MPI Selects Atlantic City for 2016 World Education Congress
DALLAS, May 4, 2015 — Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announced today that it has
selected Atlantic City, N.J., as the destination for its 2016 World Education Congress (WEC). The
conference will be held June 11-14, 2016, at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center, a
Caesars Entertainment property and the newest and largest hotel-conference center complex from
Baltimore to Boston. MPI announced its plans with Meet AC and Caesars Entertainment during a press
conference this afternoon in Atlantic City featuring Mayor Don Guardian and other local dignitaries.
Held annually, WEC is MPI’s signature event through which it delivers premier education, business and
networking opportunities, attracting more than 2,000 attendees including corporate, third party, and
association planners, suppliers, students, industry faculty and more. The association initially planned to
hold WEC 2016 in Philadelphia, but recently switched the location due to changes in the space
available for the conference. Next year will be the first time MPI has hosted a conference in Atlantic
City and the first time in the State of New Jersey.
Located on the Jersey Shore, Atlantic City is a resort city known for its popular casino hotels, beach and
boardwalk, fine dining, shopping and world-class entertainment. The city annually attracts more than
25 million visitors to its shores for both business and pleasure. Scheduled for completion in August
2015, the new Harrah’s Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center’s 100,000 square-feet of meeting
space offers a first-class meetings experience with state-of-the-art technology.
“We look forward to hosting our World Education Congress in Atlantic City next year,” said Paul Van
Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “When selecting venues for MPI events, we look for destinations
that provide great infrastructure, world-class facilities and memorable experiences. Having grown up
spending my summers on the Jersey Shore, I am excited for the opportunity to showcase this unique
and beautiful destination to our community.”
MPI follows a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process for all of its signature events and
considers factors such as location benefits, meeting venue facilities, pricing, hotel offerings, destination
accessibility, unique options and local support. The association will work closely with volunteer leaders
from both the MPI New Jersey Chapter and the Philadelphia Area MPI Chapter as well as host city
partners Meet AC and Caesars Entertainment.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Caesars Entertainment in hosting MPI’s 2016 WEC. This is a
strategic direction for Meet AC and for Atlantic City as we continue to diversify our mix of business.
Showcasing Atlantic City to over 1,000 meeting planners and over 2,000 total attendees will definitely
help us grow the meetings and conventions market,” said Jim Wood, president and CEO of Meet AC.
Michael Massari, Senior Vice President of Caesars Entertainment National Meetings and Events added,
“We are extremely honored to welcome Meeting Professionals International’s World Education
Congress to Atlantic City and the Harrah’s Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center next June. Cities
all across North America vie for the chance each year to welcome WEC to their city, and MPI chose
Atlantic City. This decision validates Atlantic City as a serious contender as a meetings destination for
meeting planners across the country. Caesars Entertainment has a long and treasured partnership with
MPI, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome MPI’s members to Atlantic City and to Harrah’s next
summer.”
This year WEC takes place August 1 – 4, 2015, in San Francisco at the Moscone Center. For more
information or to register for WEC 2015, see www.mpiweb.org/wec15.
About MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest and most vibrant global meeting and event
industry association. The organization provides innovative and relevant education, networking
opportunities and business exchanges, and acts as a prominent voice for the promotion and growth of
the industry. MPI membership is comprised of approximately 18,500 members belonging to 70
chapters and clubs worldwide. For additional information or to join, visit www.mpiweb.org.
About Meet AC
Meet AC, Inc. was officially formed as a 501(c)(6) organization on June 23, 2014. Prior to its formation,
the Meetings and Convention sales and marketing group was operating under the Casino Reinvestment
Development Authority (CRDA). Meet AC, a tourism economic development agency, will focus on three
primary objectives: sales, marketing and services.
For complete Atlantic City tourism and convention information, visit www.meetinac.com. Follow us on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/MeetAtlanticCity and Twitter at @Meet_AC.
About Meetings and Events at Caesars Entertainment Corporation
The world's most geographically diversified casino-entertainment company, Caesars Entertainment
offers meeting and event planners one dedicated team, united nationwide, committed to providing the
most successful meeting experiences possible. With one call or email, planners have access to 40
properties in 20 unique destinations, with 1.5 million square feet of meeting space and more than
42,000 guest rooms. Mix and match properties and venues within a destination under a single contract
and minimum. Enjoy elite perks, rewards and privileges with our Total Rewards Meeting Diamond
Program. For more information, please visit www.CaesarsMeansBusiness.com.
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Media Contacts:
Sonya Thorpe Cobb, MPI
972-702-3098
sthorpe@mpiweb.org
Jessica Merrill, Meet AC
609-515-0210
jmerrill@meetinac.com
Laura Esfeller, Caesars Entertainment
702-371-1720
lesfeller@caesars.com