Are you interested in earning your CMP? Join your industry colleagues on February 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Old Mill Toronto to learn all you need to know about becoming a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). Find out who qualifies to write, what the process entails, what the exam covers, exam best practices, and even strategies for recertification.
 
Hear from current CMPs who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at what our spring 2018 Study group will look like. 
 
FREE for MPI members! $25 HST for non-members.

Date: Tuesday February 27, 2018

Time: 5-7 p.m.

Location: Old Mill Toronto 
21 Old Mill Road
Toronto ON M5X 1G5

Register

A Royal Evening of Celebration Coming Your Way

The Awards Committee is working hard this year to bring you a Royal Evening of Celebration to showcase the best of the best in the industry! Our theme this year is A Royal Affair and the event colours are blue and gold.

Nominees, be prepared to be treated like royalty from the moment you step into the room! This is your chance to be recognized for your outstanding contribution to the events industry and celebrate with your peers once again! 

We are excited to announce that the venue for the 2018 Awards Gala will be the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Downtown Toronto. We look forward to partnering with such a wonderful venue once again! 

The Awards Committee would like to thank our dedicated sponsors; we truly could not do it without you. Thank you to our Cash Sponsor: Quebec City Business Destination, our AV/Production Sponsor: AV-CANADA, the Awards Sponsors: Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel & Suites, Fallsview Casino Resort & Fletcher Wright Associates Inc. Thanks to our returning sponsors The Image Commission & D.E. Systems. 

Registration is open. We look forward to seeing you at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on March 8! 

Registration is now open for GMID on April 12! This year’s event is designed with you in mind – whether you’re a planner or a supplier we’ve got something for you. We’ll tackle the latest trends and issues impacting our industry and affecting the way we work. From digital trends like chatbots and VR, to hot button topics like cyber security and sexual harassment and much more, including plenty of networking opportunities!

NEW this year ... Connect Up! Join us for a unique opportunity to learn and grow through connection! At GMID 2018, we will be holding an exciting event called Connect Up (formerly Mentor Café) after the main presentation. Join us and participate in a dynamic knowledge exchange with your event peers and zone specialists. Visit GMID for more details.

The EVENT

For the first time in recent Canadian history, three Meeting Professionals International (MPI) chapters have partnered together to offer members something BIGGER and BETTER. Bringing together three unique meeting communities will give event participants the chance to expand network circles while strengthening existing ones. Tickets are selling fast for this NOT-TO-BE-MISSED event. Get yours today!

Registration Link

WHAT IS INITIATIVE 1:1?

the EVENT has a goal of a planner/supplier participant ratio of 1:1. In striving for this goal, we understand that there is a strong need to assist with planner registration fees to help move numbers in our intended direction, creating an increase in ROI for all attendees.

INITIATIVE 1:1 is a great opportunity for suppliers to become a strategic partner with the EVENT without having to engage in one of our larger partnership packages. We strive to make partnership opportunities for all budgets. A $500 commitment to INITIATIVE 1:1 will help us cover registration costs for two planner attendees.

WHY SUPPLIERS SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
We understand that you need to see ROI!

For each INITIATIVE 1:1 sponsorship, you will receive one exclusive invite for a Friday evening networking and recognition reception (open only to INITIATIVE 1:1 suppliers and sponsored planners only).

Public acknowledgement of program support during the EVENT.

Pre/post event acknowledgement on the EVENT Social Media channels.

Your company logo and acknowledgement in each planner recipient welcome package.

 

To secure a spot, simply complete the INITIATIVE 1:1 Planner Interest Form and return to Leslie Wright, the EVENT Administrator, at leslie@the-event.ca

WHY SHOULD PLANNERS SIGN UP?

We understand that planner education budgets are not always available!

Supplier strategic partners cover your registration costs.

Invite to Friday evening networking and recognition reception.

Save money and strengthen your industry partnerships.

Already registered for the EVENT? Don't worry – you are still eligible.

Upon completing applicant form, planner recipients will be chosen based on a list of strict quantifiable criteria structured around their ability to enter business relationships with supplier attendees. All INITIATIVE 1:1 recipients will be invited to a mandatory intimate invite only networking reception on Friday evening. INITIATIVE 1:1 PLANNER APPLICATION

More than 60 members attended the Just Networking event at The Rec Room on January 10. The Rec Room provided plenty of hors d’oeuvres including their butter tarts, which were well worth the calories. Attendees were all provided with a two-hour play wrist band that allowed them to experience what The Rec Room offers.

Thank you to The Rec Room and D.E. Systems for your support of this event.
 
 
 
If you missed this Just Networking event, make sure you attend the next one scheduled for July 18. It is a great way to meet new people and build relationships with our members.

If you are interested in showcasing your venue to our members, we are looking for space for the following:

April 15 – CMP Study Group Session
June 9 or 16 – CMP Study Group Session
May 10 – Professional Development Workshop and Volunteer Recruitment

For more details contact Leslie Wright at lwright@mpitoronto.org (905-567-9591) or Vicki Zeppa at vicki@ignitemag.ca (705-971-2313).

 

Check out the amazing work by the MPI Foundation in helping MPI members achieve their full potential! Inform yourself about the support, resources and impact the MPI Foundation has in our community.  

The MPI Foundation: Giving Back to the MPI Community

Written by Trevor Lui, Director of Operations & Sustainability with The International Centre.

 

Sonya Trines, community outreach worker at Lancaster Public School, reached out to Maria Esteves, Breakfast with Santa Foundation, to attend a meeting regarding the start of Salad Days at the school. According to Lancaster’ statistics, 42.5 per cent of the student population, which is 385 students, is not receiving the proper nutritional value of vegetables. Simply put, they are not eating any vegetables at home at all.

64.9 per cent are eating fruits and 37 per cent are drinking sweet drinks with a fair amount of sugars. Water is going to be encouraged instead of those sweet drinks.

Breakfast with Santa Foundation is already sponsoring A Snack at a Time at Lancaster Public School and Salad Days will fall under the umbrella of the Nutrition 101 Program.

Here are some details:

• Salad Days will commence in March and will continue monthly until the end of the school year.
• 425 children will benefit from this program (including kindergarten students).
• Salad dressing will be made fresh with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Smaller children/grades will be served in their own classroom and the older children will eat in the gym.

$2,000 is adequate to provide 425 salad lunches once a month starting in March for a total of 1,700 salad lunches until the end of the current school year – that is $1.17 per student for the nutrition they are not getting now!

The start date is perfect as March is National Nutrition Month and Salad Days will be heavily promoted and advertised at the school. They will also be advertising for students to bring their own container for Salad Days.

AV-CANADA Outside Operator at Delta Toronto Airport Hotel
AV-CANADA has chosen to operate as an outside AV supplier at the Delta Toronto Airport Hotel. This will allow you substantial savings on any and all of your audio-visual needs in the future. Harold Price will continue to be your point of contact for your needs: 416.936.1660 or harold.p@av-canada.com.

Extend your advertising investment – Connect with MPI Toronto and get your business in front of the largest Canadian chapter of MPI

It has never been easier to connect with MPI Toronto members throughout the year. MPI Toronto’s meeting magazine is the tool that members use to gain information about all aspects of the meeting and event industry and the activities of MPI Toronto.

Meeting magazine is now printed four times per year, so be sure to take advantage of exceptional rates and opportunities.  

Sales for our Spring issue of meeting magazine are now open. This season’s issue will highlight destinations within the Atlantic Provinces, including Moncton, Halifax, Fredericton, Charlottetown and St. John’s. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to enhance your company’s marketing presence. Contact your Naylor account representative today.

Click here to view our media kit.

For more information, contact: Norma Walchuk, Media Director at (204) 975-3628 or nwalchuk@naylor.com.

Have you checked out the Art of Networking blog post on the MPI Toronto Chapter website? Mariella Irivarren, B.A., CMP shares her insights.