Spring is officially upon us and MPIGNY has entered into the home stretch of our calendar year. As we begin to thaw out from winter, the hospitality industry is beginning to see positive signs of a recovery. Last Friday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance allowing fully vaccinated adults to travel safely once again throughout the United States. Those individuals will not require testing before or after travel unless mandated by the rules of their intended destination, nor will they need to self-quarantine. Combine that great news with the (partial) reopening of Broadway this past Saturday for its first live performance in 387 days and the fact that comedy clubs are coming back into the fold, New York is showing great signs that we are heading in the right direction. New York City is emphatically resilient, and we are all seeing strong evidence that brighter days are ahead. All of this is, unquestionably, positive for the hospitality industry and the perfect segue into one of the most ambitious programs our chapter has ever produced. 

Global Meetings Industry Day is taking place tomorrow across the country. I think it is safe to say that this year's GMID is possibly THE most important in the history of this worldwide initiative. MPI Global Headquarters is providing a full day of free content once again this year, and if you are interested in registering for their programming, you can do so here. However, later in the day, MPIGNY is producing our first hybrid meeting alongside our friends at New York PCMA, SITE Northeast, and EventFluence. "Behind the Curtain: Planning a ‘Meet Safe’ Hybrid Meeting" is taking place at the Conrad New York Downtown tomorrow night beginning at 4:45 p.m. We have an all-star lineup of panelists who will pull the curtain back on how to execute a hybrid meeting safely while also providing tips on creating event experiences that are clean, flexible, safe, and socially responsible. We will also be hearing an update from Fred Dixon, President and CEO of NYC & Company and Co-Chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the hotel alongside my fellow association presidents Jimmy Le, Missy Madden, and Debra Reichman to film a short video highlighting tomorrow night's program. 

We closed in-person registration requests on Monday and today is the last day to register as a virtual attendee. Virtual registration will close at 4:00 p.m. today, so if you have not yet registered, please click here and join us for this landmark event.

This event has been a labor of love for many of us in the New York City events community, but I would like to especially recognize our Vice President of Education, Elaine Morena, for the fantastic job she has done in bringing this together alongside our friends at New York PCMA, SITE Northeast, and EventFluence. There are more than a few moving parts, and she, along with our Director of Education, Lauren Gilbert, have truly done an incredible job creating an event that I hope all of you will enjoy.

Not to be outdone, we have another especially important program taking place later this month. On Thursday, April 22nd, we are hosting a preview of MPIGNY’s Annual Auction & Mixology Madness. For those of you who have been members of our chapter for several years, you know how big of an event this typically is for us. We had to postpone the Auction last fall and were hoping to be able to provide you with a second hybrid event this month, but it just was not meant to be. We made the difficult decision to postpone the Auction until this coming fall, but we are using this opportunity to provide you with a fun, fully virtual networking event, as a preview of what is to come later in the year. Our Vice President of Finance, Michelle Marie Adams, alongside her entire Auction Committee, have all done a phenomenal job continuing to pivot (sorry, to use that word) as we've had to modify our plans for this important annual event several times due to COVID-19. Rest assured, this will be one virtual event that you will not want to miss. Registration is open, and the full details are outlined below.

Finally, I would also like to mention that we are still looking for more members to join the MPIGNY Cycle For Survival Team. This is the second year that we have created a team in support of this fundraising effort for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go directly to research and innovation in the battle to eradicate rare cancers. We are all raising money on our own but will be coming together as a team for a walk in Central Park on Saturday, May 1st. You can help make a difference. If you would like to join our team, click here and enter the password MPIGNY21.

Well, that is it for April. I look forward to seeing some of you tomorrow night at Global Meetings Industry Day! 

If you are not yet following us on our social media platforms, please do so here.

Best,
Patrick Colomer
MPIGNY President
patrick.colomer1@gmail.com

Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) brings the industry together to showcase the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences, and conventions bring to people, businesses, and communities.
 
On April 8, 2021, join MPI Greater New York, NYPCMA, SITE Northeast, and EventFluence as we come together to co-create and launch our first joint hybrid event experience in New York City with the theme Meet Safe. Fred Dixon, President & CEO of NYC & Company and Co-Chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, will kick off the event with an update on why the unwavering value of our industry has never been more important for national economic recovery – particularly at the state and local levels.
 
You will then gain insights from an expert panel of industry professionals (noted below) who will pull back the curtain on hybrid event experiences. Key learning outcomes will include:

• Designing and creating event experiences that are clean, flexible, safe & socially responsible.
• Precautions to take in order to keep everyone safe and ensure productivity to support the industry’s recovery.
• Protocols for hosting safe in-person events in New York City.
• Do’s & don’ts of planning and executing a successful hybrid experience.

TIME: 4:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. 

CMP/CEU Credits:  1 Clock Hour | Domain G: Meeting or Event Design
 
This event is open and complimentary to all event and hospitality professionals.

Check out this video featuring the four Chapter Presidents from MPI Greater New York, New York PCMA, SITE Northeast and EventFluence as they welcome you to Global Meetings Industry Day New York!

*PLEASE NOTE: Requests for in-person attendance are now closed and registration for virtual attendance will close today at 4:00 p.m. If you have not already registered, we encourage you to sign-up and join us virtually in celebration of Global Meetings Industry Day!

REGISTER HERE

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

 MPI Greater New York is announcing a change to the 2021 Auction & Mixology Madness #WithATwist!

We said this year would be #WithATwist, and here comes yet another one…MPIGNY has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 Auction & Mixology Madness event to the fall. With that said, we are still moving forward with our event on April 22nd as a preview of the timeless Mixology tradition that we have all come to know and love over the years.

Please join us for:

• FREE REGISTRATION - for all hospitality and event professionals FREE
• GIVEAWAYS - with a complimentary raffle for some amazing prizes from our generous donors
• GREAT COCKTAILS - from the comfort of your own home as our Mixology Madness Teams will share ingredient lists in advance and walk you through their delicious concoctions
• NETWORKING - with your fellow attendees in a fun atmosphere
• PLUS - you can wear your PJs…at least the bottoms

REGISTER HERE

Want some attention?
Show off your company and donate a service, item or experience to the spring raffle or the fall auction. Hotel accommodations, dining/shopping/spa certificates, show tickets, gift bags, really anything that you feel would be the perfect representation of your company’s product and/or service.

Click the link below to donate, it only takes 2 minutes!

DONATE HERE

MPIGNY continues our commitment to the great work at God's Love We Deliver with our monthly volunteer session providing help in the kitchen. The March date may already be full, but please check the website for additional dates as they are announced.

Thursday, April 29, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

*Please note:* Due to scheduling changes at GLWD, the session is extended by one hour, and volunteer shifts are now limited to six people. Gloves and masks will be provided to all volunteers.

Please note, many times volunteers have to cancel at the last minute. If you are interested in volunteering, please continue to check the registration link below for updated information should any slots open up.

REGISTER HERE

If this session time is not convenient for you, check out the God's Love volunteer calendar for more volunteer opportunities. With numerous sessions scheduled each day, you are bound to find one or two that fit your schedule!

If you are not able to volunteer, there are still several ways you can help!

The Cards of Caring campaign offers an opportunity to share a message of caring to brighten someone’s day. Many of GLWD’s clients are homebound senior citizens who, in this climate, are unable to have visitors of any kind. A cheerful note to let them know they are not forgotten can be a welcome reprieve from their solitude. The website provides guidelines on creating the cards, but feel free to be as creative as you would like. And if you have children at home, this is a perfect activity to help pass the time in quarantine!

In addition, God’s Love has two additional giving opportunities to donate much-needed funds.

• COVID-19 Emergency Fund for clients of God’s Love: $54 funds a shelf-stable meal bag, and $100 funds a week of meals for a client living with serious illness. Please give what you can. Any amount helps!
• Birthday Bake Sale: God’s Love bakes and personalizes birthday cakes for their clients living with serious illness. Your donation contributes toward the purchase of ingredients, baking, decorating, and packaging of these special cakes.

On Tuesday, March 16, MPI Greater New York joined forces with our fellow northeast MPI partners - Connecticut River Valley, New Jersey, and WestField - to present Leading the Next 365: Yourself, The Business, The Recovery. In this highly engaging discussion, the distinguished panelists shared their reflections on the relationships and experiences that strengthened all of us throughout the past year and will play such an important role as we work to rebuild our industry going forward through the next. If you were not able to join us, check out the recording of this virtual event to hear some of their lessons learned and tips for moving forward into 2021.

On Wednesday, March 17, the Membership Committee hosted a New Member Orientation for new (and newish) members who have recently joined our ranks. It was a lively noon-time affair led by our VP of Membership, Geri Richlin, with support from a few of our board members who shared their experiences and love for all things MPI Greater New York. The new members learned about ways to get involved with our chapter as well as the many resources and benefits available to them. The event was well-received by all who attended, and the Membership Committee is already looking forward to planning another gathering soon.

A key focus for the board moving forward is the engagement of the meeting planner professional. We consider sustained planner participation to be a vital part of this chapter’s success. So, with that in mind, we’re rolling out the red carpet this year with the objective of increasing our planner engagement at all of our events.

Many thanks to the London Convention Bureau for graciously sponsoring several one-year planner scholarship opportunities that will increase our planner base and enhance overall engagement. Interested planners can apply here.

At MPIGNY, our members are family, and in challenging times, we believe in taking care of our own. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial hardships many are experiencing as a result, MPIGNY has set up a community support fund to provide monetary grants to our colleagues who need it most. If you are in need of assistance during this or any of life's more difficult moments, we may be able to help. 

There is no issue too large or too small. If you need help, please know we are standing by to assist you. Simply submit a confidential Request for Support for review of support in any personal crisis situation. We can offer assistance toward:

• Housing while in quarantine 
• Essential items like groceries, rent, utilities or essential worker child care
• Rebuilding after natural disasters 
• Escaping from domestic violence
• Recovering from a serious accident
• Other support following loss when not otherwise provided by insurance

Submit a confidential request with all supporting documentation to Kathie Stapleton. As this is confidential, please share as much information as you are comfortable sharing. All requests will be reviewed and considered to determine what, if anything, we can do to assist you in your situation.

Additionally, if you are in a position to donate to the fund, MPIGNY is gladly accepting donations at this time. Please contact Kathie Stapleton for more information.

Are you interested in getting more involved with MPIGNY? Volunteering with a committee is a great way to meet new clients and industry partners! Visit our website or click the link for more information on how to get involved: MPIGNY - Join a Committee.

We added a new campaign this year called "People of MPIGNY" and want to learn more about our incredible members! If you are interested in being featured, click the links below to read about some of our members and to complete the handful of questions to be considered for our next issue!

People of MPIGNY
People of MPIGNY Application

Our chapter has a bright future ahead, and we want you to be a part of it. If you are interested in growing your own career and maximizing your return on investment within MPI, please consider joining our mentorship program, either as a mentor or mentee. In this initiative, we will pair up a select few of our newer members of the industry (10 years or less) with some of our veteran chapter members for mutual growth and career development. 

The Power of Two: MPIGNY Mentorship Program is a yearlong endeavor that, in its inaugural year, was highly rewarding to those who participated, and we are happy to announce that the application process for our second mentorship cohort is now open! This is a minimal time commitment and something you’ll truly feel proud of! 

"Overall I thought the mentorship program was a great experience and a good use of my time. I knew my mentee prior to starting the program so we already had somewhat of a rapport. We usually planned to speak once a week or every other week, and I enjoyed getting to know her and her business a bit more. We even ended up partnering on a project that she needed some help with, which was nice. We ... are still in touch and chat occasionally when we can." - Colleen Jasinski (Mentor, 2019-2020)

Please apply for the Power of Two: MPIGNY Mentorship Program here:

Mentee Application | Mentor Application

Free live webinars are available to all members on the MPI Academy web page. New webinars are being added on a regular basis, so please keep checking this link for more information and to register: MPI Academy Live Webinars.

April 8th – MPI GMID: Virtual (for information and registration - https://www.mpi.org/events/ gmid21)

April 13th – Ready to Master Meetings & Events? - SDSU Master’s Program Information Session

April 16th – Strategic Negotiating in the Post-Shutdown World

April 23rd – The Science of Meetings & Events Series: Defeating Unconscious Bias via Neuroscience for Meeting Professionals

April 27th – Are You Hybrid Ready?

The MPI Foundation is focused on helping as many current members as possible retain their professional affiliation and the opportunity to continue to have access to all our resources. For more information, please contact help@mpi.org.