‘EMEC reignited my excitement for what we do as event professionals’

Attending MPI’s European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) is a non-stop, full-on experience. The time flies by, connections are made, relationships are rekindled and the business of events is an ongoing topic of discussion. A lot happens from the moment you arrive until you, sadly, have to say goodbye.

Last week’s EMEC in Istanbul welcomed approximately 250 meeting and event industry professionals and provided the perfect setting for mixing cultures, generations and ideas. (Read more about EMEC.)

But what did the attendees feel? Below are just a very short sample of the responses we received. From these different perspectives, it’s clear that every attendee has their own story of highlights and takeaways to walk away with.

I, for one, was privileged to be one of the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum judges. The winner, Viktoriia Yushkaliuk from Vistula University, touched my heart with her presentation on “Mental Health & War: Healing the Invisible Wounds.” She bought out the emotional impact of events with her storytelling.

Personally, I can’t think of a better place to start a story than in the historic city of Istanbul. 

Gerrit Jessen, GJ Communication & Management GmbH

What were your key highlights?

I really enjoyed the workshops of Experience Designer Niels Roemen on how to turn events into unforgettable memories and participating in a prototype version of “The Venue Game” by Coventus Consultants.

The Istanbul foodie walking tour was fun and very “tastefully” executed by the concept team.

What was your key takeaway?

Workshops like the one by Nick Bramley, "10 Tips for Relaxed Networking," should be made a standard at every conference and should be put at the start of the agenda on the first day so participants can apply what they have learned immediately.

Sheila Evans, Head of Business Development, Worldspan

What were your key highlights?

Immersive Learning Journeys—beyond traditional sessions, the experiential learning opportunities stood out. Experiencing the power of events in action brought theories to life and demonstrated the real-world impact of creative event design.

The Theme: “Great Events Create Harmony” - Istanbul, where East meets West, embodied this theme beautifully. The conference showcased how events have the power to unite people, create impact and foster harmony across different cultures and industries.

What were your key takeaways?

Sustainability is the future—Türkiye’s commitment to sustainable tourism was incredibly inspiring. Seeing how destinations like Istanbul prioritize sustainability emphasized that as event professionals, we must integrate eco-conscious strategies into our planning to create more responsible and impactful events.

A renewed passion for the industry—EMEC reignited my excitement for what we do as event professionals. Bringing people together, creating meaningful experiences and shaping the future of our industry is not just a job. It’s a privilege.

Junior JR Treto, College Board

What were your key highlights?

The opening reception was such a wonderful way to connect with fellow attendees, enjoy Turkish food from various regions and celebrate the rich culture of Istanbul.

The hosted buyer Saturday experiences in which we had the opportunity to visit the underground cistern and participate in our own Ebru workshop.

What were your key takeaways?

Embracing technology and artificial intelligence (AI). AI is such an asset to planners and can be used to automate many of our processes so that we can focus our time on designing meaningful and impactful attendee experiences.

Designing inclusive experiences should be at the forefront of our event designs. We need to create genuine, welcoming and accessible events for all our attendees.

Photos courtesy Butino