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June 2015
In This Issue
Featured Article
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Many people are so busy in their day-to-day jobs that they have little time to reflect on the challenges or, as the optimist would say, the opportunities to establish themselves as the recognized leader within their industry. CMPs have already established themselves as leaders of the meetings industry. However, as long as an issue or problem remains indiscernible, it is guaranteed to remain unsolvable. We can never solve problems by making excuses. In fact, we cannot fix a problem that we refuse to acknowledge. Optimists often view problems as opportunities in disguise.
The issue we have to acknowledge and continue to work to solve is relevancy for meetings, the meeting professional and the meetings industry. We must be diligent in advocating the relevancy of meetings. And we have been. In the last few months, there have been events in North America that have raised awareness and educated leaders about the value and impact of meetings and the meetings industry.  On April 16, the Meetings Mean Business Coalition held the first North American Meetings Industry Day (NAMID) as a way to engage the grassroots community by showcasing the industry’s strength and demonstrating the tremendous value of face-to-face meetings. The Convention Industry Council was very instrumental in assisting and coordinating groups throughout North America that wished to hold events in support. Here is a brief recap: Participating countries hosted 88 events:
NAMID was covered extensively in the industry trade magazines, picked up by CNBC and garnered 3,283,043 total impressions of #NAMID15. By the end of the day on April 16th, #NAMID15 was trending in the top 10 on Twitter. The most recent advocacy event was the second annual Exhibitions Day, June 9th in Washington D.C. Efforts focused squarely on bringing members of the industry together to engage, as a single and cohesive voice, with U.S. Congressional leaders, keeping the following objectives in mind:
 Attendees met with members of Congress and their staff to address four primary topics:
The Exhibitions Day news releases were picked up by nearly 200 publications, resulting in more than 165 million impressions. Exhibitions Day garnered 4,170,656 total impressions of #ExhibitionsDay. These two events are shining examples of the advocacy power our industry can have when we work together and collaborate on events for the good of the entire industry. One might ask "How may I help?" "How can I stay informed?" Well, the answer is simple. The Convention Industry Council, along with Voices In Advocacy®, has a portal named CIC AdvocacyHub™ available for anyone in the industry to sign up for "Advocacy Updates." These updates are delivered via email when, and only when, the grassroots of the meetings industry need to be informed on current, relevant issues. Click here to join the CIC AdvocacyHub™ effort.  About Roger Rickard Roger is the guy organizations call when they need help with advocacy. As the founder of Voices in Advocacy® and author of "7 Actions of Highly Effective Advocates," Roger works with organizations by "Supporting Causes & Developing Advocates." Roger@VoicesInAdvocacy.com |
 The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Meetings Committee and the Convention Industry Council (CIC) APEX Workgroup (APEX) released today a new joint whitepaper, Improving eRFP Efficiency and Effectiveness for the Meetings Industry. The whitepaper combines findings from complimentary research conducted by the two groups in 2014 examining eRFP use, drivers and effects to provide recommendations for improving the eRFP process. GBTA conducted an online survey of 412 buyers, suppliers and third-party agencies in March of 2014 that looked at the impact of eRFPs on buyers, third parties and suppliers. CIC’s research included 20 interviews with individuals representing a cross section of planners who source locations for events and was conducted by Terri Breining (Breining Group) and Mariela McIlwraith (Meeting Change). Use of electronic Request for Proposals (eRFPs) to source hotels and venues has boomed in recent years. This joint whitepaper focuses on trends in eRFP use from the perspective of all constituencies involved in the sourcing process, including corporate/association buyers, hoteliers, third party buyers, meeting management companies, meeting technology companies and convention & visitor bureaus. While this has brought many benefits to the meetings industry, it also brings significant challenges due to the high volume of eRFPs issued, which are outlined in the whitepaper. "eRFPs are clearly a positive tool for the meetings industry, but there is no question that, in recent years, their rapidly growing use has created significant challenges," said Shimon Avish, GBTA Meetings Committee member and principal of Shimon Avish Consulting LLC. "We were pleased to work with CIC’s APEX Workgroup to create this whitepaper identifying the next steps to making the eRFP process more efficient and effective in an effort to continue to bolster the meetings industry." The whitepaper reveals several emerging best practices to reduce the number of eRFPs coming to market and increase satisfaction of all stakeholders involved in the process:
"We are grateful we could put together the work and conversations from two independent industry workgroups into one whitepaper which articulates our collective issues and opportunities," said Christine "Shimo" Shimasaki, CDME, CMP, chair of CIC’s APEX Workgroup on eRFP and managing director of DMAI’s empowerMINT.com. "Now the real work begins as we educate both buyers and sellers and strive towards more efficient processes." Industry professionals can find the whitepaper and additional resources on both the CIC website and the GBTA Hub. |
Chair's Corner
 Hello fellow CMPs!Did I get your attention, perhaps, with the mention of re-certification contact hours? The 2015 CMP Conclave is going to be absolutely fantastic, and you wouldn’t want to miss the only annual event that is exclusively for CMPs! There are multiple reasons to attend. Feel free to choose the best one(s) to meet your personal needs and objectives:
In addition to being educational, CIC has ensured that attending Conclave 2015 will be extremely affordable for each of us.
Never before has participation in Conclave and obtaining re-certification hours been so advantageous. I suggest that you register now and make sure that you are not left out! As you may recall, Conclave 2014 was sold out, and many CMPs were unable to attend. Register now and de-stress your CMP re-certification process by obtaining most of the re-certification contact hours you need within a few short days. I look forward to seeing you at the 2015 Conclave and introducing you to the new CMP Governance Commission members. With warm regards, Joanne 2015 Governance Commission Chair Save the Dates.....................September 26-28 2015 in Reno, Nevada and REGISTER Today!
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CMP Events
 The IMEX Hosted Buyer Programme is designed for meetings and events organisers just like you, bringing together your peers and your suppliers for three days of unrivaled innovation and inspiration, outstanding business and valuable networking. The 5th edition of IMEX America — the biggest meetings industry trade show in the U.S. — takes place on October 13-15 at the Sands Expo® in Las Vegas. This is still the only show to bring every sector of the global market together under one roof. If you host meetings outside of your host country, then you are personally invited to join the Convention Industry Council for a CMP-only Hosted Buyers group at IMEX America 2015! Qualified hosted buyers receive a wealth of VIP perks, including round-trip travel to Las Vegas, accommodations in a hand-picked partner hotel and ground transportation. At the show, hosted buyers recharge in the private Hosted Buyer Lounge and enjoy an array of personalized services. Learn more here. What is in it for you?
By joining CIC's Hosted Buyer Programme, you will receive
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 Not every city has the built-in appeal of major meeting destinations like Chicago or San Francisco. But competition for conference business is heating up as cities nationwide have invested heavily in the infrastructure necessary for top-notch meeting experiences. Why would you book your meeting in a place like Pittsburgh or Detroit or Reno? You might be surprised.RENO: GAME ON When Phyllis Castens Wiederhoeft, executive director of the Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE), was approached by a smaller association about meeting together in Reno, she says she was neutral. "I’m not sure I had any kind of impression of Reno, good or bad," she says. "Just that it was a small town. There wasn’t anything drawing us there — except the CVB." But that was enough. ALDE held its International Educational Conference at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in February for 450 attendees, and Wiederhoeft says it may very well return after rotations to other destinations. "It has a small-city feel with all the amenities and conveniences the group needed," she says. Plus, her concerns about a religious organization meeting in a gambling city were trumped by terrific room rates. Unlike other cities that are beefing up infrastructure, Reno already has eight resort hotels and impressive meeting facilities. The trick is convincing people that Reno has matured from the days when it was known as the divorce capital or gaming capital of North America. "When I got here three years ago, I said to my team, ‘We don’t have a product problem, we have a messaging problem,’" says Christopher Baum, president and CEO of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA). The old story: Reno was a tired gambling town. The new one: It’s a four-season resort town with a can-do business attitude. "We’ve always been an unusual destination," Baum says. Eight hours north of Las Vegas, with a high desert climate, 18 ski resorts, and wild horses, Reno has long had the capacity for meetings. But it hasn’t positioned itself that way until recently. Now, with a surge in business development — from a Tesla battery factory to a drone-testing site — restaurants, brewpubs and retailers are opening to accommodate workers filling 50,000 new jobs in the next five years. According to Baum, changing the story was far more important than adding hotel rooms. RSCVA has marketed aggressively through trade magazines and hired additional salespeople. "We’re big believers in PR," Baum says. Part of the message is reminding executives and planners that Tesla chose Reno for its new $5 billion lithium-ion battery factory. "When you beat out four other states and win the biggest construction factory job in North America, you get a lot of attention," he says. The Reno-Tahoe International Airport once again has direct, international flights, and a nonstop flight to New York’s JFK began in May. Reno offers resorts with free parking and free airport shuttles; a burgeoning local food movement; and an art scene influenced by Native Americans, Western culture and the Burning Man festival. "When you say ‘Reno’ to an association executive now, you don’t get a blank look," Baum says, noting that 60 percent of the city’s meetings are new business. And the rates, which Baum says are "crazy affordable," are appealing. "People who were not willing to talk to us before are doing so now." This story originally appeared in the article "Meeting Destinations: Expect the Unexpected," in the May/June 2015 issue of Associations Now. Reprinted with permission. Copyright, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, June 2015, Washington, D.C. |
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1. CMP Conclave 2015 to be a Game-Changing Event! 2. NEW just added – Key Thought Leader  CMP Conclave 2015 brings top-rated industry leaders who will provide one-of-a-kind transformational education that you need to stay on top! Keynote speaker Marilyn Sherman will present a highly anticipated session on Front Row Leadership — be prepared to leave this session CHANGED! We are where we are because of the CHOICES we've made. It takes courage to look at where we are versus where we want to be. When you engage in the process of improving yourself and engage more positively with your team, you will start to exceed your previous performance, exceed your customer's expectations and succeed more than ever before. You will soon evolve into a position to help lead OTHERS to their front-row. THAT’S Front-Row Leadership. Learn more about Marilyn Sherman.3. NEW – Virtual Education Package offers additional CE Credits for CMPs Looking for additional CEs? For the first time, CMP Conclave will offer an exciting, additional opportunity to earn education credits toward your CMP re-certification just by attending CMP Conclave. Provided through a special partnership with Multiview, a full-service digital publisher, all CMP Conclave educational sessions (16) will be recorded and offered for post-event CE credits. How does this work? Purchase a "Multiview Education Package" that includes 24/7 access to session recordings presented during Conclave. Watch the videos after the event and take an online assessment review test for each workshop. Earn up to 15 additional continuing education credits toward your CMP re-certification. Learn More . . . 4. CMP Conclave Session Topics Include More Than 20 Cutting-Edge Programs Visit our website for more information on special sessions and events requiring pre-registration, schedule-at-a-glance and key thought leader presentations. Note: hotel accommodations are selling out fast. Book your reservations TODAY! The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is the premier meeting and convention space in Reno Tahoe and the host of CMP Conclave 2015. There is a special city-wide event in Reno from September 24-27, and hotel rooms will sell out. If you plan to attend CMP Conclave, you are highly encouraged to act now to both register and book your hotel accommodations. 5. North Lake Tahoe Destination Tour Learn More . . . |
 The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program is celebrating 30 years of achievement, professional development, growth and distinction in 2015! As part of the 30th anniversary, CIC is celebrating with the first peer-selected recognition program driven primarily on social media. Earlier this year, we asked you 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 your career or on the profession and who deserves recognition for their influence and contributions to the industry.We received over 70 individual nominations, and now we need your vote to help narrow down the list to the Top #CMP30 Influencers! Polls are now open! And your vote counts! Select the CMP you want to see recognized this September during the CMP Conclave on September 26-28, in Reno Tahoe, Nevada. Final winners will be selected based on the number of Facebook poll votes, personal influence on peer(s) and community/leadership presence. |
CMP Program News
APEX - Standards and Best Practices
 Sustainable Planning – Dos and Don'ts Look to the standards on: Which Standards to Use Don’t be confused by the nine APEX standards divided into planner and supplier requirements. Do make sure that you select the correct standards for your role as a planner or supplier and your area of performance. The standards can be accessed HERE. If you read the standards, you’ll know what is expected, so you can convene sustainable meetings and events that meet industry standards. CIC is making it easier: If you are not sure which standards to use, just use the SMPP® online system found HERE. Use the CIC50 discount code to register. If you have a question on the Dos and Don'ts according to the standards, send it through the Contact Us form at www.SustainableMeetingPlanner.com. |
Industry News
 In the June issue of Convene magazine, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) revealed the results of its annual salary survey, which shed additional light onto growing trends in the industry, particularly around growth and salary.Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked the meeting, convention and event planner role as its pick for the No.12 best business job in 2015 and one of the 100 best jobs overall. The industry is ripe for growth, with the U.S. noting planner as one of the fastest-growing on the list. "The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects meeting, convention and event planner employment growth of 33.2 percent between 2012 and 2022, adding more than 31,000 jobs." Event planner also made the recent CareerCast list of best jobs for women in 2015, which also indicated a 33 percent growth outlook. Data from PCMA’s Annual Salary Survey suggests that the increase in the number of jobs available in the industry have been accompanied by salary increases for meetings and event professionals. The percentage of planners participating in the survey who received raises has steadily increased each year, with 79 percent of planners reporting a salary increase in 2015, up 2 percent from 2014. PCMA also noted that, with increases in salary, 58 percent of planners are reporting working 41-50 hours per week, an increase from last year. PCMA results show that, in 2015, the average salary for meeting professionals increased about 6 percent to $80,794, up from $75,882 in 2014. The average salary for a professional with a CMP was $85,793, about $10,000 more than those who have not earned the designation, whose average salary was $75,265. "This survey helps illustrate the impact events have in the U.S. and emphasizes the positive growth trend overall, further highlighting the fact that certification continues to prove its value in a competitive marketplace," said Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, Convention Industry Council’s chief executive officer. Earning professional credentials matter, according to the survey. Nearly nine-tenths (88 percent) of respondents to PCMA this year indicated that they have earned the CMP designation, 6 percent have earned their CAE (Certified Association Executive) and 3 percent have earned a CMM (Certification in Meeting Management). In March of 2015, 340 meeting professionals participated in the PCMA survey, 98 percent of whom work in North America. The survey was conducted by Lewis&Clark and sponsored by DMAI’s empowerMINT.com. To see the full results of the survey, please visit the PCMA website. The survey appears in the June 2015 issue of PCMA’s Convene magazine. |
CMPs in the News
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Meet the 2015 Changemakers!
Mike Shea, Executive Director — South by Southwest Judy Anderson, CMP, Director, Meetings & Travel — GameStop Amanda Batstone, Senior Program Manager CBI — UBM Life Sciences Michelle Bergstein-Fontanez, Marketing Maven/Owner — Event Industry Marketing by BeatCreative Gregory J. Butler, Director Global Supply Chain Stewardship — Becton Dickinson ?Padraic Gilligan & Patrick Delaney, Managing Partners — SoolNua Dahlia El Gazzar, Co-founder — The Meeting Pool Aynn Furie, Senior Director Global Meetings Category — Pfizer Sherri Lindenberg, CLU Senior Vice President Marketing & Events — Crump Life Insurance Services Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE President and CEO — Association Forum of Chicagoland Mariela McIlwraith, CMP, CMM, MBA President — Meeting Change Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, & Nan Marchand Beauvois — Meetings Mean Business Coalition Kimberly Meyer & Peter Matthews, Co-founders — Meetings Analytics Katrina Ruff, CMP, CIS Owner and Senior Vice President — Business Development Forums Meetings & Events Joe Scully, Senior Director Meeting & Event Management — John Hancock Julie Taylor, Director Education and Training — California Water Environment Association Elizabeth Warwick, Vice President Meeting Management and Event Strategy — Liberty Mutual Heidi Welker, Vice President Marketing — Freeman Audio Visual Canada Congratulations, CMPs! Changemaker: Judy Anderson, CMP For being a creative and daring planner focused on engagement for the Millennial attendee Judy Anderson, CMP, Director Meetings & Travel — GameStop Making Change: GameStop’s biggest annual meeting brings 4,500 store managers together every August for training, an expo and motivation around upcoming game releases. With a stagnant budget and a Millennial demographic — most store managers are 23 to 26 years old, and about 75 percent are men — I’ve had to find ways to create engagement on a shoestring. Changemaker: Mariela McIlwraith, CMP, CMM — MBA For bringing her passion for sustainability and fundamental human issues to every aspect of the meetings industry and for using that passion to educate others through her writing and volunteer efforts Mariela McIlwraith, CMP, CMM, MBA President — Meeting Change Making Change: I chose my company’s name, Meeting Change, because of a focus on changing meetings to make them even more effective. Changemaker: Meetings Mean Business For launching the North American Meetings Industry Day as part of its ongoing advocacy efforts Making Change: Leaders from across the meetings and events industry are working together to showcase the value of in-person meetings, conventions, incentive travel programs and exhibitions. The Meetings Mean Business campaign offers an advocacy platform for their work and has helped to change the way legislators, corporate executives and the public see the role of meetings in driving business success and sustaining economic growth. The coalition that represents and advocates for the meetings and business travel industry this year held the first North American Meetings Industry Day, co-coordinated by Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, CEO of Convention Industry Council and Nan Marchand Beauvois, Vice President of U.S. Travel and Managing Director for the Meetings Mean Business coalition. Changemaker: Katrina Ruff, CMP, CIS For being a spirited entrepreneur and mentor with a social conscience Katrina Ruff, CMP, CIS Owner and Senior Vice President — Business Development Forums Meetings & Events Making Change: I ask all who I encounter, "If you could do something tomorrow for free, what would you do?" The answer typically leads them to their true passion. By leading people to their most authentic selves via mentoring and support, the face of business and the world at large can change for the better. To see full profiles, click here. |
CMP on the Road
 The Convention Industry Council’s CMP Preferred Provider Program launched in February 2015. Since the launch, we have added over 68 Preferred Providers who offer quality continuing education for CMPs. CMP Preferred Providers are organizations that have formally registered with CIC and are committed to providing education that aligns with one of the 10 domains included in the CMP International Standards (CMP-IS). The CMP-IS domains are: strategic planning, project management, risk management, financial management, human resources, stakeholder management, meeting or event design, site management, marketing and professionalism. Preferred Provider education makes it easy to find and complete the educational requirements of the CMP Program and have your attendance recorded in your portal record. You can find a listing of educational opportunities on our website. |
On The Move
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Tim Barrett is now Catering Sales Manager for Bold American Events in Atlanta, GA. Jim Cacabelos, CMP, CGMP, is now Regional Sales Manager for Pineapple Hospitality. Kristin Hosie, CMP, is now Field Marketing Manager - Canada at VMware. Jessica Horst, CMP, is now the Operations Manager, Event Operations & Services - North America for UBM LLC in San Francisco, CA. Cheryl Lancaster, CMP, CMM, former Corporate Meeting Manager with Toyota Motor Sales, is now President of Cloud 9 Meetings. Beth A. McDaniels, CMP, is now Corporate & Convention Sales Manager for the Grand Ole Opry Entertainment Group. Renée Siuta, CMP, has been promoted to Director of Customer Experience, providing leadership for the development and implementation of a comprehensive service quality program across Freeman Audio Visual, Inc., Alford Media Services, Inc. and Stage Rigging. Made 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 in to www.conventionindustry.org and update your official CMP record. |
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