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TUESDAY, AUG 4
The official award-winning daily publication of MPI’s 2015 World Education Congress
RISE UP
Tara Liaschenko (right) introduced as Member of the
Year Monday at WEC 2015.
Read about Tara and all the
RISE Awards recipients in
the September issue of
The Meeting Professional.
PROFILE
A Day of
Recognition
By Rowland Stiteler
With all the great moments that have happened at
WEC over the years, none will likely surpass the outflow of human emotion and personal/professional triumph evident when the 2015 MPI Chairman’s Award
was presented to Janet Sperstad, CMP (MPI Wisconsin
Chapter), director of the Meeting and Event Management Degree Program at Madison College in Madison,
Wis., for the past 13 years.
And while Sperstad has made a considerable contribution to the profession through her efforts as an
educator over the years, the award went to Sperstad
inside
P6
for something even bigger—nothing less than officially defining the profession of meeting planning
as a job definition recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Sperstad teared up when she accepted the award,
and for good reason—this has been a decades-long
quest for her, and actually for meeting professionals
everywhere.
As a 30-year meeting professional and a 29-year
member of MPI, defining meeting planning as a recognized profession has been a life’s work for Sperstad, and Sunday’s award presented during the WEC
Opening General Session involved not only the recognition by her peers that this has been achieved, but
was almost something of a celebration by the meeting planning community for becoming a distinct and
now officially recognized profession.
“For all these years we have been working to
achieve the recognition that what we do is a distinct
and separate profession—not just a sub category of
tourism—and this recognition by the U.S. Department
of Labor has finally brought that,” she says.
It is fitting that it took a face-to-face meeting for
the Department of Labor to finally “get it,” as Sperstad
says. In part because she established the first-ever degree program in meetings management, Sperstad had
been asked by the Department of Labor last year to
submit information to define the job skills and competency requirements.
She did better than that, flying to Washington, D.C.,
to meet with Department of Labor administrators and
present all the right information about what meeting
professionals do.
“They finally got it,” she says. “Now, what we do for
a living is defined officially by the U.S. government.”
P10
Schedule
Pgs. 3-4
P8
A Wonderful Experience
Students able to attend WEC
are building a brighter future for
the industry.
Uniquely San Francisco
For the Closing Night Celebration
we’re taking it to the street.
Composing Creativity
World-class violinist Kai Kight
speaks at today’s Flash Point.
@MPI and #WEC15
f
facebook.com/MPIfans
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POCONO MOUNTAINS, PA
SANDUSKY, OH | WISCONSIN DELLS, WI
7/27/15 4:54 PM
Size: 9" W x 12" H • Bleed: None • Live: .5"
©2015 Kalahari Development LLC
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
DAY 3
Time Well Spent
I’m a WEC junkie. No doubt about it. I like getting to Moscone
West early and staying late on the networking circuit. I enjoy
the sessions I get to and lament the ones I miss.
Monday was a good example. My mind so wanted to lace
up my running shoes and participate in the MPI Foundation’s Chairman’s Challenge Fun Run at 6 a.m. But my body
revolted, especially after a late night—err, early morning—
at The Big Deal. So instead I snuggled my head into a cowboy hat at the Meetings & Conventions Calgary Breakfast.
I made a quick stop at the WEC 2015 Community Project,
table-hopped Career and Learning Central, networked in
MarketSquare, then door-hopped morning education.
From there, it was behind the scenes for the RISE Award
recipients photo shoot for the September issue of The Meet-
ing Professional, meetings, phone calls, unhealthy snacks
and back to my work area to deluge my Pubs team with
eye-rolling questions.
My afternoon was similarly slammed, and I suspect won’t
end until 1 a.m. after Rendezvous.
My moment of relaxation was spent with Ebert, Yosie,
Dante, Mina and Scout, our best friends from 4Paws, the
canine companions and service dogs at the always-popular
Puppy Cuddling.
“It’s really heartwarming to see everyone here,” says Rita
Matthews of sponsor Visit Norfolk. “Planners and suppliers
alike talk about how this helps them relax.”
Now that was time well spent.
Thanks for reading MPI OnSite. Have a great Tuesday!
PROGRAM
AT-A-GLANCE
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Sunrise Sessions
Level 2 and 4th and Howard
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Mexico CVBs Buyer
Breakfast
(Invitation only)
Room 2022 Overlook, Level 2
7:30 - 8:45 a.m.
MPI Past Presidents and
Chairs Breakfast
(Invitation only)
Room 2010, Level 2
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
WEC and City
Information Desks
Level 1 Foyer
7:30 a.m - 4 p.m.
Registration
Level 1 Foyer
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
WEC 2015 Community
Project
COMPLETED!
Rich Luna
Editor in Chief
rluna@mpiweb.org
8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Career and Learning
Central
Level 3 Foyer
12:15 - 2 p.m.
WEC 2016 Atlantic City
Preview Lunch
Level 3
Sponsored by Meet AC
8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
MPI Bookstore and
Member Lounge
Level 2 Foyer
8:30 - 9 a.m.
Coffee in Marketsquare
Level 2 Foyer
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
Education Sessions
Levels 2 & 3
9 - 10:15 a.m.
Flash Point General Session
Level 3
10:15 - 10:45 a.m.
Break
Level 2 Foyer
10:20 - 10:40 a.m.
Book Signing: Liz Murray
and Pamela Meyer
Level 2 Bookstore
10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Education Sessions
Levels 2 & 3
8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
MarketSquare
Level 2 Foyer
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
European Reception
(Invitation only)
Breakroom, Level 3
Sponsored by IMEX
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Mexico Tourism Buyer
Reception
(Invitation only)
Room 2022, Level 2
7 - 10 p.m.
Closing Night Celebration
City Hall
Schedule
Cont. Pg 4
Download the 2015 MPI Global Event App
(It’s your WEC conference guide!)
Available for Android, iPhone and iPad devices—get the most out of your WEC experience, from
managing your education schedule to finding locations for offsite events. Search your mobile
device app store for “MPI Global Events.”
World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4 MPI ONSITE
3
ONSITE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
DAY 3
Education
sessions
The H.U.N.G.E.R. Game
Room 2022
1.25 clock hours
6 - 8 a.m.
Sunrise Session: Sunrise Photo
Safari
4th and Howard
(on bridge overlooking carousel)
The Surprise SMM: How Small,
Organic Strategic Meetings
Management (SMM) Programs
Advance Beyond Established,
Larger Programs
Room 2008
1.25 clock hours
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Roles, Relationships & Responsibilities of the CVB Sales Professional
(CVBs Only!)
Room 2005
1 clock hour
Understanding Your Leverage
1.25 clock hours
2009
Tech Tune-up: A Look Under the
Hood at Registration Software
Room 2003
1.25 clock hours
Sunrise Session: Wake Up and Rev
Up Yoga
Room 2008
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
8:30 - 10:15 a.m.
A Complete Guide to Sizzling Site
Visits
1 clock hour
Room 2016
“Behind the Stage” with Freeman
(Invite only – Special Freeman
backstage pass required)
Level 3 / CSR Activity Center 1.75 clock hours
9 - 10:15 a.m.
Building Successful Cross-Cultural
Teams
Room 2018
1 clock hour
TUESDAY Sessions
LEVEL 3
CALC is MPI’s learning laboratory, offering a variety of unique
learning opportunities for the individual, the small group and
the masses. Here’s a look at some of the educational opportunities available today. A full list of sessions is available on the
MPI Global Event App.
10:45 - 11:15 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
BRAINSTORM: Experiential
Learning
Brainstorm Room
0.5 clock hours
Q&A: Jackie Mulligan
on #SMM and
#futureofmeetings
Meeting Room A
0.25 clock hours
CAMPFIRE: Don’t be
LinkedOut!
Meeting Room B
Q&A: Lindsay Martin-Bilbrey
on #sizzlingsitevisits
Meeting Room B
0.25 clock hours
11:15 - 11:45 a.m.
2:15 - 2:45 p.m.
Google Your Way Into the Cloud
1 clock hour
Room 2003
10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Music Licensing For Meetings
and Events...Are You Playing
Their Song?
Room 2008
1 clock hour
Please - ANYTHING but the Budget!
How to Build a Budget That You Can
Actually Explain
Room 2007
1.25 clock hours
Reimagining Events: Better
Meetings and Enhanced Brand
Experience Through Sustainability
Room 2004
1 clock hour
Getting Organized with Microsoft®
Outlook
Room 2005
Second Nature Productivity
Room 2005
Flash Point General Session
Level 3
0.75 clock hours
Career and
Learning Central
CAMPFIRE: Maximizing
Feedback: Survey Design and
Enhanced Feedback
Meeting Room A
0.5 clock hours
CAMPFIRE: Why Didn’t I Think
of That? The “Oops” Factors in
Budgets
Meeting Room A
0.5 clock hours
CAMPFIRE: Meetovation:
The Mind-Blowing Meeting
Design Concept
Meeting Room B
2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
MPI Town Hall
Room 2016
The Four “I”s of Sponsorship
Room 2004
1.25 clock hours
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Safety & Security Issues
Room 2018
4
Selecting the Optimal Wine for
Your Event Room 2007
1 clock hour
SMM - Measuring Intangible
Outcomes
1 clock hour
Room 2009
What’s the Problem We’re Trying to
Solve? Selling Incentive Travel to
Business Leaders
1 clock hour
Room 2022
MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4
CAMPFIRE: From Strategy
to User Experience: Meeting
Design is Everything
Meeting Room B
CAMPFIRE: MPI’s New
Experiential Events Series
Meeting Room A
0.5 clock hours
Download the MPI Global Event App!
Available for Android, iPhone and iPad devices—to learn much more
about these sessions and to get the most out of your WEC experience,
from managing your education schedule to finding locations for offsite
events. Search your mobile device app store for “MPI Global Events.”
THE CITY HAS TRANSFORMED ITSELF
FROM THE ARCH GROUNDS UP.
After years of revitalization, St. Louis is back on top. Even our most iconic attraction
is reaching new heights. Current renovations to the Gateway Arch grounds will
WE’RE BACK.
seamlessly connect it to the Mississippi River and downtown for a better conventiongoing experience. Monumental changes indeed. It’s time to meet St. Louis again.
THE PLACE TO MEET
You wil be, too.
tions at
Explore the Arch renova
ch
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om
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Ready Player One
Exploring virtual reality and taking chances at
WEC provides a glimpse into the future.
BY Michael Pinchera
Education through experimentation, trying
different methods, technologies and perceptions
to affect your professional performance is the essence of WEC’s Career and Learning Central.
As such, there were two sessions about virtual
reality (VR) presented this year in varying formats—the small classroom-style Campfire and
the free-flowing Brainstorm. It’s time for meeting
and event professionals to seriously learn about
VR and discuss with peers and experts how the
burgeoning technology will impact the meeting
and event industry—or more appropriately, envision and help direct the future.
Approximately 15 percent of participants had
previously experienced modern VR, but sought,
for the most part, to gain an understanding as to
what VR means for their business.
The goal of Devin Hagen (MPI Minnesota Chapter), president and CEO of Élan Speakers Agency,
was to get greater clarity as to how VR could be
leveraged by her speakers; Crystal Watts (MPI Toronto Chapter), sales and marketing manager of
Hard Rock Café Toronto, was most intrigued with
the marketing possibilities.
Unlike presenting on augmented reality at
WEC 2014, this time—all about VR—it was
thrilling to find a greater number of tech geeks in
the general population. That may be the result of
the event being held in San Francisco, but I think
the awareness and understanding of developing
technologies in general is genuinely spreading
at a faster and more important pace than even a
year ago.
Going with the spirit of experimentation, a new
incarnation of WEC 2015 will live on long after
the Closing Night Celebration this evening thanks
to tech advances in the field of creating original
content for virtual reality.
Over the course of the past few days we’ve
6
shared here in San Francisco, you may have seen
me with a tripod topped with what appears to be
an over-sized shot glass. That’s a V.360 camera rig
shared for the conference by Vrideo, an immersive-video-streaming company based in Santa
Monica, Calif., that hosts user-created, 360-degree videos viewable in VR. With this easy-to-use,
battery-hungry device, I captured select moments
of the conference in a way never before as accessible. From this footage, the wizards at Vrideo are
going to edit and stitch together an incredibly cool
sizzle reel to enable you to experience a collection
of WEC activities in two new ways.
How can you check out the result of this endeavor? The show should be finalized in several
weeks, then the first step for you is to visit www.
vrideo.com and search “WEC.”
• If you do this with a VR headset you’ll be transported back to WEC. Remember, the equipment
required to explore VR isn’t necessarily expensive—your smartphone and the inexpensive
Google Cardboard-style headset (as cheap as $3)
combine to give you the desired sense of presence. (For the best experience, use the Chrome
browser on iPhones and Chrome Beta on Android
phones.)
• If you don’t have a VR headset, simply load the
video on any standard Web browser and—thanks
to Vrideo’s hardware-agnostic approach—watch
the panoramic video (click and drag on the screen
to rotate the perspective while the footage plays).
Sure, this is just a taste of WEC 2015, but it’s an
incredible step forward in how meeting professionals can and will showcase events as VR finally
begins its ascent beyond science fiction.
What kind of experimentation would you like
to see at WEC 2016 in Atlantic City? Let me know:
mpinchera@mpiweb.org.
MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4
A Wonderful
Experience
Students able to attend WEC
are building a brighter future
for the industry.
Right now Taylor Brown’s signature block says
Event Professional in Training, but that will change
in December when she graduates from Metropolitan State University of Denver’s (MSUD) School of
Hospitality, Tourism and Events after a course of
study in meeting and event management.
And part of that course of study involves her attendance at this year’s WEC. Brown is part of a student group from MSUD who came to WEC this year
with their professor and chair of the department,
Carol Krugman, MEd, CMP, CMM, with the specific
purpose of attending educational programs at the
conference and taking what they learned back to
the university to be passed on to faculty and then
students to improve the effectiveness of the school’s
instructional program going forward.
Brown, who is here thanks to an MPI Foundation
Social Tables WEC Scholarship, is attending her second consecutive WEC. Last year she was at WEC on
a Future Leaders Forum scholarship with a group of
other students from other universities.
“The thought of going to my first WEC was a little
intimidating beforehand, but being with a group of
other students helped us all build confidence and be
comfortable at the Minneapolis WEC,” she says.
This year, as more an “old pro” at WEC, she is
functioning as what Krugman and her students
call “an information sponge,” learning everything
she can both for herself and students back at the
university.
“There is just so much to learn and benefit from
at WEC,” Brown says. “It’s a wonderful experience.”
Brown is the past president of the Student Club
that is part of the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter, and
has benefited from not just the association with
other students, but by being active in the chapter
as a whole.
With practical experience in working with the
registration at the Meetings Industry Council (MIC)
event in Denver in March, and also through planning
events for The Meadows Neighborhood Co. in Castle
Rock, Colo., she seems ready for a bright future in
the industry.
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Closing Night
Celebration
WEC 2016
Preview Lunch
For the closing night celebration we’re taking it to the street—Polk Street. Outside
San Francisco’s dramatic City Hall, which recently celebrated its 100th birthday, we’ll transform the pavement into one of San Francisco International Airport’s runways, with buses
“landing” and putting guests right in the middle of a uniquely San Franciscan celebration tonight at 7 p.m.
There will be local musicians performing on Art Cars, a Chinese dragon and dancers winding along the street and a line of sponsor cabanas offering the best food and drink the Bay Area
has to offer. Be sure to visit every one and get your passport stamped. You could win a GoPro
camera!
The North Light Court will double as the Duboce Triangle, with the Electric Headband playing the best of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Just be sure you’re back out on the Polk Street side of City Hall
by 8:45 p.m. for a special presentation from the Mayor’s Balcony.
This is going to be a celebration for the ages. We can’t wait to see you there!
Sponsored by Starwood Hotels San Francisco, Commune Hotels + Resorts, Hornblower Cruises &
Events, Sonoma County Tourism, Hyatt Hotels San Francisco, Hilton Hotels of Union Square and
Wine Country Destinations
Atlantic City is in the midst of the dawn of a new era, drawing from its rich history to meet the demands of the future.
From the iconic Boardwalk and crowning of Miss America to
luxurious shopping and a thrilling nightlife, the city has limitless options to delight its visitors.
Join Meet AC for the closing luncheon today at 12:15 p.m.
on Level 3 to learn about this one-of-a-kind meeting destination, heralded by the 2016 MPI World Education Congress at
the all-new Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center. Food Network star, chef and television personality Guy Fieri will grace
the stage with his dynamite enthusiasm to introduce the menu
items, while showcasing the culinary culture of Atlantic City
and the Jersey Shore. Wrap up your fantastic meal with the
Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys.
Sponsored by Meet AC
Welcome to WEC 2015
Consider one of our 13 Great Wolf Lodge® locations across North
America for your next meeting or event. Many locations are
conveniently located near major metro areas and feature built-in
technology that won’t leave you stranded, separate entrances and
parking areas, quick satellite check-in, oversized guest suites,
exceptional catering, and the most responsive service in the industry.
But our true difference is that with us, you’ll partner with a team
that will collaborate with you on every detail. A team fully vested
in the complete success of your meeting or event.
Start the conversation at 608.662.4700 ext. 4723
or via email at groupsales@greatwolf.com.
greatwolf.com/meetings
Charlotte/Concord, NC • Cincinnati/Mason, OH • Grand Mound, WA
Grapevine, TX • Kansas City, KS • New England/Fitchburg, MA
Niagara Falls, Ontario • Pocono Mountains, PA • Sandusky, OH
Southern California/Garden Grove, CA • Traverse City, MI
Williamsburg, VA • Wisconsin Dells, WI
GROUPS & MEETINGS
*Function spaces vary by resort.
8
MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4
pubLICAtIOn: mp1 One+ (weC dAILIes) • VersIOn: en • FOrmAt: 9’’ x 12’’ + bleed • COuLeur: cmYK • LIVrAIsOn: 15 juin • pArutIOn: dailies 1 au 4 aoÛt aoÛt
Become the
#1 host city
in the AmericAs.
We did it.
We were named Top Host City in the Americas
by the UIA four years in a row. And in the Watkins
Report, our clients put us at the top of the list as
the CVB that stands out the most. We’ve become
experts at transforming extraordinary requests into
unforgettable events. And we’re just getting started.
Get the full story at:
mtl.org/meetings
ONSITE
Composing
Your Life
but now I imagine it as a work of art, a piece of music,
for which success is not defined by just playing the right
notes, but by offering unique sounds to the world.
What does innovation sound like to you?
True innovation does not always sound great to the ear.
People often will listen to me perform and ask how I
came up with a certain rhythm or melody. While I
would love to say that ideas just come to me through
some creative spirit, the truth is very different. For each
piece that I create, there are at least 10 prior drafts that
I believe no one would ever want to listen to. When I
am creating, my first idea is never the one idea I finish
with. My process is to just start with something and
then rapidly make changes until I create the sounds I
am pleased with.
In any field, I believe that innovation is rarely one
idea that just works. It is a collage of many ideas that are
progressed by a mindset of perseverance and flexibility.
World-class violinist and
genre-defying composer
Kai Kight talks innovation
and creativity during today’s
Flash Point session.
By Michael Pinchera
What advice do you have for business professionals
seeking to challenge themselves and start creating?
At some point you must be willing to put a bet on yourself. I think a lot of people miss opportunities because
they are scared to fail and need things to be 100 percent certain before they move forward. This creates a
scenario where you wait and become inactive because
the future will likely never be 100 percent.
I used to have a giant problem with stage fright
when I was a younger performer—I was consumed
with thinking about the horrible things that would
happen if I messed up on stage. What helped me overcome this is that I changed my view of failure. Instead
of putting each performance on a pedestal where it
felt like an all-or-nothing situation, I started seeing
each performance as one step along a much longer
journey. I started to realize that if things did not go
well in a show, I could use that experience to help inform my next performance. These days, I can comfortably perform in front of thousands without putting so
much pressure on myself because I embrace that the
show goes on regardless.
Imagine you are using a GPS map. If you zoom in
too much, all you can see is a span of red. You might
be consumed by the traffic right in front of you that
appears all encompassing. But if you are able to zoom
out and see the whole map, you can see that the span
of red is quite insignificant in comparison to the length
of your entire journey. For those who desire to start
creating, it is important to “zoom out” and see that the
actual danger is miniscule compared to the frantic stories we tell ourselves.
What is your greatest failure and
how did it change you?
My greatest failure actually looked like success from
the outside. People often assumed that I went to
music school, however, my background is actually in
engineering and innovation, which I studied at the
design school at Stanford University. I was following
the traditional path for this and landed a job that was
deemed successful by everyone around me. My résumé looked great, but at my core, I felt empty, unsatisfied, and was not performing at my highest level.
Every morning I would feel this heavy weight pulling
at my spirit because I knew that I was meant to do
something different with my skillset.
This was a large factor in how my career in speaking began, because I started to look for ways to bring
music, my passion, back to the forefront of my life.
Instead of viewing my career as an “either/or” decision between innovation and music, I wanted to find
a unique way to do both.
This experience taught me how important it is to
trust my internal aspirations over [those of] others.
Today, my actions are not guided by going for awards
or anything that looks shiny; my choices are based
on what is true to me and the impact I would like to
leave on the world. I used to live my life as a checklist,
How should music best be utilized at
meetings and conferences?
I have been fortunate to perform for people across the
world, from Beijing to Berlin. From this experience, I’ve
learned the true power of music. It is a universal human
language that can quickly connect people to a common
idea across differing backgrounds and borders. At their
core, meetings and conferences strive to do the same
thing: unite and galvanize people from different places
for a common purpose. I think music should be used
strategically as a medium to drive a specific collective
emotion at any point at a conference. It should be considered from a top-down, strategic level, just like any
other portion of the agenda. Instead of defaulting to
music as just background during breaks, I believe there
is an opportunity for meeting planners to look at a specific section of their agenda, define the purpose or emotion they want to build in their audience and then select
music accordingly.
Join Kai Kight at today’s Flash
Point session, 9-10:15 a.m., as he
shares additional personal insights
that can help you embrace the
creativity within.
VisitGreensboroNC.com
10
MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4
WHERE MEETING
PLANNERS BECOME
HEROES.
TRANSFORMERS™: THE RIDE-3D
OPENING SUMMER 2016
LOEWS SAPPHIRE FALLS RESORT
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could want to inspire, entertain and accommodate your attendees. With the opening of the
new Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in Summer 2016 you’ll find five spectacular on-site resorts—
hotels for any taste, meeting space for groups of any size. You can also hold a dazzling
after-hours event in our theme parks, or experience the nighttime excitement of the Universal
CityWalk® dining and entertainment complex.
Whether your attendees are coming to Universal Orlando® Resort for business, pleasure, or
both, they’ll have an unforgettable adventure. And that doesn’t just make your job easier. It
makes your job title “hero.”
VISIT US AT OUR BOOTH TO LEARN MORE
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HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s15)
TRANSFORMERS and its logo and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2015 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. © 2015 DreamWorks L.L.C. and Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Cabana Bay Beach Resort
© 2015 UCF Hotel Venture II. All rights reserved. Hard Rock Hotel ® Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort logos © 2015 UCF Hotel Venture. All rights reserved. © 2015 UCF Hotel Venture III. All rights reserved.
Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2015 Universal Studios. © 2015 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved. 1509286/AW
ONSITE
Target: Deception
Pamela Meyer offers essential intel for
detecting deception during today’s
Flash Point session.
By Michael Pinchera
What do meeting and event industry professionals
most need to know about lie-spotting?
The most important thing to know is that it’s not about
intuition. A lot of us act on intuition or we act on first
impressions, when in fact [we] actually need to know
the science—you never really find out in real-time if
someone is lying. So you don’t get that instant feedback. You can’t really develop an understanding of
someone’s behavior when they’re lying unless you’re
trained in it. Oftentimes, we respond to intuition that
someone’s not being honest, and we can be wrong. So
I actually teach the real, verified, scientific signs of lying—verbal and non-verbal—so [attendees] can walk
away [with] a better sense of what to look for rather
ADto( VEC
V.2 gut
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than simply to listen
their own
stinct] works really well in certain business situations
but not when you’re trying to detect deception.
12
the connection that they’re going to have. When I train
people in deception-detection it’s really not about the
small talk at a trade show [or white lies], I train people
to look at the high-stakes lies that may affect important
decisions they can make in their lives—whether it’s who
to hire, who to date, what car to buy—significant, highstakes decisions. That’s where deception matters. I’m not
so concerned with the little white lies that are really all
about social dignity and connection.
Do you think most people that buy your book or come
to hear you speak are interested in learning about
lie-spotting in order to spot potential lies or because
they think the knowledge can help mask their own
lying?
Invariably, every time I give a talk, there are one or two
people that come up to me [and admit] they attended to
learn to lie better. But it doesn’t matter, because so much
of what we’re training [people to do is read] the unconscious leakage that occurs when you’re being deceptive,
and you can’t control that. An unconscious facial micro-expression of contempt or an unconscious micro-expression of sadness or anger is not something you can
really control.
You’ve cited research that strangers lie three times
within the first 10 minutes of meeting each other. Is
there any reason to think that people meeting for
the first time, such as at a trade show, for instance,
would lie any more or less than that?
A lot of times [people] lie without really knowing it.
Oftentimes, [these] kinds of lies are sort of bridging—“Oh yeah, I lived in Santa Fe, also,” or “I also used
to work at Time Life Books,” you know, ways to connect with people. So the thing to think about when
you’re meeting people at a trade show is not, “Is this
Pamela Meyer will give you a crash
person going to lie to me or not?” but if you look at that
course in recognizing deceptive
person and realize that sometimes when people are
being unconsciously deceptive, they’re really doing it
traits during today’s Flash Point
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out of a positive
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they should trust that the people they’re going to meet
have reason to connect with them. And try to focus on
MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4
ONSITE
Are there any safety/security issues that you believe are worsening?
How can meeting professionals best prepare?
Medical issues. There is a push-pull dynamic going on. With an aging population
and lifestyle choices including sedentary lifestyles and a tendency to (ahem)
overindulge, we are going to find more and more medical issues among the U.S.
population at the same time there are increased medical risks here and in other
countries—from the risks of pandemics to the risks of injury from something as
simple as falling down the stairs.
What ongoing education do you recommend for industry professionals
in order to stay abreast of new developments in safety/security?
Managing Risk
Tyra Hilliard from Hilliard Productions presents
“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Safety & Security Issues” today, 10:45 a.m. - Noon in room 2018.
Read the full interview at www.mpiweb.org/blogs.
There are some great alerts that will help keep industry professionals informed
about safety and security risks. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a great
resource regarding medical and accidental risks, especially for international travel. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) has some helpful
alerts and guides for emergency responses for businesses and individuals. The
U.S. Department of State has alerts and warnings for other countries that are
probably more conservative than absolutely necessary, but with risk management
that’s not a bad thing.
Can you share an example of recent legislation in the U.S. that is
demanding more direct action of those in the meeting industry?
What’s the most common safety/security issue that needs
greater attention?
Transportation-related injuries are worsening. Traffic accidents are the No. 1
cause of death among travelers. Whether caused by driving with jet lag, crazy taxi
drivers, variations in traffic laws and practices (including which side of the road
one drives on), road rage or general unfamiliarity with an area, when we turn our
people loose on the roads in an unfamiliar place, domestic or foreign, they are at
risk on foot and behind the wheel.
Prior to a recent Americans with Disabilities Act amendment, people with food
allergies and intolerances often did not fit within the definition of “person with a
disability.” Now they clearly do, as indicated in the Lesley University case (2013).
This should put meeting professionals on alert that they can no longer just offer a
vegetarian plate. If a medical issue arises with a person due to failure to accommodate a disclosed food allergy or intolerance, liability will follow.
SHAWN BOYNES, CAE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ANATOMISTS
2008-2009 DELP SCHOLAR
ASAE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014-2017
DETROIT: EDUCATING PROFESSIONALS. ELEVATING EVENTS.
Detroit has made education a cornerstone of its association partnerships, making it an ideal place
for professionals to meet and gain the continued knowledge needed to succeed. The Detroit Metro
Convention & Visitors Bureau sponsors programming and scholarships for members of the Diversity and
Executive Leadership Program (DELP), a major initiative of the American Society of Association Executives
(ASAE). As host of DELP’s annual reunion, scholars get the chance to discover what’s amazing around every corner
in The D, like the Motown Museum, the world-famous Eastern Market, the Arab American National Museum and more.
Discover Detroit, America’s great comeback city, for yourself. Learn more at asae2015detroit.com/comeback-stories.
AMERICA’S GREAT COMEBACK CITY.
14
MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4
SECURING TOMORROW BY
STRENGTHENING TODAY
The MPI Foundation fuels the growth and
advancement of MPI members by providing
them professional development and career
opportunities through grants and scholarships.
Donate today at www.mpiweb.org/foundation
ONSITE
Everyone’s all
Suiting the Palate
donireewalker
aTwitter
Michele Snock from CooperVino WineBar presents “Selecting the Optimal Wine
for Your Event” today, 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. in room 2007.
Is there a varietal that is being overlooked? The movie Sideways gave
Merlot a bad wrap. There are some excellent quality merlots, particularly those
from California, that perfectly suit the American palate—and go great with
food.
What non-alcoholic alternatives can be paired with meals? I haven’t
actually experimented with this, but savory non-alcoholic cocktails made with
different herbs and spices would enhance the flavors of food—for example basil-infused water with an Italian dish.
How can planners make the most out of a wine budget? Many of
the best values are from Spain, Italy and southern France—in general California
wines at the same quality level are much more expensive.
Does wine offer a greater experience than other alcoholic beverages? Good wines are meant to go with food—they enhance the entire expe-
rience. It has a lot to do with the acid level of the wine, which helps clear the
palate. Think of Coca-Cola and pizza or coffee and donuts.
Thank You WEC Sponsors!
American Program Bureau Inc.
BEARCOM
CadmiumCD
CORT Event Furnishings
Destination By design
Dominican Republic Tourism Board
eventPower
Experience Columbus
Freeman
GeoTeaming
Giants Enterprises
Grand Hyatt San Francisco
Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau
Great Wolf Lodge - Wisconsin Dells
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention
Center
iCompli
IMEX
IMEX America
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors
Authority
Latinamerica Meetings S.A de CU
Louisville Convention & Visitors
Bureau
Meet AC (Formerly Atlantic City CVA)
Meetings + Conventions Calgary
Mexico Tourism Board
16
New Orleans Convention & Visitors
Bureau
New Orleans Convention Center
Orange Photography
Panda Sportswear
PC/Nametag
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors
Bureau
PSAV Presentation Services
PTE Productions LLC
QuickMobile Inc.
San Francisco Travel Association
Sonic Foundry
Southwest Airlines Co.
streamlinevents inc.
T Skorman Productions
Team San Jose
Thailand Convention & Exhibition
Bureau
Totally Mod
Tourisme Montreal
Visit Anaheim
Visit Norfolk
VMware
WestJet Airlines
Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Workspring
MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4
Jeannie Power, CMP
@EvntGrrl
Somehow I ended up at
the Champions Table!
@ShawnaSuckow
@IMEXMiguel @LuiSays
#wec15
liza Hixson
@eliza_hixson
Motivational discussion
about bridging the gap
between researchers and
industry. What’s your
take? #WEC15
Sarah Ferreira
@sferreira1
Cable car shuttle loaded.
Headed to the Chairman’s 5k sponsored by
the MPI Foundation.
#WEC15
Julie Green
@Green02Julie
Day 2 of #WEC15! It’s
great to see all the amazing industry leaders.
Happy to be a part of
@MPI @MPIGNY @PhiladelphiaMPI #eventprofs
MAC2 Productions
@mac2prod
@M_Dominguez “We
are no longer recovering
as an industry. We are
expanding.” #WEC15
@MiddlePAMPI #conferencetweeting
@wec
Why is networking at WEC
important to you?
“Networking is very important for our industry
in South Korea because we don’t have as much
history and experience in the industry as other
countries. So coming to WEC, talking with people,
sharing with them and learning from them
becomes very important to what I can bring back
home.”
Lorraine Han Daejeon, International Marketing
Enterprise, South Korea
“When you are with other MPI members, you
tend to have the same professional goals, but you
have different perspectives, different experiences
and different ways to achieve the same goals. You
learn so much by talking face to face and sharing
the perspectives that are a result of each person’s
experiences in the industry. “
Dieter Burgoa, CMP, PSAV, Orlando
“I like to share my experiences and learn from
others’ experience. You just never know when you
will learn something new that will help you work
smarter and more efficiently. You get that from
talking to your peers.”
Julie Greer, MBA, CMP, Reno-Sparks Convention and
Rebecca DeLuca
@VegasBecky
These stats are staggering. Time to fully
embrace this shared
economy thing. #WEC15
Terese New-Irwin,
CMP
@TereseI
It’s not every day one
finds a purple latex glove
filled with grapes in the
restroom at a convention
center. #WEC15
Visitors Authority, San Diego
“I find that networking at these events is the best
way possible to keep up with what is happening
in the industry—you hear about new trends, new
challenges that may be on the way and how to
meet those challenges.”
Stephanie Thomas, Hyatt Regency San Francisco
DISTINCTLY NORFOLK
Hilton Norfolk the Main
DIVERSE VENUES. DYNAMIC MEETINGS.
Nor-fok, or Naw-fok, no matter how you pronounce it, the experience will always be the
same – fun! Norfolk provides an exceptional experience in the conference room and beyond.
After your meeting is over, sail the Elizabeth River on a tall ship or take a lunch or dinner
cruise. Get a taste of our waterfront city with fresh catches
from the Chesapeake Bay. Norfolk meetings will get even
more dynamic with the 2017 opening of Hilton Norfolk the
Main, featuring 300 exquisite guestrooms, 32 meeting rooms
and 42,000 square feet of function space.
1-800-368-3097
Planning a meeting is easy at visitnorfolktoday.com/meet.
ONSITE
NEWS & NOTES
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Mike Maurer Wins
The Big Deal
The MPI Foundation played host to an evening of high-stakes poker at The
Big Deal. Northern Californian Mike Maurer (pictured, right) of Merchants
Exchange Productions won the tournament, a trip for two to Las Vegas and a
seat valued at US$10,000 to compete for millions in the 2016 World Series of
Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Kelly Bush, CMP, CTSM (MPI Georgia Chapter), of
Manhattan Associates finished second, followed by Gene Holt (MPI Tennessee
Chapter) of NASBA. Sponsored by Caesars Entertainment, Hilton Worldwide,
Encore Event Technologies and Destinations by Design.
Advance Your
Career with a CMM
Is earning your CMM a priority in 2015? MPI and GBTA have teamed up to bring
you an updated Certificate in Meeting Management program that will bolster
your business management skills and advance your career.
There are several CMM programs to choose from and several MPI Foundation
scholarships available to assist with your expenses. Upcoming program locations and dates for this year include Denver, Aug. 27-30; Dominican Republic,
Oct. 1-4; and Anaheim, Calif., Nov. 12-15. To take advantage of upcoming programs, all you have to do is fill out an application. Once your application is completed and accepted, you will be able to register to attend any upcoming CMM
program in 2015 and beyond. If you have already filled out an application and
been accepted, choose a location and register today.
For more information and to register, go to gbta.org/cmm.
18
MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4
EDGE GAME WINNERS
In the Edge Game, located within
the MPI Global Event App, players
practice gamification through a variety
of activities. Here’s a look at some of
yesterday’s winners. Flash Point: Gina
Abram, Lorrie Kern, Melanie Kern, Lisa
Pemberton, Dawn Young. MPI RISE
winners: Susan Bormann, Devie Hagen,
Chris Heeter, Beth McDaniels, Kathleen
Mozena, Lori Reynolds. Chef Jeff meet
and greet tours: Sarah Bondar, Susan
Gonzales, Christine Hartman, Danielle
Restaino, Allison Selle. Sanctuary Hotel
two-night stay/dinner: Colette Schobbens. Continental Interpreting Services
($50 gift card): Barry Hoehn. Ghirardelli
chocolate gift basket: Kate Landers.
FitBit: Dawn Rasmussen
Shuttle Information
Moscone Center is centrally located
and within walking distance of all WEC
hotels. There will not be shuttles to the
conference (Moscone West). You can
store your sneakers at our complimentary shoe check located on Level 1,
open daily at 7:30 a.m. An ADA shuttle
service is available upon request by
calling (415) 559-5039 on show days
during scheduled hours. Shuttle service
will be provided to the Closing Night
Celebration at City Hall.
Book Signings
Flash Point speakers Liz Murray and
Pamela Meyer will be signing books
from 10:20 - 10:40 a.m. today in the MPI
Bookstore on Level 2. Also, a limited
number of signed books by celebrity
chef Guy Fieri will be available in the
Level 3 foyer.
Join MPI Today!
Visit the membership booth on Level
2 to learn more about MPI benefits
and receive a voucher for $100 off new
member dues.
Need a Professional Headshot?
Thanks to Orange Photography, this
year’s official conference photographers.
Stop by Levels 2 and 3 for your free
professional headshot. Tuesday times:
8 - 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m. - Noon, 2:15 3:30 p.m.
Cuddle with a Puppy!
Cuddling with the dogs on Level 2 benefits 4Paws Social Therapy, whose teams
visit regional healthcare and educational
sites. Monday cuddling times: 10 - 11
a.m., 2:30 - 3:15 p.m.
Not-So-Silent Auction
The MPI Foundation offers an incredible
online auction, and you can bid using
MPI’s Global Event App! Bid on fabulous
packages that include trips, dream
destinations and more. Anyone can bid
using a computer or smart device, so
tell your friends, family and co-workers
to get in on the action. All bids are in
U.S. currency. Auction closes today at
3:15 p.m. Funds raised will enable future
education grants and scholarships for
MPI members.
Puppy Cuddling Sponsored by Visit
Norfolk; CSR Mail Room Sponsored by
VMware and streamlinevents; Edge Game
Sponsored by GeoTeaming
ONSITE
All WEC photos by
Orange Photography
World Education Congress 2015 • Tuesday, August 4 MPI ONSITE
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