Member Spotlight – July 2022 - Anita Carlyle, CMP, CMM, DES, HCMM

How many years have you been a member of MPI?

Off and on for over 30 years.

How did you get your start in the industry?

I studied Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson, but always loved travel and hospitality so I started as at hostess at a restaurant at 14 and have been in the industry since then.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment to date?

Staying open and profitable through Covid!

What is the most memorable event you have planned, or client experience you have had?

We did a pop-up shop for In-N-Out burger during Covid - and managed over 2000 people who lined up to experience the food on a cold day in December. 

What advice would you give to someone just coming into the industry? 

Get involved with industry associations like MPI!

What are some things you do to keep interested, updated and inspired?

I spend my disposable income on experiences versus stuff.  I like to find the new unique group venues or experiences that I can share to our clientele.

What are some of the challenges you faced when the pandemic hit? 

Misinformation and lack of testing kits initially.  Luckily, we pivoted pretty quickly and had the resources to go virtual immediately.

How has your practice changed during COVID? Have you changed your line of profession or moved to a new sector? 

We have added more virtual DMC options and gifting initiatives.  Things are pretty much back to normal for our team.

What are some of the lessons you learnt from that change?  

Always expand your offerings; don't assume what people will or won't buy!

What will you continue practicing once the pandemic is over?

More work from home… I realized that commuting to the office doesn’t make me or my team more productive. We will continue to have more virtual meetings and meet only once a month as a team. 

What is a trend you see in events that you think will stay?

Some training will stay on-line and home-based environments will increase the need for small meetings and team interactions.

When is your company going back to hosting in-person events? 

Last October was our first live event and we have done over 20 events since.

What new skill would you like to learn in 2022?  

Get my pleasure boating license.

What book would you recommend us to read and why? 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It's a fun read - old Hollywood glamour and secrets. Everyone in our hospitality book club loved it. Can't wait for the movie.

What one quality do you think every successful event planner should have? 

Trust.

About the author:

Anita Carlyle, CMP, CMM, DES, HCMM
Owner/Managing Partner, MCC
Email: acarlyle@mccevents.ca