Meeting Professionals International (MPI) will take advantage of two major showcases as part of its Experiential Event Series next year. The MPI learning events will allow participants to experience CES, the largest international consumer technology tradeshow presented by the Consumer Technology Association, and South by Southwest Conferences & Festivals (SXSW), the annual music, film and emerging technologies conference and festival.
When the Experiential Event Series was announced last summer during World Education Congress in San Francisco, CEO and President Paul Van Deventer said the MPI learning events had two purposes: Not only is the series geared toward meeting planners, but MPI also hopes to mesh with people putting on mega-events who consider themselves event producers.
CES will take place Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas, with three separate campuses for exhibitions, presentations and keynote addresses. As the world’s melting pot for business of consumer technology, CES has served as platform for innovators and breakthrough technologies for nearly 50 years. The MPI Certificate Program will take place Jan. 4-7 and will focus on experiential marketing.
SXSW 2016 is March 11-20 in Austin, Texas. This mega-event provides a gathering destination for those in music, film and emerging technologies. It is regarded as an epicenter that fosters creativity and discovery, generating $317.6 million in 2015. The MPI Certificate Program will be offered March 17-19 and will specialize in festival production.
MPI debuted its Experiential Event Series in Atlantic City in September, partnering with Meet Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment and the Miss America Organization.
Last month, MPI announced that it was continuing to build its education portfolio with the acquisition of Plan Your Meetings, an Atlanta-based company that produces a variety of digital resources and tools for event planners.
“MPI is very excited about this acquisition, which further extends our reach and influence within the U.S. meeting and event community,” Van Deventer said. “We look forward to connecting with more of the non-traditional planner market and helping this segment grow professionally, supporting MPI’s ongoing efforts to elevate our great industry.”
