April 2018 Global Meetings Industry Day Sponsored by VisitPITTSBURGH

2018 Global Meetings Industry Day

Sponsored by:

The Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Pittsburgh Chapter, POWER Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Chapter, and the International Live Events Association (ILEA) Pittsburgh Chapter are teaming up in celebration of Global Meetings Industry Day on April 12, 2018 at the Energy Innovation Center.

Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) brings together leaders from across the meetings and events industry to showcase the real impact that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions have on people, business and communities. In 2017, meetings professionals across the world participated in the international day of advocacy, with more than 120 events held across 6 continents.

MPI, PCMA, and ILEA local chapters wanted to collaborate in the Pittsburgh region to bring together all meeting planners and suppliers to educate and network across our industry.

Bullets, Bad Guys, Fire & Brimstone:
A Look at Risk in a Changing World
with Michael Owen

CEU Credit through the Event Industry Councilfor 1 CEU under the Domain of Risk Management.

The Bataclan Paris. Pulse Nightclub Orlando. Nice Bastille Day. Fort Hood Army Base. Inland Regional Center San Bernardino. The Boston Marathon. Terrorism and active shooters. Is it just a matter of time before a Meetings and Event Industry Conference appears in similar horrific headlines? What about civil unrest, controversial legislation and weather?related catastrophes such as Hurricane Katrina, the Nashville flood, Atlanta tornado? These, and other equally disruptive forces may be beyond our control but defining the role of the meeting owner or event organizer in assuring that their participants are informed and as safe as possible. However, we can't prevent every risk scenario, but shouldn't we prepare for threats even as we hope they never occur?

IAEE & ESCA recently launched Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI), a national convention center security initiative in support of Homeland Security’s SAFETY Act. Work is separately underway for a Global Venue Security Standard to include hotels and freestanding venues. These movements toward universally accepted venue security standards are critical. Yet, to be effective, comprehensive safety planning must be a collaboration between the venue and the meeting owner/event organizer. The meeting owner/event organizer must be in the loop and receive “eyes only” information since they act as the intermediaries to instantly review and distribute the best information available for the safety and security of participants.

The buzz today is rightly about active shooters and terrorism, yet we face a variety of threats from unexpected forces. The good work of the venue standard initiatives is welcome and long overdue, but where and how does the planner engage in the process to insure maximum participant safety? This session guides the planner through steps in creating their own customized action plan depending on a variety of components that comprise the individual event.

• Comprehend the magnitude of participant safety issues ? it is not just about terrorism or active shooters.
• Collaborate with suppliers and partners to customize safety tips for your event.
• Acquire best practices for dissemination of vital information to all participants

With decades of experience as a provider of entertainment and event management services,Michael Owenshares a wealth of knowledge gained through his career in the often unique and always exciting meetings & events industries.

His company,EventGenuity, LLC, produces business events throughout North America,providing Events & Meetings Management and Corporate Entertainment capabilities for corporate & association clients.A meetings industry activist, Michael has served on MPI International Board of Directors, TNSAE Board of Directors, NATD Board of Directors, and on PCMA Global Advocacy & Independent Planner Task Forces.

He currently serves as past Chair of Convention Industry Council APEX Standards Committee, and as a member of The Meetings Industry Wi-Fi Coalition. Michael is a frequent presenter at industry conferences & learning institutions, speaking on what's now & what's next in meetings & events. He has published articles in Meetings and Conventions, Convene, Meeting Mentor Magazine, Connect Magazine, Plan-It Tennessee, The Meeting Professional, Meetings Focus and Successful Meetings magazines & as a guest columnist for The Tennessean and Nashville Business Journal.

Thank you toVisitPITTSBURGHfor sponsoring 2018 GMID.

Established in 1935, VisitPITTSBURGH is dedicated to generating conventions, conferences, tradeshows, and leisure travel business for the region of Pittsburgh. VisitPITTSBURGH is a non-profit organization servicing its business membership. VisitPITTSBURGH is the official tourism promotion agency for Allegheny County in Pennsylvania

TheEnergy Innovation Center Institute(EICI) hosts business-related events—meetings, presentations, workshops and seminars that are aligned to their mission and vision. The EICI offers attractive and flexible meeting spaces for large or small events. Their largest space is approximately 2,000 square feet and can hold up to 200 people auditorium style. The building offers several unique spaces and their team can work with you to create a tailored event that fits your needs and preferences.

Bistro To Go Café & Catering is a family of establishments built around a strong community-oriented philosophy.

Since the launch of Bistro To Go Café in 2007, we’ve been providing, fresh, handmade and delicious food for all occasions in and around Pittsburgh, while continuously innovating new offerings.Enjoy your meal in our beautiful Bistro, our quaint courtyard, or take it home, to your office, or to the park. Bistro To Go Café & Catering offers Pittsburgh a variety of choices to enjoy our culinary cornucopia.

Ace Bartenders offer over 11 years of professional event bartending experience. Ace Bartending services will bring class to events with industry-trained bartenders.

They will assist you with planning through the end of your event needs. They can play an active or passive role in planning, setup, and purchasing of anything tied to the bar service for a specific event.