you have questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to Kat and Sarah at certification@eventscouncil.org.
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Looking for readily available options to advance your professional development and earn CEs? Drop into the Events Industry Council Knowledge Hub. This educational catalogue houses more than 100 products for CMPs and prospective CMPs to use, which includes CMP Conclave recordings, webinars and CE quizzes. It's easier than ever to enhance your knowledge from the comfort of your own home.
The hub is connected to your regular EIC website login, and can be accessed on any device with an internet connection.
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The new standards, launched in September 2019, are a central initiative of EIC's Centre for Sustainable Events. Formerly the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards, the EIC Sustainable Event Standards maintain the same level of rigour while improving their ease of use and adoptability.
"Accelerating the adoption of responsible environmental and social practices in the events industry is a top priority," said Amy Calvert, CEO of the Events Industry Council, the global federation of more than 30 organisations that led the development of the standards. "Against the backdrop of Earth Day and in anticipation of our industry playing a leading role in the recovery of our global economy, we are honoured to share these standards and recognise the organisations that are leading the way."
Greater emphasis has been placed on regional relevance, social justice, accessibility and diversity and inclusion. The standards were released with a one-year provisional status to allow for additional input from early adopters. More than 100 of the industry's leading practitioners, including representation from 15 countries, contributed to the development of the new standards.
The standards include seven assessment categories in core sectors of the events industry related to sustainability in the areas of environmental and social responsibility. They collectively establish the framework that event organisers and suppliers should follow when incorporating sustainability initiatives at their events and in their operations.
In addition to this overarching structure, event organisers and suppliers are assessed on sector-specific criteria. As such, events and suppliers are recognised separately according to their achievement of these criteria.
The events that have achieved the standard are, by level:
- Informa Connect's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, 19-22 Nov., Atlanta, Ga., USA (PLATINUM Level)
- Informa Markets' Natural Products Expo East, 11-14 Sept., Baltimore, Md., USA (PLATINUM Level)
- IACC Europe Knowledge Festival, 4-6 Oct., Brussels, Belgium (GOLD Level)
- Informa Markets' ArchitectureBoston Expo (ABX), 6-7 Nov., Boston, Mass., USA (SILVER Level)
Suppliers that have achieved the standards are, by level:
- Javits Center and Cultivated, New York City, NY, USA (PLATINUM Level)
- Marina Bay Sands, Singapore (GOLD Level)
- Salt Lake Green Team Partnership
- Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA (GOLD Level)
- Utah Food Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA (GOLD Level)
- PSAV at the Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center, Salt Lake City and Sandy, Utah, USA (SILVER Level)
- Visit Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA (SILVER Level)
- Mountain America Expo Center, Sandy, Utah, USA (BRONZE Level)
"The Events Industry Council congratulates the first organisations to achieve the EIC Sustainable Event Standards," said Calvert. "They demonstrate a strong commitment to the environmentally and socially responsible practices that are needed to support long-term sustainability in our industry."
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Planning for CMP Conclave, 21-23 October 2020, is underway. While we continue to work out the details of our event format, we need your 20/20 insight and vision and invite you to submit a speaker proposal.
As a Conclave speaker, you have the opportunity share your knowledge, skill and expertise in this unique, all-CMP event. Whether you want to lead a session that offers discussion and collaboration, or you want to inspire, this is the CMP stage for you. Now more than ever, at a time when our community wants to come together, your contributions matter.
Here's what you need to know
We're looking for unique and inventive content presented during 60-minute breakout sessions that challenges CMPs to think differently. Your proposal must align with of the nine domains found in the CMP International Standards. We also ask that your proposal accommodate a virtual or in-person format.
Here are some topics to get your creative thoughts flowing:
- Leadership: by example, in action, up and down the chain of command.
- Professional development: mentoring, empowerment of meeting planners, using your CMP to its full potential.
- Future trends: COVID-19 recovery, sustainability, inclusion and diversity, healthcare, food and beverage trends, technology.
- Business management: contracting, sourcing/working with suppliers, budget management, GDPR, marketing and social media, strategic planning, video conferencing, RFPs.
- Logistics: learning styles/environmental design, ADA compliance, wireless, crisis planning, production, safety and security.
Your presentation will be peer reviewed. It will be evaluated based on content, session design and creativity, relevance to the industry, your expertise and the clarity of description of your presentation.
More information will come regarding this year's Conclave. What's most important now is that you answer the Conclave 20/20 call by submitting your proposal by 5 June 2020 at 11:59 a.m. ET/GMT-04:00.
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Vanessa LaClair, CMP, CAE, recently sat down with Associations Now to discuss her journey to becoming the executive director of the Empire State Society of Association Executives.
“For me, it has always been about the value of connections and keeping members engaged by remaining relevant to them and their ever-changing needs,” said LaClair .
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The economic impact of the events industry is significant. On a total GDP basis, the global events industry is as large as the 13th largest global economy. Based on business sales, the business events sector is larger than consumer electronics and computers, and office equipment.
- 1.5 billion people worldwide participate in business events annually
- $2.5 trillion (USD) in direct and indirect spending as a result of business events
- $1.5 trillion (USD) in global GDP contribution
- 26 million people have direct or indirect jobs in this industry
- $704 (USD) average spending by business events participants
We have created new fact sheets by region to help our industry professionals showcase our economic impact in: Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East, North America and Western Europe.
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We are a global community representing a rich and diverse fabric of talented and dedicated professionals. As our industry works through the realities and impact of COVID-19, we have many valuable tools and educational resources to reference.
EIC's member organizations, as well as companies around the world, are working together to share information, spark new ideas and offer support. This is the time to support one another and to live our purpose. In that spirit, EIC has gathered resources and tools from various sources and centralized them into a COVID-19 resource centre. We will monitor for new information and update the site weekly. If you have information to share, please contact us.
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