In a collective effort to highlight the significance of the Canadian meeting industry, the Canadian chapters of…
In a collective effort to highlight the significance of the Canadian meeting industry, the Canadian chapters of Meeting Professionals International ( Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
The National Meetings Industry Day project was organized to draw attention to the important role and contribution of the meetings industry to the Canadian economy. The theme for this year`s event `The Power of Meetings: Global Community, Local Impact`, builds upon MPI`s global mission of defining the power of the meeting industry, especially in Canada where median meetings budget of MPI members is more than $860,000.
The event also is a prelude to MPI`s World Education Congress, July 21-23, 2002 in Toronto, the industry`s premiere professional development and networking forum that is expected to attract more than 3,200 attendees and generate millions in future meeting revenue for the local economy.
National Meetings Industry Day is an opportunity to showcase the local impact of the global meetings market, said Mark Hope, director of marketing and sales-leisure products, Coast Hotels & Resorts and member of the MPI British Columbia Chapter. Meetings are a vital part of Canada`s economy. As meeting professionals, it is important that we highlight these contributions in an effort to ensure the industry`s continued growth and viability for years to come.
For several chapters, the breakfast meeting is a precursor to weeklong individual chapter events. The MPI British Columbia Chapter, which was recognized for its efforts during National Meetings Industry Day 2001 with an MPI Award of Excellence for Special Projects, will be among the chapters sponsoring ongoing events. The MPI British Columbia Chapter events will include a five-part series in the Vancouver Sun and a business community reception April 11 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. The MPI Manitoba Chapter will use the breakfast to kick-off its Q.U.E.S.T. for Excellence program-the chapter`s premiere educational event, which highlights national meeting awareness.
Delta Hotels is providing each chapter with complimentary breakfast and meeting space for up to 75 attendees. As Delta Hotels continues to add new hotels in Canada, or renovate existing properties, our meetings product becomes a more significant factor in our overall offering to the customer, said Ken Lambert, vice president of marketing, Delta Hotels. It is clearly important, as we enhance our product that Delta establishes a closer bond with those meeting planners, represented by MPI, who have become key partners to our success as a brand.
Keynote Speakers:
British Columbia Chapter: Peter Legge, President/CEO, Canada Wide Magazines & Communications Ltd.
Calgary Chapter: Kent Rupert, Manager, Industry Development, Promoting Calgary Inc.; Toben Anderson, Motivational Speaker
Edmonton Chapter: Grant McCurdy, Chair, Edmonton Capital Region Tourism Partnership
Ottawa Chapter: Claudia Chowaniec, PhD, CMC, Chair, Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
Toronto Chapter: Doug Fyfe, President, Tourism Toronto and Ken Lambert, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Delta Hotels
Winnipeg Chapter: Penny McMillan, President/CEO, Tourism Winnipeg
