Only three more days left to register for the Toronto Education Conference, taking place June 16-18, 2013, at the Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, Ontario. Register now for a phenomenal three days of learning for planners and suppliers, networking and fun!

We have some amazing speakers, including returning favorite Shawna Suckow, who will present on "eRFP – Stopping the Madness." Cher Jones will show event planners how to use Pinterest to plan and promote their events, and Jill Harrington will help suppliers get their sales presentations out of a rut. Not only will this education make you a superstar at your job, but you also can earn credit hours towards your CMP certification or re-certification.

Don’t let transportation get in the way! If you require transportation to Collingwood, or if you are able to assist your fellow MPI members in getting to Blue Mountain, please contact the MPI Toronto office at (905) 567-9591 and they will assist in pairing you with other people in your area for any carpooling needs.

Don’t forget your "stuffie!" In partnership with the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and Blue Mountain Resort, we are collecting stuffed animals or "stuffies," as they call them. Whenever a child is brought into the emergency ward at the Collingwood Hospital, they are given a stuffie to calm them and give them something to cuddle while they are in the hospital. The new stuffed animals, with tags on, can be no larger than 12 inches. For every stuffie you bring in, you will receive a draw ticket for a one-night stay at Blue Mountain Resort Village in a one-bedroom suite. All the toys collected will be taken to the Collingwood Hospital in June.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter at #MPITO and visit our Blog on the MPI Toronto website!  http://tinyurl.com/k399tfb

The TEC is part of Canada Meet Week. Check out all the activities at http://canadameetweek.ca/

 

More than 325 industry professionals gathered together in Toronto to network, connect and learn on Thursday, April 18, 2013, to celebrate National Meetings Industry Day at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The theme "Meetings Mean Me Because..." was carried throughout the event and highlighted in the panel discussion on the economic impact of the meetings industry.

The esteemed panel outlined the economic impact of meetings and how it impacts other industries through the creation and execution of meetings and events. The panel was moderated by Bob Parker, chair of BEICC and president elect of CAPS, whose wit brought about roars of laughter.

Unfortunately, Kevin Hinton, executive vice president of Associated Luxury Hotels International and chair of the International Board of Directors for MPI, was unable to participate due to poor weather conditions in Chicago. Fortunately, Grant Snider, president of JPdL Toronto & Niagara, was able to take his place and provide insight into the world of destination management.

"We need to celebrate the overall contribution of the economic impact from meetings," stated Lori Wagner, charter & group sales manager of Porter Airlines, who was proud to accept the NMID Influence Award on behalf of Porter Airlines. Porter recognized the meetings industry as being a catalyst for change in their organization.

Lisa Mcdonald, COO of Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada and president of CAEM, highlighted the importance of using the meetings industry to influence policy and decision-making to create a starting point to connect with politicians and lobby for a change. She states, "Events are a platform to add value to businesses and enhance the mission of the organization." 

David Whitaker, president and CEO of Tourism Toronto, touched upon the impact of the Microsoft Conference in 2012 on the Toronto economy, leaving a monumental impact on a variety of industries.

Deborah Sexton, president and CEO of PCMA, highlighted that the meetings industry is about connecting people globally, whether it is face to face or virtually, and educating communities, countries and families on the importance of the industry. This message was reinforced by Grant Snider in building connections between industry members and other organizations touched by the meetings industry.

Through Twitter, industry professionals were able to tweet their questions live to the panel to delve further into their unanswered questions.

Looking forward to 2014 in Toronto, we hope to raise the level of conversation higher to attract a broader audience, as well as the attention and attendance of government officials. Be sure to continue the conversation on Twitter using Hashtag #NMID14. Our committee was fortunate to work with other local industry organizations on the creation and development of content for this event. 

A special thanks to our sponsors: Ottawa Tourism, Ottawa Convention Centre, Metro Toronto Convention Center, Meetings & Incentive Travel Hall of Fame, Nothers Signs & Recognition, Ignite Business Events Expo, AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions, Showtech Power and Lighting, GES Canada, The Image Commission, D.E. Systems and JPdL.

 

 

This year, between MEETING Magazine, the bimonthly e-newsletter and MPI social media updates, the MPI Toronto Chapter was able to keep you up-to-date with the various types of information and education.

In order to evaluate how well we are doing, we are aksing you to respond to a short communications survey - click here.  Please take five minutes to complete – let your voice be heard. Your input is critical to relevant, current and compelling stories being available to you through chapter communications.

All information collected will be used by the incoming Communications Committee to help shape their strategies for 2013-2014.

 

 

Looking for some education at your desk? Need to collect CEUs for your CMP certification or recertification? Remember that as an MPI member you have access to free education through MPI On-Demand. For more information visit http://www.mpiweb.org/Portal/OnDemand

 

Change is in the Air at Porter
Six years ago, Porter took off for the first time. Now, the airline would like to add new destinations to its network starting in 2016, including Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, California, Florida and the Caribbean. To do this, it is planning to add brand new planes to its fleet – the Canadian-built Bombardier CS100, the world’s quietest commercial jet in production, comparable to current planes. Find out more about Porter's plans for change at www.porterplans.com.

Langham Hospitality Group Announces Eaton Hotel Brand in Canada – First Hotel in Prominent Location in Downtown Toronto
Langham Hospitality Group, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Great Eagle Holdings Limited, announced that the former Delta Chelsea – Canada's largest hotel, located in downtown Toronto – will be officially rebranded Eaton Chelsea, Toronto starting July 1, 2013. In its repositioning, the hotel will be the first of its kind in Canada and joins other Eaton Hotels located in Hong Kong, Shanghai and New Delhi. Eaton aims to surprise and delight guests with a value-for-money proposition that delivers a stylish, modern level of comfort with warm and welcoming service and an ongoing commitment to sustainability. A multimillion dollar investment programme for the hotel has already begun and includes beautifying the exterior, refurbishing the lobby and Market Garden Restaurant, and extensively upgrading the interiors of the banquet and meeting facilities. For more information, contact Tracy Ford, director of public relations, Eaton Chelsea, at tracy.ford@eatonhotels.com.

Birth Announcements:
Amaya Lyra Das was born on February 23, 2013 at 6 lb., 12 oz. to Vinita Borrison, who is on maternity leave from the CN Tower. Congratulations to Vinita and Dave!

Inara Maya Hewitt, born 6 lb., 6 oz. at 5:07 p.m., and Inayat Isaiah Hewitt, born 5 lb., 10 oz. at 5:10 p.m., on March 30, 2013 to Khadijah Hewitt, who is on maternity leave from Absolute Conferences & Events. Congratulations to Khadijah and Calmaine!