Global Meetings Industry Day 2016

“You really jumped right in with this one.” These sentiments, shared by a fellow attendee after hearing this was my first professional association event, could not have been more accurate. I attended the dual-sponsored “Global Meetings Industry Day” event at the Omni Shoreham on April 14. While waiting for the event to begin, Min Kim, one of the presenters from our PMPI panel, recognized me from class and we chatted. The two-hour agenda began with introductions from the chairs of the PCMA Capital Chapter and the MPI Potomac Chapter. Then, as an event sponsor, Visit Australia had a representative speak about why Australia is an attractive destination for meetings. Greater Madison and the Omni Shoreham, the two other sponsors, had representatives speak later in the event. It was interesting, though not surprising, to see that suppliers (two CVB’s and a hotel) sponsored the event as a way to reach the planners in attendance.

Event Sponsors

Maybe I had too high of hopes for a meeting planned by meeting planners, but the presentations did not get off to a great start. The first panel, focused on the “global perspective,” had a moderator and two speakers from CEB (an organization I still don’t quite understand…). After a brief introduction by the moderator, the first speaker went to talk but her lavaliere mic wasn’t working. The moderator had to take off her lav and share it. The segment--which was supposed to be the “keynote”--lasted maybe 10 minutes and focused almost exclusively on how CEB operates in a global setting. There was little that could be applied to a general meetings professional. The panelists left the stage and the emcee returned only to say, “I think we have a few invites for questions.” The speakers had to come back up to the front of the room. They were asked two short questions and although there was time for more, no one in the audience seemed interested in asking anything else.

The second panel, focused on the “national perspective,” was the most interesting. It combined my interests in events and political communication by discussing how the American government needs to see the meetings and tourism industry as important. They talked about the “Meetings Means Business” coalition and what the US Travel Association is doing to lobby the government for favorable policies affecting meetings. Most fascinating was the discussion of the various rules the Obama Administration is putting out that affect federal employee travel policies.

In place of a traditional break, there was an ignite-style presentation (20 slides, 15 seconds each) titled, “Sitting is the New Smoking.” The facilitator explained the dangers of being too sedentary and had the whole room stand to exercise along with a 5-minute workout video. It was fairly difficult stretching in a suit, but it was a nice change of pace and a unique way to get conference attendees up and moving.

The final panel included various local professionals discussing topics more specific to DC. One panelist represented Airbnb. Only after a few softball questions were asked to the panelists did an audience member press Airbnb on its business model and how it's hurting the events industry. The response was fairly boilerplate, but it was interesting to think about how Airbnb is affecting the hospitality industry (specifically attrition complications).

After the presentations, there was a reception, or what they called a “rally.” It gave me my first chance to network with other meeting professionals. It was a bit intimidating because everyone seemed to know each other, but I made a few initial connections and had good conversations with both suppliers and planners. I look forward to attending more industry events (but definitely alongside a co-worker).