Speakers set a more subdued tone than in past years at the opening general session of Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Conference on Sunday. MPI officials and keynoters alike took the stage at Salt Lake City’s Salt Palace Convention Center with the message that meeting planners need to “speak the language of business.”  Speakers urged listeners to learn from the devastating economic climate, which has resulted in hundreds of meeting cancellations.

The following are some of the advice given to meeting planers by the three keynote speakers:

• Meetings bring people together and when people connect, business get done

• Innovation and value must go hand-in-hand when planning meetings.

• Meeting planners must be able to measure the value they offer and to measure the results their meetings facilitate.

• Meeting planners must make a shift in thinking that includes measuring ROI in addition to creating an experience.

• Adding technology and social media gives attendees a voice.

• Most importantly, all meeting planners must be able to articulate why meetings help business succeed.

Speaking of technology, MPI offered a virtual access pass to planners unable to attend the meeting.  This pass allowed access to the general session, 2 keynote sessions and 12 other live streaming sessions.  Pass holders also have the ability to go back and download the audio from any of the other sessions 24 hrs after they are presented.  The passes were offered at a fraction of the cost of attending the event live.  These passes are a good example of innovating technology to add value to meeting participants.

Information found from: http://meetingsreview.com/news/external/21202