Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is continuing its global and European expansion with the announcement of the formation of a new Club in Poland, its first community in Central Europe.

The announcement, made at MPI’s European Meetings and Events Conference in Turin, highlights a year of efforts by meetings and events industry leaders in Poland who recognised the need for local professionals to access the best in industry education to advance their professional development and a connection to the global meeting and event industry.

The Club is led by Krzysztof Celuch, a former folk dance instructor, who received a grant from the MPI Foundation to take a Ph.D. and pursue his career in the meeting industry. Now a senior project manager at the Poland Convention Bureau, he has been the lynchpin in building a strong student community through the IMEX/MPI Future Leaders Forum in Warsaw; the fourth Forum takes place from 3-4 April 2009. The newly formed club currently has 36 members, a figure expected to increase to 95 by 2011.

Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO of MPI commented: “We are delighted to have strengthened our European community to Central Europe. Krzysztof well illustrates the importance MPI places on its forward looking vision of nurturing, investing and developing young talent. His ambition, drive and enthusiasm for the meetings and events industry set an excellent example to those students looking to develop a career in our dynamic sector.”

Poland is set to co-host the UEFA EURO 2012 providing a massive opportunity to promote the country as a leading meetings and events destination for European and International clients.