ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is rewriting its own rules for its World Education Congress (WEC), scheduled this year for June 11 – 14, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The conference will incorporate several new elements such as an updated general session room design, more active audience participation and exclusive senior meeting professional education opportunities.
WEC 2016 will be held at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center, and Meet AC will be providing attendees with complimentary ground transportation service from the Philadelphia International Airport and the Atlantic City International Airport to host hotels.
WEC is MPI’s annual signature event through which it delivers education, business and networking opportunities to MPI members and the greater meeting and event community.
This year’s conference will deliver more than 80 education sessions that follow four main tracks: Leadership & Strategic Planning, Supplier Focus, Meeting Planning & Project Management, and Meeting & Event Design. Session topics include international meeting planning, event security, trends in convention center sales, cloud computing, attracting and retaining millennials, risk management and meeting planning Six Sigma style.
Also, WEC will offer peer-to-peer senior meeting professional sessions where participants will share best practices and problem solve beyond the basics on current issues.
The majority of WEC education sessions are eligible for clock hours toward the CMP.
“At MPI, we strive to take WEC to the next level each and every year, and this year is no different,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “With the help of attendees, we will rewrite the rules of engagement for our conference and take risks on their behalf.
“From mixed seating arrangements and stage design to roundtable discussions and problem-solving breakout groups, we have designed this year’s program to shift the audience from passive attendees to willing participants—all in an effort to help them … learn new and different [approaches] to planning.”
Following are a few highlights from this year’s education program.
General Session Redesign – The general session space will offer four different stages, feature a house band playing live music on one stage, utilize new and creative visual components, and incorporate mixed seating throughout to ensure there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Innovation Showcase – This education opportunity will present new meeting and event solutions in a rapid-fire presentation format. Attendees will be able to learn more about some of the new technologies and innovations and get hands-on experience by visiting the Innovation Corner located in MarketSquare. MPI is accepting proposals for the Innovation Showcase until March 25th.
Thought Leaders Theatre – This theatre space is located within the Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, just a short walk from the conference center. It will include some of the most creative and thought-provoking education sessions at WEC 2016 including the Innovation Showcase, the Speakers Showcase and the Experiential Event Series Panel featuring the minds behind CES and South By Southwest (SXSW).
In addition, the MPI Academy will deliver several certificate programs just prior to WEC 2016. To learn more and register for WEC 2016, visit www.mpiweb.org/wec16.
