MPI Golden State Collaborative Recap by Karly Watson

The day began with opening remarks from Meeting Planners International (MPI) President and CEO Paul Van Deventer. He gave an overview of the steps MPI has been taking throughout the pandemic to support its membership base, as well as the industry overall. He also noted that as we make progress toward reopening, there would continue to be a heavy focus on wellness and duty of care to ensure the safety of our customers, attendees and teams.

The general session featured destination executives from San Diego, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Francisco in a panel discussion moderated by Destinations International President and CEO Don Welshof. This candid discussion addressed how each location has been facing challenges in their markets due to COVID-19, and strategies and protocols that have been implemented to be able to move forward. We learned about the GBAC Star Facility Accreditation, which is the new certification to ensure that venues throughout the state and across the globe meet and maintain health and safety standards. California currently has 13 locations that have gone through GBAC Star to date. In addition, the Convention Coalition, which encompasses several leaders, venues and partners throughout the California, has been working closely with state and local governments so that public policy reflects the practices that will be necessary to return safely to the meetings industry and vice versa. Throughout the conversation, there was a clear message, not only about the importance of in-person events to the economy and community, but also a message of the need for collaboration and support to move out of this challenging time.

Following the general session, attendees broke into smaller groups for five in-depth sessions that covered contracts & legal issues, career development, catering, diversity, equity & inclusion and digital & hybrid events. Topics were geared toward the current climate and the smaller breakout groups allowed for some great discussion.

While the event was extremely informative, organizers also made sure we had some time for fun. Pixalated provided a virtual photo booth for guests to take advantage of during breaks. Photos were available via a link during and after the event. Finally, to wrap up the day, each chapter wound down with an exciting and interactive Happy Hour. Attendees were welcome to enjoy the beverage or snack of their choice and mingle with colleagues – there was even a game thrown into the mix for competitive edge!

Overall, the Golden State Collaborative was a great success. The content was both relevant and engaging, and it seemed to be a positive experience all around. This feat could not have been accomplished, of course, without support from each of the California Chapters as well as each of the event sponsors.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS