Save the date for these exciting MPI Toronto Chapter events:

Jan. 15, 2019 
Just Networking
Lob Toronto (100 Broadview Ave – Lower Level, Toronto)

Feb. 6, 2019
MPI Toronto Professional Development Workshop
Vantage Venues

March 7, 2019
MPI Toronto Awards Gala
Metro Toronto Convention Centre

April 4, 2019
Global Meetings Industry Day

April 4-6, 2019
the EVENT
Hotel Bonaventure, Montreal

Start your new year by connecting with your neighbourly event professionals of MPI Toronto Chapter! Just Networking events will encourage you to build powerful relationships in an informal setting.

Whether you are a longtime member, a new member or just checking us out, being visible by regularly networking and pushing yourself to talk to unfamiliar faces will only help you increase your confidence!

Be sure to mark the date in your calendar for Jan. 15, 2019.

Location:
Lob Toronto
100 Broadview Ave – Lower Level
Toronto, ON M4M 3H3

Registration will open shortly.

Are you looking to take the next step in your career? Are you interested in learning more about the CMP designation but don't know where to start? Save the date for the 2019 CMP Information Session.

Marriott Toronto City Centre
Feb. 5 — 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Hear from event industry professionals who have successfully obtained their CMP on how it has improved their career and how the CMP Study Group can help you prepare for the exam. Registration opens soon.

How to Fuel Your Motivation: Planners, Productivity and Purpose

New year = new focus

Meeting planners = stress … right?

Productivity is high on our list, and we continue to add to that list whether it's personal goals, commitments or additional asks from our clients, etc. But how do we know when to take a step back so we don't break?

Join Jennifer Schrafft, a certified professional coach at Vantage Venues, as she guides us through a session on planners, productivity and purpose.

Come prepared to re-evaluate your purpose as a planner, your why (as it stands at this stage in your life) and re-create your productivity plan based on it.

It doesn’t end there! Jennifer will re-convene the group a week later via video-conference to chat about implementation plans, provide feedback and discuss any roadblocks along the way.

Visit the website for more information and watch for registration opening soon.

On Nov. 13, Jessica Gibbons of C2 International spoke to the MPI Toronto Chapter members about brainstorming techniques and strategies for engaging our audience before, during and after our events. She did this by incorporating a fun networking activity that involved balloons – a great way to engage the group and keep it fun!

Kevin Bulmer joined us for the second half of our session, and he spoke to us about Run Your Own Race – The Ultimate Mindset & Marketing Solution. As per Cristina Sufrim, CMP and PD committee member, she said, "We were fortunate to have Kevin Bulmer as our invited speaker at the MPI Toronto Professional Development Workshop. Kevin delivered such a powerful presentation that it seemed the audience forgot to breathe while listening to him. Kevin is passionate and has the gift of genuinely connecting and interacting with the audience. His presentation on how to run your own race is inspirational and empowering. We benefited and enjoyed learning how to “Rise Like a Phoenix and Race Like a Turtle.”

Thanks to all our sponsors for making this professional development session possible: Vantage Venues, D.E. Systems for our online registration, The Image Commission by Digital Pix Inc. for our photography and BizBash and Ignite for media.

Antonietta Tantalo
Manager, Events & Employee Engagement

The EVENT has a goal of a planner/supplier participant ratio of 1:1. Last year, INITIATIVE 1:1 engaged 20 organizations and helped 50 planners attend the EVENT. 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 $650 commitment to INITIATIVE 1:1 will help us cover registration costs for two planner attendees.

WHY SHOULD SUPPLIERS 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 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (open only to INITIATIVE 1:1 suppliers and sponsored planners)
• 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

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.

All INITIATIVE 1:1 recipients will be invited to a mandatory, intimate, invite-only networking reception on Friday evening.

To secure a spot, visit www.the-event.ca to fill out an application! 

Fall 2018 Issue of meeting Magazine: Refresh, Renew, Reinvent

The fall issue of MPI Toronto's meeting magazine, themed “Refresh, Renew, Reinvent,” encompasses all topics related to taking on challenges, adapting to new work environments and embracing professional development.

When putting together this magazine, our committee wanted to share new ideas, concepts and ways to embrace change for personal growth and improved work-life balance. With the rapid development in technology and artificial intelligence, we sure do need to get on board! Check out the variety of topics, including refreshing event trends, new destination and venue spotlights, and reinventing digital events. Enjoy the issue!

Start reading this issue now!

New Blog Post: 'Please Tell Me No'

Check out the new blog post "Please Tell Me No" by Vincent Murphy, vice president of Canada at BizBash Media, on the importance of following up with prospects until they give a definitive answer.

New Blog Post: THE F&B WOW-FACTOR

New blog post! Ioanna Antonopoulos talks all things F&B and provides tips on how to make your F&B = F A B in her blog THE F&B WOW-FACTOR.

Big Rig Brewery Appointed as Official Craft Beer of the Shaw Centre 

The Shaw Centre and Big Rig Brewery have announced a two-year partnership that will provide conference attendees at the convention centre with a selection of local craft beer. Big Rig’s offerings at the Shaw Centre will include its light, crisp and refreshing Premium Pilsner, a malty and low hop Canadian Amber, an Alpha Bomb IPA unfiltered and loaded with hops, and a fresh and vibrant Bongo Grapefruit Radler. Clients also can experience and request seasonal brews throughout the year. For more information, contact Julia Forbes, director, marketing and partnerships, Shaw Centre, jforbes@shaw-centre.com.

PSAV® Acquires FMAV 

PSAV, a global leader in event experiences, is pleased to announce the acquisition of FMAV, a leading audiovisual and live event production company in Canada. The transaction allows PSAV to continue building upon its purpose of connecting and inspiring people by expanding the breadth of its capabilities, particularly in the live event production business in Canada. FMAV, now a wholly owned subsidiary of PSAV, will continue to operate under the well-known and highly respected FMAV brand name. FMAV CEO Bill Brown and his senior team will remain in place and continue to execute on their growth plans, now in partnership with PSAV. For more information, contact Bob Niersbach, director, communications,  rniersbach@psav.com

AV-CANADA Announces Expansion into US Market with the Launch of AV-AMERICA

AV-CANADA is pleased to announce a new endeavor: AV-AMERICA, headquartered in Orlando,Florida, said Danny Dobriansky, co-president. Heading the operation as chief operating officer for AV-AMERICA, Kip Cade brings 25 years of experience in the United States AV business, guaranteeing the same quality and service standards that you have come to expect. For more information: info@av-america.com

Meetings Mean Business Canada at the 57th ICCA Congress 2018

MMB Canada 2018 Chair Heidi Welker spoke at the 57th ICCA Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 12. This session provided insight on why MMB was started in the U.S. followed by the licensing benefits the Canadian business events industry realized in its efforts to be recognized as an important contributor to the Canadian economy. "Success means that we remain laser-focused on the importance of business events, face-to-face meetings that have tremendous economic, social and community-building benefits for Canada." For more information: info@meetingsmeanbusiness.ca

 Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) is taking place in Toronto on April 4, 2019.

This MPI initiative consists of keynote speakers and panel discussions covering topics that are relevant to both event professionals and suppliers in the current industry landscape. It is also an event designed to create and build meaningful networking connections.

GMID brings together leaders from across the meeting and events industry to showcase the real impact that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions have on people, business and the communities we live and work in.

Check out pictures from GMID 2018 here.

Mark your calendars! This is an event you don’t want to miss.

Three hours of golf plus a three-hour reception and banquet at the newly renovated Royal Woodbine Golf Club

Come mix and mingle with your favorite meeting professionals! 

Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Location: The newly renovated Royal Woodbine Golf Club (Dixon Rd & Hwy 27)

Registration: Noon
Tee Off: 2 p.m. 
Finished: 8 p.m.

Why attend?  

• Three hours of golf and a three-hour reception and banquet
• Come join this great networking opportunity.
• Book your foursome (minimum two planners) or come on your own and invite your favorite meeting professional.
• Mingle and get to know one another in a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere.
• Beginners are more than welcome! Take advantage of our novice golfers clinic.
• Come out and have some FUN! 

Prize donations are welcome.

The 2018 Holiday Gala was another memorable MPI Toronto Chapter gathering with more than 465 guests in attendance. The International Centre wowed with its venue, service and cuisine to make the evening a success for everyone.

The Holiday Gala is an evening to dress in our finest and visit with our industry friends, but it is also an annual fundraiser with a portion of raised funds shared between the Breakfast with Santa Foundation and the chapter’s World Education Congress (WEC) 2019 fund. This year’s fundraising did not disappoint as the Gala raised over $21,000. This was due in large part to our generous silent and live auction donors. This year’s addition of a professional auctioneer certainly kept the live auctions entertaining and helped engage our generous bidders as well!

Guests were entertained throughout the evening with acts kindly arranged by The Idea Hunter. Gala guests were greeted by two roaming hosts decked out in custom holiday décor costumes, which provided for some great photo opportunities. Guests were then welcomed into the main ballroom by the sounds of Candice Sand and serenaded through their scrumptious dinner by soloist Mikalyn.

The evening closed with take-home goodie bags of organic cotton candy from Candy Crate Events, and guests left in great holiday cheer!

Of course, the 2018 Holiday Gala could not have been a success without the generosity of our great sponsors – a big thank you for your continued support! 

Our Holiday Gala sponsors are listed below. Please keep them in mind for your future planning needs.

• Event Sponsor – Ottawa Tourism/Tourisme – Theresa Gatto (tgatto@ottawatourism.ca)
• Venue, Food & Beverage Sponsor – The International Centre – Kevin Parker (kparker@internationalcentre.com)
• AV/Production – Freeman Audio Visual Canada – Chris Siedel (chris.siedel@freemanco.com)
• Entertainment Sponsor – The Idea Hunter – Janice Cardinale (jc@theideahunter.ca)
• Stage Décor/Centre Pieces/Chair Covers – Hasheel Events & Design – Hasheel Lodia (www.hasheel.com)
• Additional Centre Pieces – Niagara Parks – Emily Dietrich (edietrich@niagaraparks.com)
• Wine Sponsor– Peller Estates Winery – Carly Orsborn (carly.orsborn@peller.com) 
• Online Registration Sponsor – D.E. Systems – Imran Ahmed (imran@desystems.com)
• Photography & Photo Booth Sponsor – The Image Commission – Nicki Bucci (nicki.image@rogers.com)
• Cotton Candy Sponsor – Candy Crate Events – Anita Saini (info@candycrateevents.com) 
• Coat Check Sponsor – CheckT – (cole@checkt.ca)

Visit the MPI Toronto Chapter website for event photos.