In all, more than 1,800 meeting professionals attended WEC, counting both in-person attendees and those who participated digitally in the 25th edition of MPI’s signature education event as business meetings and events are gearing up for a much-needed restart.
“This has been a fantastic week full of great content and experiences,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “It has been a greatly anticipated time to reconnect, shake hands, hug and celebrate the reopening of our world. And while in many ways it has been an emotional week and I will leave Vegas totally exhausted, I will also walk away exhilarated, inspired and optimistic.
“Last year, the world was given an invaluable lesson about our industry. Granted, it was a painful and costly lesson, but the world learned what it is like to live without face-to-face interactions. And the world did not like it. The value of face-to-face meetings has never been clearer. And the desire to gather in person has never been stronger.”
The ability to gather in-person in Las Vegas, accelerated by the state and Clark County allowing businesses to operate at full capacity and with no COVID-19 restrictions, fueled a frenzy of activity, energy and enthusiasm, witnessed by many attendees confident enough to not wear masks and not social distance. Hugs and handshakes were seen throughout the conference as well as respect for those who preferred space or who chose to wear a mask.
“The world learned what it is like to live without face-to-face interactions. And the world did not like it.”
WEC would not only mark a social milestone, but the conference also offered high-octane education and networking aligning with the theme, “Make Your Future.” A powerful lineup of keynotes included Rich Bracken on emotional intelligence; Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, on trends in the workplace; an appearance from the comedy and magic team Penn & Teller; and a highly anticipated appearance from entertainer Usher.
The music legend and eight-time Grammy Award winner who has taken up residence at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace did not disappoint. While he did not perform, his insightful comments on the value of relationships, the importance of passion and purpose and the power of the human connection resonated with attendees.
Usher also gave attendees the quote that will live on. During his one-on-one conversation with Van Deventer, he was asked about the growing influence of hybrid and digital engagement and how entertainers will connect to a broader audience.
“As a mentor I’d always advise my subjects play to the back of the house, not just play to the audience that’s right there with you, understanding that there is a deeper connection,” he said. “There is something far more significant in this moment than just what you’re offering….to offer your best, to offer your esthetic.
“This may be something more significant than just this connection to the audience, so I’ve always told all of the people who I talk to—look in the camera, smile, talk to the camera, make love to the camera.”
Ok, then. The audience and Van Deventer erupted in laughter and Van Deventer recovered, saying, “I guess that’s not my thing. There we go.”
“This was so much more than just a conference, it was a family reunion.”
“You started it,” Usher said. “I did,” responded Van Deventer.
While the onstage banter provided a lighter moment that would live on throughout the conference, the true impact of WEC was in the depth and scope of content reflected in general session panels such as “Critical Next Steps from Influential Leaders,” “Champions for Change” and “The Superwomen of Vegas: Rising Up.”
Off the main stage, education centered around four learning pathways—technology, business strategy, meeting design and professional development—along with topical issues such as human trafficking and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Many of the education sessions provided clock hours applicable toward CMP or CMP recertification. All sessions were reviewed by the Events Industry Council and WEC was approved for 13 eligible clock hours for in-person attendees, with access to up to 50 hours of approved education on demand after the conference.
For those who could not attend WEC in person, the Digital Experience was filled with unique education, a daily broadcast and a Digital Business Exchange (Hosted Buyer) program. Nearly 600 meeting professionals registered for the digital experience.
MPI’s Hosted Buyer Program, in its 12th edition, was redesigned to offer participants more than traditional appointments by experiencing WEC Vegas like a true VIP with engaging and interactive networking activities to deepen business relationships. The program brought together 255 participants, resulting in more than 1,500 appointments.
WEC’s networking opportunities were equally impressive, with an opening celebration at the new Allegiant Stadium, the President’s Dinner honoring outgoing volunteer chapter leaders and industry icon Terri Breining at the new Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and a closing night celebration and MPI Foundation Rendezvous party at the new pool deck at the Venetian Resort.
WEC 2022, San Francisco. A golden opportunity. A golden anniversary.
“This was so much more than just a conference, it was a family reunion,” said Annette Gregg, senior vice president for experience at MPI. “It brought work to local staffers, comfort to a battered industry and hope for a bright future on the horizon. To have over 1,200 with us in Vegas and 500 online showed that the global events community is ready to be together again.
“Over and over this week, I heard versions of gratitude. People were grateful we pushed through with another in-person conference, and so encouraged to be with one another again. We intentionally designed inspirational and authentic conversations on the main stage that gave people comfort and hope for our future.”
WEC was the first major event inside CAESARS FORUM, the 550,000-square-foot conference center that was supposed to have a grand opening in March 2020. The event offered the opportunity to finally showcase the conference center, which features 300,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world (each more than 110,000 square feet).
“To have nothing but meeting professionals in here as our first large conference after the restrictions have let up, it’s ironic, or poetic, I would say,” said Michael Massari, chief sales officer for Caesars Entertainment.
The MPI Foundation raised more than $125,000 from its Rendezvous, Silent Auction and other WEC initiatives. These funds support member scholarships, chapter grants and research.
“It’s amazing to see the generosity of our members and friends who continue to support the MPI Foundation efforts,” said Kevin Kirby, executive director of the foundation. “We still receive requests for assistance daily. Events like WEC Vegas, highlight the generosity of partners like Caesars Entertainment and Venetian Resorts, as well as countless partners who have made giving back a strategic initiative.”
Maritz Global Events also gave back, announcing the Terri Breining Scholarships for individuals who demonstrate the values and attributes that Breining, the Industry Leader Award recipient, has demonstrated throughout her career—leadership, creativity, passion and generosity.
While Nevada and Clark County began allowing businesses to operate at full capacity, with no COVID-19 restrictions, on June 1, MPI continued a duty of care program that included a daily health/temperature check before attendees entered the conference center.
Attendees who were vaccinated against COVID-19 and not immunocompromised were not required to wear a mask indoors while those who were unvaccinated or immunocompromised and who were more comfortable wearing a mask were encouraged to do so.
Two WEC Vegas attendees who were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 tested positive for the virus post event, the association announced. MPI monitored attendee health through July 1, a two-week period following the conclusion of WEC.
All in all, WEC appeared to be a success and sets the tone for the industry moving forward.
“Michael C. Bush mentioned from main stage that we cannot look for things to get back to 2019,” Gregg said. “We need to respect what we all went through as humans this last 18 months and build a new future together that reflects the industry and world as we want it to be—inclusive, adaptable and courageous.
“Having been through a few economic downturns, I never lost hope that our industry would recover. This pandemic reconfirmed for me that the human spirit will always triumph, because we are meant to be together in community.”
The success of WEC comes as face-to-face meetings, a staple of the global economy, are beginning to re-energize an industry that contributed US$1.03 trillion in direct spend in 2017, according to the last Global Economic Significance of Business Events report. The study also showed more than 1.4 billion participants from more than 180 countries attended meetings and events.
But the pandemic brought this critical industry to a halt. The U.S. Travel Association reported that travel’s economic footprint in the United States shrank a staggering 42% last year, from $2.6 trillion to $1.5 trillion. Employment devastation was similarly massive: Travel-supported jobs fell by 5.6 million in 2020 (16.7 million to 11.1 million). Travel and tourism had supported employment for 11% of the U.S. workforce prior to the onset of COVID.
WEC marked another milestone for Las Vegas, a mega-center for business and leisure travel, and its effort to reboot business events. World of Concrete, which took place the first week of June, was the first large-scale trade show to return to the U.S. market since the COVID-19 pandemic and was the first event in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s $1 billion West Hall expansion.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas followed World of Concrete by unveiling its multimillion-dollar rebrand of the former Hard Rock property, with Sir Richard Branson in town to open the doors with a three-day celebration.
Las Vegas was hit hard by the pandemic. The city welcomed more than 6.6 million business travelers in 2019, and spending by visitors attending conventions directly supported 43,500 jobs, generating more than $11.4 billion in overall economic impact.
All that came to a screeching halt due to the pandemic, but that did not stop Las Vegas from expansions and renovations. In addition to the West Hall expansion, which added 1.4 million square feet of space to the existing 3.2 million-square-foot campus, development continued on major projects totaling more than 2 million square feet of new meeting space, bringing the citywide total to more than 14 million square feet. Some of the new additions besides CAESARS FORUM included Allegiant Stadium and AREA15, expansions at MGM properties Mandalay Bay, ARIA and Park MGM, including the MGM Grand Conference Center, the Stella Studio at The Venetian Resort and new indoor and outdoor space at Wynn Las Vegas. Circa Resort & Casino opened and Resorts World opened June 24.
Business returning includes the National Mining Expo, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Specialty Equipment Market Association automotive aftermarket show and, of course, the Consumer Electronics Show 2022.
WEC by the numbers
Attendance
1,238 in person
574 Digital Experience
Hosted Buyer
255 participants
1,500 appointments
MPI Foundation
$125,000+ raised through WEC initiatives
Education hours
13 clock hours in person
50 hours on demand after WEC
Chapter Challenge (% of chapter members attending)
18.66% Atlantic Canada (chapters/clubs with up to 150 members)
14.01% Washington State (chapters with 151 to 350 members)
18.44% Southern California (chapters with more than 350 members)
See you in the City by the Bay
The 2022 World Education Congress, June 21-23, will be held in San Francisco, which last hosted the event in 2015. “San Francisco is thrilled and honored to host MPI WEC,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel. “Next year will mark a historic milestone, MPI’s 50th anniversary, and we are truly excited to showcase the City by the Bay to you all once again.”
