Awaken your senses at the 2013/14 MPI Toronto Chapter Signature Series starting with our ZEN IN THE CITY September Signature Series and Annual General Meeting (AGM). We are excited to bring you customized member experiences that will inspire you and create meaningful connections with our Chapter. Our September Signature Series and AGM will take place on Thursday, September 12 at the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre in Mississauga starting at 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.mpitoronto.org.

 

Have you thought about volunteering and are wondering which committee would best suit your needs?

In October, the MPI Toronto Chapter will host a free event for all members where you will have the opportunity to meet our Chapter leaders and find out more information about each committee and which committee best suits your volunteer needs. Location and date will be confirmed shortly. If you're interested in volunteering, take time to complete a Volunteer Profile form (click here).

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office by telephone at 905-567-9591 or by email at office@mpitoronto.org for more information.

 

Are you a new MPI Toronto member? Want to learn more about what our Chapter can do for you and how to get involved? Why not come out to an MPI Connect event in your area and meet your fellow Chapter members in an intimate and informal gathering. There is no additional cost (unless you choose to purchase any food/beverages) and the group is small. Watch for the invites in the eblasts and in our eNewsletter. Our next MPI Connect will be taking place in January.

 

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Toronto Education Conference. We still have this year’s TEC in the back of our minds, and what a great success it was. There has been so much positive feedback about the June 16-18 conference at Blue Mountain Resort; all from the superb location, delicious food, comfortable accommodations and insightful education. The EventMobi application that was sponsored for the conference was very useful and, based on the results shared, was received well by all attendees in whatever media platform they were using. 

All would not have been possible without the help of our sponsors, and again they should be acknowledged for their support:

• Blue Mountain Resort
• Ottawa Convention Centre
• Ottawa Tourism
• Center Stage AV
• D.E. Systems
• EventMobi
• The Image Commission
• salesShift
• Speakers’ Spotlight
• TN Security Intelligence
• Peller Estates Winery
• Orangefish
• Fredericton Tourism
• Copper Blues Bar & Grill
• SOAR Management
• Exercise Bytes Inc.

One of our unique sessions this year was the "UnConference" – a one-hour session where you came to the meeting and discussed what YOU wanted to talk about based on a vote of the room. Keep this conversation going by clicking on the following link: UNCONFERENCE.

We are now almost 11 months away from the next MPI Toronto Education Conference. You will be kept informed on location and event dates as they become available over the months to come! Look forward to seeing everyone – and more – next year!

Brenda Carter, KPMG, was a 2013 recipient of a TEC Scholarship. Click here to read Brenda's insights on this year's TEC in a recent MPI Toronto Chapter Blog Posting.

 

Many people ask, "How do I get the ROI out of my MPI membership?" It is easy! Get involved! As our new fiscal year gets underway, our committees are starting up once again. Looking to give back to the community? Join the ECOS Committee and help put together a great event that not only builds the camaraderie within our Chapter but also gives back to those less fortunate than ourselves. 

If you are interested in being part of this committee, contact Stephanie Rapko, Chair, ECOS/MPI Connect, at stephrapko@hotmail.com.

 

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.

 

"Attending the World Education Conference is an experience like no other. I was fortunate to attend the 2013 Future Leaders Forum with 21 other students from across North America. The one-day event is dedicated to students and provides meaningful connections with the future planners and suppliers of the event industry. It also provides the ability for students to create a complete two-and-a-half day conference in a multicultural city for 150 aspiring event planning students. The detailed proposal includes areas such as education, budget, sponsorship, marketing and event sustainability. After becoming a finalist to present live in Vegas, my proposal on a MPI University style conference (MPI U) won me the competition and the ability to travel to the international finals at IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany, next May. I am thankful for the opportunity MPI, IMEX and MCI has provided me with, and I look forward to representing North America in the near future." – Rachel Stark, Toronto Student Club President

"As one of the MPI Toronto scholarship recipients to attend WEC 2013 this past month, one of the highlights was certainly the conference app and its gaming feature. With all this hype about gamification at events, it was a great way for all participants to stay engaged and connected throughout the conference. Personally, I was very involved in the game aspect and accomplished objectives that may have not been achieved otherwise. It was great to see my efforts pay off, as I was awarded 2nd place winner of the WEC app game and my prize was a FREE admission to WEC 2014 valued at up to $1,050. Now that's what I call winning big in Vegas!" – Mariella Irivarren, B.A., Event & Meeting Planning Professional

 

Les Selby Joins Event Spectrum
Long-time Toronto Chapter member Les Selby has joined Event Spectrum Inc., as Vice President, Client Services. Les can be reached at les@eventspectrum.com.

Darryl Nielsen Joins Hyatt Regency on King
Toronto Chapter member Darryl Nielsen has joined the Hyatt Regency on King as Group Sales Manager. Darryl can be reached at
darryl.nielsen@hyatt.com.

Ottawa Convention Centre Appoints New Senior Account Manager for Canadian Corporate and Association Sales
Peggy Nieghorn, Director of Sales at the Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC), is pleased to announce the appointment of Ursula Belanger as Senior Account Manager responsible for Canadian corporate and association sales. Ursula joined the OCC team on July 2, 2013. Ursula is a seasoned member of the tourism and convention industry with more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience in several cities around the globe, including New York City and Munich, Germany. Contact Daniel Coates, Manager, Marketing and Communications, 613-688-8220, dcoates@ottawaconventioncentre.com.
 
Their Labours Bear Fruits and Vegetables!
You could say, it was natural when the Scotiabank Convention Centre (SCCN) in Niagara Falls, Ontario, decided to create a massive 3,700 sq. ft. organic vegetable and herb garden on site. The colourful and bountiful garden was designed and created by the Centre's Executive Chef, Shaun Goswell, and the newest member of the SCCN team, Horticulturalist  Katherine "Katie" Job. Together, Shaun and Katie provide ongoing eco-friendly, organically grown fresh greens and vegetables that are featured key ingredients to many culinary creations and client gifts for the Centre. "We are forever telling the story of local Niagara flavour," says Kerry Painter, President & General Manager at the Scotiabank Convention Centre, commenting on the importance of taking advantage of Niagara's ideal growing region. For more information about the Scotiabank Convention Centre Onsite Garden, call 905-357-6222 or visit www.fallsconventions.com.

Direct Energy Centre Welcomes Back CRFA Until 2018
Direct Energy Centre has successfully secured a five-year agreement with The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association Show (CRFA). The CRFA Show occurs annually each March. The CRFA Show is a one-stop shop that helps thousands of industry professionals stay ahead of trends and see the newest products and services. It’s the flagship trade show for the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA), and the biggest event of the year for Canada’s hospitality industry, attracting 13,000 visitors over three days. For more information, contact Laura Purdy at 416-263-3020 or lpurdy@directenergycentre.com.

AVW-TELAV Partners With MULTILEARNING Group to Make ePosters Available to a Broader Canadian Market
AVW-TELAV has entered into an exclusive Canadian partnership agreement with MULTILEARNING Group Inc. to extend the accessibility of Electronic Posters (ePosters) to the entire meetings and conventions industry. In addition to being more environmentally friendly than traditional paper poster sessions, ePosters take up less space and are digitally enhanced for users to conveniently view and analyze relevant information in one location. Viewers can zoom in to an ePoster to better read content and even scan a QR code to view the poster later on a mobile device. Moreover, ePosters are especially useful in aiding presentations to a larger audience. "Poster sessions are prevalent at scientific conferences and medical congresses, and this cutting-edge interactive display solution will undoubtedly totally replace the traditional poster board presentations," explained Derek Anderson, Director of Digital Services, AVW-TELAV. "By integrating this forward-looking solution with our range of offerings while it’s still unconventional in the broader marketplace, AVW-TELAV further demonstrates its commitment to industry leadership and advancement, and introducing progressive technology solutions to the masses." For more information, visit www.avwtelav.com.

Exhibition Place launches new Promotional Campaign
As of July 2013, Exhibition Place proudly launched a new GREENSmart promotion showcasing 12 energy-efficient initiatives across the 192-acre site. The promotional campaign includes informational posters placed on outdoor waste diversion receptacles for visitors and participants of the Environmental Walking Tour. For more information, contact Dianne Young, Exhibition Place, 416-236-3611 or dyoung@explace.on.ca.

Ottawa Convention Centre Added $101 Million to Ottawa’s Economy in 2012  
The Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC) attracted 54,400 out-of-town visitors who boosted Ottawa’s economy by approximately $101 million in 2012, according to an economic impact study conducted by Ipsos Reid. Commissioned by OCC, the study analyzed spending on the 57 OCC conventions and tradeshows held in 2012 that drew at least 25 percent of participants from outside the Ottawa-Gatineau area. The $101 million in direct spending includes $78 million in attendee spending, $16 million in exhibitor spending and $7 million in production spending. The study found these conventions and tradeshows attracted more than 47,000 delegates and attendees from outside Ottawa and nearly 5,900 staff members that represented more than 1,500 non-local exhibitors. These events also generated tax revenues for the federal and provincial reserves estimated at more than $38 million.  

OCC Awarded International Distinctions for Performance and Environmental Sustainability 
Following its opening year, Ottawa Convention Centre also earned two international distinctions in management performance and sustainable building development and operations. OCC received the International Association of Congress Centres Quality Standards Gold Certification – a distinction shared by just 21 convention centres worldwide. This award reflects superior achievement in 10 key performance areas, such as customer service, health and safety, employee relations, community relations and environmental responsibility. OCC also earned LEED Gold certification from the Canada Green Building Council. This internationally recognized designation reflects exceptional benchmarks for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.  Environmental sustainability is a significant marketing feature in the meetings and conventions industry, and a powerful attribute of modern, progressive conventions centres worldwide. For more information, please visit www.ottawaconventioncentre.com.  Ottawa Convention Centre is an Agency of the Government of Ontario.  

The International Centre Announces Partnership with Social Media Agency Branding & Buzzing
The International Centre is excited to announce its newest partnership, welcoming social media strategists Branding & Buzzing to its list of Recommended Event Service Providers. Focused on providing clients and exhibitors with the opportunity for social media strategy, Branding & Buzzing is currently working with The International Centre to engage audiences through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. "We are continually listening to the needs of our customers and the rapid growth of social media management is key to the success of our clients’ events sustained development" says Trevor Lui, Director of Operations & Sustainability. "Having a service provider to enhance our customers’ brand and reach is just another tool we believe will help benefit their experience." Branding & Buzzing, a Toronto-based agency, focuses on achieving brand goals through social media and content marketing strategies. Having had success with companies such as Tourism Toronto, the Toronto Festival of Beer and celebrity-chef Mark McEwan, it has now partnered with The International Centre to create engaging consumer conversation and experiences that are inspirational, memorable and, most importantly, brand driven. For more information, visit www.internationalcentre.com