The Kansas City Meetings Industry Council - WHO ARE WE?

By Vickie Brawley

The Kansas City Meetings Industry Council (KCMIC) is celebrating its one year anniversary! KCMIC is a collaborative effort among Meeting Professional groups in the Metropolitan Kansas City area. The purpose is to have better communication across the board and raise awareness of each other's organizations and the hospitality industry in general. The following groups are actively involved in KCMIC:

 

• Destination Crown Center
• Heart of America Chapter of Society of Government Meeting Professionals
• Heartland National Speakers Association
• Hotel Lodging Association
• Kansas City Society of Association Executives
• Kansas City Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (KCMPI)
• Kansas City Regional Destination Alliance
• Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association
• Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Professional Convention Management Association Heartland Chapter

The 2007-2008 strategic goals of KCMIC were:

• Coordination of one main calendar to list each organization's main events with the intention to help members with multiple memberships to be able to enjoy all association meetings.
• Collaboration of the involved groups on possible joint programs and resources.
• Promoting Kansas City within the metropolitan area and surrounding areas.
• Promotion of each organization as an industry leader in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

We have done the following to contribute to these strategic goals:

• A Google calendar was established for all council members to list their events.
• Two joint events were held:
  
  • Jan. 22, 2008: College Basketball Experience Event
  • June 16, 2008: Scott the Name Tag Guy

The baby steps we have taken this past year have brought us closer to a better and more cohesive Kansas City Meetings Industry. We are excited to have accomplished our goals for the year and are looking forward to a new year full of great opportunities and possibilities!