News Around Town - March 2022

Member Announcements

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new members:

Diana Ingold, Director of Sales and Marketing at Holiday Inn & Suite in Kanata.

Meredith Slack, DES, Association Manager & Conference Planner

Dr. Altaf Sovani, DBA, Tourism Industry Expert & Educator. Former Academic Chair, School of Hospitality & Tourism, Algonquin College

Member Announcements

Congratulations Disa Cameron for being nominated for Courtney’s Stanley 2022 #women to watch list, which was announced on international Women’s Day.

Special Announcement

MPI Ottawa

Call for volunteers

Our Chapter has a booth during tête à tête and is looking for awesome volunteers to fill some 30 minutes (or longer) shifts.

If you are interested reach out to these wonderful members:

• Erin Bellwood at marketing@mpiottawa.ca
• Kris Knox at member-care@mpiottawa.ca

MPI Global

WEC June 21-23, 2022, in San Francisco

Here’s a golden opportunity: if you register for WEC San Francisco THIS WEEK using promo code MPI50WEC, you’ll save $50 and get 50 free on-demand sessions from last year’s #WEC Vegas. Visit WEC 2022 and register for WEC San Francisco today! #MPI

50^th anniversary

50 years! You can celebrate MPI’s golden anniversary by submitting YOUR stories and memories of what MPI has meant to you and your profession. Share your video stories today! #MPI50
mpi.org/mpi50 

State of the Industry

Quebec Update Covid-19

Since March 14, 2022, the Quebec government has authorized several relaxations of sanitary measures for business events and conventions.

• The vaccination passport is no longer required to participate in events.
• Distancing is no longer required between people in a rented room.
• Masks or face coverings must be worn at all times, except when eating and drinking.

Canada will scrap pre-arrival Covid-19 testing rules for vaccinated travelers April 1^st, 2022

Starting April 1, vaccinated travellers won’t need to track down a COVID-19 test in the last day before their vacation ends.

Currently, all travellers entering Canada — regardless of vaccination status — have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen test, taken within 24 hours of their flight or arrival at Canada’s border. As an alternative, they can show proof of a negative PCR test from within the previous 72 hours.

Fully vaccinated travellers might still have to undergo random testing when they arrive in Canada, but they don’t have to quarantine while awaiting their results. Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers will be subject to a molecular test both when they arrive and again eight days later. They also have to quarantine for 14 days.

To read the full article click: Covid-19

The National Arts Centre’s 1 Elgin Restaurant launches all-woman season of resident chefs in 2022

The National Arts Centre’s (NAC) Resident Chef program is back in 2022 for a third season featuring an all-female lineup of outstanding culinary stars.

The 2022 lineup of resident chefs includes Christie Peters (Saskatoon, SK), Sabrina Lemay, (Québec City, QC), Minette Lotz and Stacy Johnston, (Naramata, BC), and Jenni Lessard (Qu’appelle Valley, SK).

February 2022 - Chef Christie Peters is the chef-owner of Primal in Saskatoon, SK, and is known for combining her far reaching knowledge with sourcing the freshest ingredients locally, (including her own garden), and creating exceptional farm-to-table dining experiences. (Date of culinary event:  March 25th, 2022)

To make a reservation click: 1 Elgin

April 2022 – Chef Sabrina Lemay is head chef at Bistro l’Orygine and co-owner of Groupe La Tanière in Québec City, QC. She brings an adventurous spirit and a focus on ingredients originating in Québec to create an ideal meal to share in Bistro l’Orygine’s modern and welcoming atmosphere. (Date of culinary event: April 29th, 2022)

July 2022 – Chefs Minette Lotz and Stacy Johnston are both partners in life and in the kitchen at the Naramata Inn, in the Okanagan Valley, BC. They bring a passion for locally sourced ingredients and work together to create exceptional, terroir driven dining experiences for the fortunate guests of the Naramata Inn.  (Date of event: Chef’s Table, August 25-28)

September 2022 – Chef Jenni Lessard is a Metis chef and the Indigenous culinary consultant for Wanuskewin Heritage Park, in Qu’Appelle Valley, SK. Through her company, Inspired by Nature Culinary Consulting, she draws inspiration from the land and brings its gifts to her community through brilliantly executed cuisine. (Date of event: September 29th, 2022)

 Industry News in General

Have you read about this year’s #Women to watch award winners yet?

Hundreds of women from all across the globe wrote heartfelt stories and sentiments about the women in their lives who inspire them most.

The women you’re going to read about are phenomenal, and for many of them, their journeys have not been the easiest, yet they’ve persisted and continue to shine and grow.

Cheers to those who lead us, challenge us, support us and make out world a better place. Excited to discover inspiring women? Click: #Women to watch

Light Up Blue Challenge: We’re challenging destinations, landmarks, attractions, venues and hotels to #LightUpBlue on April 7 as a visual support for our industry. Take it to the next level and extend your support through the entire week by lighting in blue April 4–8. Be sure to tag @MtgsMeanBizCA on Twitter when posting your #LightUpBlue photos.

Join us for the renaissance of our industry as we celebrate the wonders of innovation and technology in MPI’s 5th Annual Global Meetings Industry Day! Register for the broadcast at mpi.org/gmid

Tête-à-Tête is back in person this year – so let’s do it! Association professionals, reconnect with peers and explore a wide range of products and services that will support your success.

Vendors have been waiting two years to see you again – and have some exciting prizes, experiences and giveaways for you! Free for association and not-for-profit leaders, meeting and event planners and government procurers. 

💻 Hybrid Corner🖱

Why hybrid work is emotionally exhausting?

A part-remote, part-office schedule has been hailed as the future of work. Yet in this hybrid set-up, some employees have never been so tired.

Hybrid can also come with a greater risk of digital presenteeism, compared to fully remote jobs which imply employer trust from the get-go. “If an employer sets up hybrid without trusting their workforce, it can become little more than a token gesture: workers feel pressure to show their boss they’re not taking advantage of home working. That could lead to overwork and burnout, the effects of which can be devastating but take a long time to show up.” 

To read full article click: Hybrid Work

How to Boost Productivity at Work by 73 Percent: Ban Meetings 3 Days a Week

Very few things have flourished during Covid. Meetings are the exception. Both personal experience and various surveys show that time spent in meetings has skyrocketed since knowledge workers left offices en masse two years ago

To conduct the study, a team of four business school professors surveyed 76 companies with some sort of no-meeting policy, which ranged from setting aside one meeting-free day a week to a small number of companies with complete meeting bans. The researchers interviewed managers and executives and looked at data on productivity, engagement, and collaboration from both before and after the relevant policies went into effect. 

To read full article click: Productivity

Upcoming Industry Events

📅 April 4-5^th, 2022 – Westin Hotel

First Ever Shop for Love Event

Shop for Love on April 4th and 5th will be a perfect way for you to connect with friends you have missed.

We are still accepting clothing donations until March 31st. So, make sure you get yours in! Be ready to shop and mingle with funds being raised for the MPI Foundation!

For more information visit: https://mpifcanada.wixsite.com/shop-for-love

📅 April 7^th, 2022 - 3:30pm to 5pm / Shaw Centre

The ROI of Nice - How the nicest leaders keep their employees and build strong cultures. 

Celebrate GMID with acclaimed author, consultant, and speaker, Dave Delaney, who will share three pillars to improving employee retention and growing stellar cultures at fast-growing firms in the meeting industry. You will be left with actionable steps to lead happier and more connected teams and apply the lessons to your work with planners and suppliers. The results of Delaney's Nice Methodology will save you the costly effort of replacing and retraining your people.

Get ready to discover how to hear your team, avoid the wrecks, and discover life outside your walls!

📅 April 7^th, 2022 - 5:30pm to 9:30pm / Shaw Centre

⚠ SOLD OUT⚠

One of your favourite MPI Ottawa events is back! The Annual Charity Auction & Dinner will be springing into season in the Trillium Ballroom at the Shaw Centre.  It's time for brighter days & new beginnings. 

Stay tuned for more information! See the registration page for combo pricing with MPI Ottawa's GMID Education event "Spring into NICE".

📅 April 28-30^th, 2022 – 9am to 5pm

the EVENT Embrace.Engage.Thrive

APART BUT CLOSER THAN EVER
Although we are apart, there has never been a more important time to stay connected.
the EVENT was first held in Ottawa in 2018, then in Montréal in 2019, and took a pause in 2020 due to the pandemic before returning virtually in 2021. 

FOR 2022 WE ARE AGAIN READY TO EMBRACE, ENGAGE, AND THRIVE.
Our Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal/Québec MPI Chapters united for 1:1 networking opportunity. 

SIMPLY PUT, OUR GOAL IS TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.


 Article edited by Darlene Kelly-Stewart | LinkedIn at Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services