My sincere congratulations to the New Governance Commission, and thanks to the many CMPs who have dedicated time in the past to further and promote the CMP designation.

The new CMP Governance Commission has been selected and will be holding our first meeting in a few short weeks. We congratulate all who have been chosen to serve on the Commission and have committed time to work toward the common goal of ensuring that the CMP Program’s policies are developed and maintained in accordance with best practices in professional certifications and designations. The members of the Commission will represent CMPs, as well as the needs of meeting professionals seeking to obtain their CMP designation.

I also would like to extend my thanks to the members of the Nominating Committee who spent numerous hours in reviewing credentials, interviewing candidates and selecting the first Commission. For those who applied and were not chosen this time, we thank you for your interest in serving on the CMP Governance Commission and hope that you will consider applying for this prestigious group again in the future. 

2015 represents the year of change for the CMP governance structure. We have gone through a period of evolution and been given new structural definition and responsibilities. The CMP Board, which was in existence until end of 2014, was a fine group of professionals who worked together, in some cases, for many years. To all of you who served with me on the Board, and to everyone who served before I joined the Board, I would like to extend my sincere thanks for the time you dedicated to furthering our CMP designation. I am personally proud to have served with all of you and privileged to have had the opportunity to learn from you and share your expertise in many areas. 

As we cast our eyes to the future of the CMP program, I am honored to be at the juncture of the former Board and the new Commission. Let’s all dedicate some time to promote the CMP program in our geographic areas, our organizations and among our peers. 

With warm regards,

Joanne 

 

The Convention Industry Council invites all Certified Meeting Professionals to register for the only yearly networking and educational event just for CMPs! Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge, build relationships and partner with other meeting professionals. Register now to attend the 2015 CMP Conclave, September 26-28, 2015 in Reno, Nevada!

 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program, and the Convention Industry Council (CIC) is celebrating with the first peer-selected recognition program, driven primarily on social media. Launching today, industry professionals are encouraged to use Facebook and Twitter to nominate a "CMP Influencer," a CMP-certified mentor, colleague or peer who has had a personal, lasting impact on their career and on the profession.

"This awards program is different," said Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP and CEO of the Convention Industry Council. "This isn’t about a successful career; it’s about the people who got you there. Which mentor, colleague or leadership figure has dramatically influenced or inspired your professional journey? It’s time we thank those individuals and celebrate the people, not just the program."

The criteria are simple. Nominate a CMP who has influenced your career or the industry. Who is your most respected mentor? Who has made a personal and long-lasting impact on your career or the industry? Who do you aspire to be? Nominate that person as a #CMP30 Influencer!

Nominations will be accepted now until May 22, 2015 via social media. Post the nomination to the CMP 30th Anniversary Facebook Event Page or the CMP Twitter account using  the phrase, "I nominate (insert full name) from (insert organization) as a #CMP30 Influencer." Include the hashtag #CMP30 and a few reasons why the person should be nominated, if space permits. Nominations are open to the public; however, only nominees who have obtained and are current with their CMP designation will be eligible for consideration as one of the top 30 CMP Influencers. If you would like to verify someone’s CMP status prior to nomination, please consult the CMP Directory. 

Once the public nomination window closes, the 30 CMP Influencers will be selected during a two-part process. Nominations will be aggregated and tallied via Facebook poll votes during the month of June, after which a committee will meet to select the final winners based on the number of Facebook poll votes, personal influence on peer(s) and community/leadership presence.

The #CMP30 Influencers will be announced in July of 2015 and will be honored with a special reception at the upcoming CMP Conclave, September 26-28, 2015, in Reno, Nevada.

To learn more, visit http://www.conventionindustry.org/CalendarEvents/CMPConclave/Conclave2015.aspx.

 

Why do I need to recertify my CMP?
Having the CMP after your name tells people you have mastered the knowledge needed to be a successful meeting professional. These initials also tell your colleagues and customers that you have pledged to stay current in the meetings industry by recertifying this knowledge every five years. 

How has the CMP Program changed?
CIC’s new online portal allows you to record continuing education activities as you complete them. Then, when it’s time to recertify you can apply online! No more stuffing file folders with registration receipts and conference programs. If you haven’t done so already, simply log into  your online account by clicking the "login" button on the CIC homepage. Your user name is the email address CIC has on file. For complete information about your online profile, click here.

If you achieved or recertified your CMP prior to 2011, there are a few changes you should be aware of.

What you may remember as the "Blueprint" is now the "CMP International Standards (CMP-IS)." The CMP-IS is comprised of 10 domains. These domains identify the subject matter expertise you should have as a CMP; therefore the learning objectives of all of your continuing education activities must be aligned with one of these domains.

The recertification requirements have changed too. You no longer need a certain amount of points in various activities. Now you have three options:

1. 25 continuing education (CE) clock hours in activities related to one of the 10 domains in the CMP International Standards, OR 
2. 15 CEs plus three industry-related activities
3. An industry-related bachelor’s degree or higher from a college or university 

All activities must have taken place within your five-year certification cycle.

In addition, you must demonstrate that you have been employed as a meeting professional for 36 months in the past five years.

How do I align my continuing education activities with the CMP International Standards?
Download a PDF of the CMP-IS by clicking here. Often a session’s content will align with more than one of the 10 domains, but you only have to report one.

Do I have to report CEs for each of the 10 domains in the Standards?
No. You should select CEs for the domains in which you have the least experience or for those domains in which you want to expand your knowledge. 

Where can I find CE activities?
This year, CIC launched the new CMP Preferred Provider Program. Organizations that participate have their continuing education activities pre-reviewed by CIC. Attendees who attend sessions that CIC has approved for CMP credit will have their attendance automatically loaded into their online profiles (your email address must match the one you provided both CIC and the host organization). CIC also lists pre-approved activities on the searchable Preferred Provider Directory, which lists the program’s details such as date, time, location and how many CMP CEs attendees can earn.

Should I only attend activities that are listed in the Preferred Provider Directory?
No, as long as an activity’s learning objectives align with the CMP-IS, it will count for recertification credit; however, you will have to enter each session you attend in your online profile and provide the necessary details.

Can CIC review the sessions I’ve attended to see if they will be approved for credit?
CIC is not able to pre-review individual activities you’ve attended prior to submitting your recertification application. 

Do webinars or online courses count?
Yes, as long as you can align the learning objectives with one of the 10 domains, it will be approved for credit.

Can I use classes from a college course I attended?
Yes, as long as you can align the learning objectives with one of the 10 domains, it will be approved for credit. Remember that activities must be meeting industry-related. So, for instance, a class on general marketing theories would not count for credit but a course on marketing a conference or event would.

Does a degree in Communications (or Marketing, Public Relations, Business, etc.) count for Option 2 of Section I – Professional Experience?
Your higher education degree must be industry-specific to count for CMP recertification.

How long does it take to have my recertification application reviewed and approved?
Please allow 6-8 weeks.

I’ve been on my job and in the industry for 20 plus years, do I still have to complete the recertification application?
To remain a CMP, you must recertify every five years. Those who are retired, however, may request Emeritus status. Emeritus status is an honorary status CIC bestows on those who have been actively certified and then retire from the field. For information, please click here. 

My certificate expired in 2011, can I still recertify?
No. You must recertify every five years. In fact, CIC gives you a one-year grace period to submit your application after your end date has passed. After your grace period ends, however, you must take and pass the exam to be CMP certified.

For complete information on recertifying your CMP, please download the CMP Recertification Handbook here.

 

1. The continuing education (CE) activity is a personal, not professional, development. Common examples of these sessions include: How to Minimize Stress in Your Life, How to Network, Dressing for Success, and Personal Branding Tips.
2. The session does not align with one of the 10 domains in the CMP International Standards (CMP-IS). Make sure you are familiar with the knowledge and skills outlined in the CMP-IS before you submit your activity.
3. The activity took place outside your five-year certification cycle. All CMP CEs must take place in your certification cycle. Although you can still submit your recertification application when you are in lapsed status, your application can only include CEs that were attended during your five-year cycle.
4. Not enough information was provided to align the activity with the CMP-IS. Titles of sessions often don’t provide enough information for CIC’s application reviewers to know whether the activity relates to the CMP-IS. When in doubt, provide back-up information to prove the continuing education activity aligns with one of the 10 domains.
5. The higher education degree is not industry-specific. Degrees in Hospitality, Meeting Planning, and Tourism will count for CMP credit. Degrees in Communication, Marketing or Business will not count for credit.

 

IMEX is the meetings industry's annual show in Frankfurt, where thousands of international event planners gather to discuss and do business with destinations, hotels, airlines and suppliers. 

Doing business at the show will get you weeks ahead of schedule: Book appointments with venues and suppliers before you arrive and your event-planning needs will be achieved in record time.

Innovation: IMEX is always evolving so you’ll find brand-new ideas, exhibitors, educational sessions and networking programmes. The latest trends and thousands of meeting professionals are all under one roof.

If you’re in the meetings industry, this is the show for you.

Register Now for IMEX 2015

CIC will also be exhibiting at IMEX (Stand A80) where we will also be featuring a CMP Lounge, an area set up for CMPs to come and have a drink of water or to relax on the show floor. This year, CIC is also hosting its first Hosted Buyers Group! Join CIC for these four educational sessions: 

Tuesday, May 19
11:30-12:00 CMP: Becoming a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)

The CMP certification is recognized throughout the world as the measurement of a highly skilled and knowledgeable meeting professional. In this session, you will learn why this certification could help you, who is eligible, the application requirements and the CMP Program’s policies and procedures.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the 10 International Standards of the certification
2. Why this certification can help you in your career 
3. All requirements need to apply or recertify

 Presenter: Gayle Dahlman, Director, Certification Convention Industry Council 

14:30-15:00 Room Block Poaching: Strategies for Protecting Your Events

Room block management is a key issue for meeting professionals. One of the rising risks of underperformance and attrition comes from businesses that actively seek to recruit or divert event attendees away from official room blocks and into their hotel bookings. These businesses use a range of techniques to approach attendees and obtain their business. The Convention Industry Council’s APEX initiative is developing best practices, tools, and resources to aid meeting professionals in managing and protecting room blocks against poaching activity. Attend this session to learn more!

Learning Outcomes

1. Learn what research tells us about the scope and impacts of poaching activity.
2. Identify key strategies for protecting room blocks from 'poaching'.
3. Improve your room block performance.

Presenters: Michael Owen, EventGenuity LLC and Chair of CIC’s APEX Committee, Kasey Connors, Director of Programs and Services, Convention Industry Council 


Wednesday, May 20
11:30-12:00 CMP: Becoming a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) (repeat) 

14:30-15:00 High Speed Internet  and Events: Understanding it all

At some point in every event planning process, there is a conversation regarding internet access. Given the pace of technological change and consumer usage patterns, the concern is whether either side has sufficient knowledge to ask the right questions and achieve desired outcomes. Nearly everyone in the meetings industry understands the importance of event history and accurately projecting attendance, F&B needs, etc. But many, whether in the supplier or the planner camp, don’t understand High Speed Internet Access (HSIA), how much bandwidth events use, how it is being used, and whether the services sold are actually being delivered. 

Learning Outcomes

1. Enhance your knowledge of how personal technology and high speed internet are impacting all areas of events.
2. Engage in discussions about internet access needs.
3. Expand attendee/delegate satisfaction.

Presenter: Michael Owen, EventGenuity LLC 


Thursday, May 21
11:30 – 12:00 Meetings Advocacy 
Mexico, Canada and the U.S. joined together to host the first North American Meetings Day on April 16, 2015. The combined partnership was to promote the industry’s role in driving business success as well as to illustrate the impact the industry has on businesses, economies and communities. Meetings industry organizations and chapters from all over North America held events to recognize and celebrate the day, making a powerful statement on value of the global meetings industry. Find out how the combined efforts generated buzz and how you can adapt for your region.  

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify ways you can bring back this idea to your country or local community
2. Understand the combined impact of the meetings industry
3. Gain resources to use for your own events

Presenter: Karen Kotowski, CEO, Convention Industry Council 

 

Sustainable Planning – Don’ts and Dos – 
Look to the standards on: Carbon Off-Setting


Don’t worry too much about carbon off-setting. Carbon off-setting, when managed responsibly, can be a good thing, but it can also be problematic due to issues beyond the planner’s control. Planners have enough to do, but if you have a good program in place, by all means keep it. Carbon off-setting is not required by the standards.

Do make sure that you manage everything directly under your control and influence to the best of your ability. The sustainability standards explain your responsibilities and can be accessed at www.conventionindustry.org/StandardsPractices/APEXASTM/GettingAPEXASTM.aspx. If you read the standards, you’ll know what is expected, so you can manage sustainably that which you control and influence, to meet industry standards.  

CIC making it easier:  If you don’t have the time to create a management system to meet the standards, use the SMPP® found at www.SustainableMeetingPlanner.com. Use the CIC50 discount code to register.

 

If you have a question on the Don’ts and Dos according to the standards, send it through the Contact Us form at www.SustainableMeetingPlanner.com. 

 

 

Mary Pat Cornett, CAE, CMP, is now Vice President of Meetings & International Affairs for the American Society for Nutrition.

Maria R. Davis, CMP, is now Director, Meetings and Partner Relations for Missouri REALTORS® in Columbia, MO.

Alison Huber, CMP, CSEE, is now an Account Manager at MDS Association Management.

Matthew Stone, PhD, CMP, is now Assistant Professor at California State University, Chico.

Vince Waddill, CMP, CTA, is now the Director of Event Planning at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. 

Jenn Wheaton, CMP, is now Program & Events Manager for the California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns.

Make an awesome career move? Let us help you celebrate! Send the details of your latest career triumph to cmptoday@conventionindustry.org. And while you're at it, be sure to log into www.conventionindustry.org and update your official CMP record.