The prestigious RISE award recognizes an MPI chapter or club for achievement in advancing the education and professional development of its members through innovative and creative programming. 

Generating sponsorship revenue can be one of the biggest challenges a chapter faces.  In 2017-2018, the MPI Southern California Chapter came up with a solution: an online advertising portal where vendors could instantly purchase advertising and sponsorship opportunities. “Throughout our industry, the pace of work is getting faster and faster,” says Kristin Twombly, CMP, president-elect for the chapter and a senior meeting planner with Capital Group. “We’re expected to do more and more with less and less time.”

The portal is a simple one-page site where potential sponsors can see all of the individual advertising opportunities available tp them. Options include dedicated email blasts, website, and social media ads. In the past these were marketed primarily in an advertising prospectus. In addition, the chapter was able to use its existing web technology to make the project happen.

“We started adding marketing opportunities directly into our registration, and got some good feedback on that,” Twombly says. “With the click of a button, you can purchase advertising opportunities.”

This tool, which is PCI compliant, is regularly audited for payment contributions The Southern California Chapter then created a campaign to market the ease of partnering and advertising with MPI SCC via the portal. Prior to the launch, most sponsors were local  Southern California based. Since it  the portal was launched, the chapter reported, there have been requests and visits from potential partners in other states throughout the US and in countries such as Canada, France, Poland, Russia and the UK. Revenue has in turn increased by 150 percent over the previous year, with the chapter generating an additional $18,750 in advertising.

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