We are quickly approaching the end of the MPI Greater New York calendar year, and I am pleased to report that your chapter is well-positioned to continue making a positive impact on your professional development in the years ahead. Most likely, many of you have already seen the big news that MPIGNY will be the recipient of the 2021 RISE Award for Marketplace Excellence at MPI WEC next month in Las Vegas. We are deeply honored to receive this award for the MPIGNY EdX & Genie Awards event we produced live from Broadway in October. You have heard me say this a few times, but it truly was a team effort, encapsulating everything that our chapter embodies. We were able to shine a light on all facets of the hospitality industry and the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on all of us, while also producing industry-leading education, fabulous networking opportunities, live entertainment and, finally, recognizing our top members for their achievements in giving back to our chapter and the industry at large. Thank you to everyone who joined us that afternoon. You are the lifeblood of this organization, and your continued participation in this chapter is vital to our overall success.  

For those of you who are attending MPI WEC in Las Vegas next month, we will be receiving the award at the President's Dinner on Wednesday, June 16. The dinner is always a huge opportunity for the leaders of our industry to come together. This year's dinner will also be honoring Terri Breining who has been the facilitator for our board retreats the last several years. Terri is an industry icon, and we couldn't be happier to see her receiving this deeply deserved recognition. If you are interested in joining us at the dinner, tickets are $250 each, but members of our chapter are eligible for a discount of $100 off each ticket. Enter the Promo Code RISEPD to obtain the discount. One other item I will add: For the first time this year, WEC registration includes the closing night event, MPI Rendezvous, taking place at The Venetian Resort Pool Deck. For those of you who have been to Rendezvous, you understand that this is one event you never want to miss. I hope to see many of you in person next month!

Our next official event is Tuesday, May 18. We will be heading into the kitchen (virtually) with comedians Dan Altano and Ryan Brown to cook up some pasta pesto and a few good laughs. Dinner's Ready Live - Let's Get Ready to Pesto is a CSR initiative that will benefit the MPIGNY Cycle for Survival Team and the Isabella Altano Scholarship for Emerging Artists. We are asking for a $20 registration fee for this event where the proceeds will be split between the two philanthropies. This will not be just any normal cooking class! Please plan to join us for the festivities. It should be a fun night!  All registration details are outlined below.   

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the New York Forward event where you heard some relevant information on producing in-person live events once again in New York City. The team did a great job, and I hope all of you found value in participating. There is no question that we are headed in the right direction and are hopeful to get back to having MPIGNY in-person events very soon.

And, speaking of in-person events, the MPIGNY Kalahari Resorts Golf Outing is back! As many of you know, this is my favorite event of the year, and we are excited for its long-awaited return this summer. We are heading back to Harbor Links Golf Course on Long Island for a great day of golf, networking and cocktails. This year's event will take place on Thursday, July 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. We have some tremendous sponsorship opportunities available, so if you are interested in showcasing your organization, I encourage you to take a look ASAP. If you are interested in playing golf that day, we still have room for you to join in, either as a foursome or individually. All of the registration details are outlined below. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Andrew Barnes who will be happy to assist.  

Finally, I think we can all agree that there is no bigger job in this world than being a mom. So, with that in mind, I would like to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are celebrating this weekend. I hope you and your families get an opportunity to spend some quality time together. And, guys, just remember, it's not too late to send some flowers back home! 

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

Join us on Tuesday, May 18, at 5 p.m. for an interactive cooking show LIVE on the MPIGNY Zoom Network! You don’t want to miss Dan Altano as he hosts an interactive cooking show teaching us how to make his mom’s famous penne pesto! This won’t be your ordinary cooking show! Oh no, there’s much more. Dan’s not just a chef but a comedian, too, and he’ll be joined by his partner in crime (comedy, that is), Ryan Brown, who will MC the show adding humorous banter and trivia challenges, all while we learn a lot, laugh a lot and cook a lot! Don’t hesitate to sign up — Dan has made this culinary pesto “throw down” so easy even a meeting professional can handle it! Dust off your best apron, and let’s get cooking!

There is a $20 registration fee per attendee, and all proceeds from this event will support the MPIGNY Cycle for Survival Team and the Isabella Altano Scholarship for Emerging Artists. It's a  50/50 split and a win-win for all!

Click here for more information and a list of ingredients to purchase by show time so you can cook along with us at home!

Let’s get ready to PESTO!!! Sign up TODAY!

About the Isabella Altano Scholarship

This endowed scholarship created within the Bergen Community College Foundation supports the full tuition of a second-year student in the field of fine arts. 

The scholarship was created to honor Isabella Altano’s memory (mother of Dan Altano) and allow for a new generation of artists to follow in her footsteps. This fund was endowed by her family — her husband Brian and three children who have all worked at Bergen Community College in different capacities through the years — as well as colleagues, relatives and friends. The Altano family believes strongly in the mission and purpose of BCC and is proud to support students who will carry Isabella’s indelible legacy forward. 

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 date may already be full, but please check the website for additional dates as they are announced.

Thursday, May 20, 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.

After a year away from the NY event calendar, the MPIGNY Kalahari Golf Outing is back!

Please join MPIGNY for the 30th Annual Golf Outing sponsored by Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. This year we will be returning to Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington, New York, on Thursday, July 22. No matter your golfing ability, please come along to enjoy a day of golf, networking and meeting new and old friends in an outdoor setting.

MPIGNY is looking forward to welcoming you to this year’s Golf Outing, and we will be working with Harbor Links to ensure all necessary precautions and current New York State restrictions are enforced to ensure your safety while at the course.

Harbor Links Golf Course: Located 30 minutes from New York City and nestled among the scenic fairways and picturesque greens of the world’s 29th Audubon International Signature Sanctuary, Harbor Links offers a unique golfing experience for players of all abilities. Built in 1998, the 18-hole championship course, nine-hole executive course and miniature golf facility offer a variety of activities for members and guests. For more information on the venue, please visit www.harborlinks.com.

REGISTER HERE

If your company is interested in joining us as a sponsor for this year's event, please click over to our Sponsorship Registration site HERE and check out the sponsorship opportunities currently available.

 

On April 8, Global Meetings Industry Day, MPIGNY launched its first hybrid event experience in collaboration with NYPCMA, EventFluence and SITE Northeast. There were five speakers in-person, with another speaker and the host joining remotely. Close to 500 people registered for the event, 50 of whom were set to attend in-person. How did we pull this off in three weeks? Here’s a peek behind the scenes.

The 2021 GMID theme was "Meet Safe," so we thought, what better way to discuss how to meet safely than to demonstrate it by holding a hybrid event? Our first challenge was finding a location in New York City that was able to accommodate the in-person event. Conrad New York Downtown had the space, the staff and the Hilton EventReady with CleanStay safety standards and protocols in place. The Conrad’s in-house technology partner, Encore, signed on to provide the event’s selected digital platform, Chime Live. 

Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC&Co and co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, kicked off the event with an update on why the unwavering value of our industry has never been more important for nationwide economic recovery.

Since this event was intended to be a showcase as well as a discussion, we wanted the panel to reflect different approaches and perspectives to producing a hybrid meeting. In addition to three planners — Koleen Roach, Stacey Courtney and Derrick Johnson — who represented the corporate, association and independent points of view, Zena Phillips and Hope Holm represented the hotel and the digital platform perspectives. The event host and panel moderator, Eva Saha with Gotham Artists, seamlessly integrated all aspects of the event and engagement with all in-person and virtual attendees.

The program also included videos from our event sponsors, including Visit Salt Lake and New York Hilton Midtown, along with industry advocacy collectives Live Events Coalition of New York & New Jersey and Global Events Collective, as well as comments from the CSR recipient, Golden Rule Charity, and an interview with the Conrad’s general manager, Marlene Poynder, about protocols and safety measures implemented for the event in accordance with New York guidelines. 

Smart Reg International Inc. signed on to provide touchless badges, PMSI gave away PPE kits and Scarborough & Tweed provided branded GMID2021NY face masks to wear during the event. The Conrad had hand sanitizer stations in key areas of the event space. The ballroom was set classroom-style with one chair per table, there were directional arrows and decals that clearly marked the entrance, exit and directional flow, and the space was cleaned and sealed in accordance with Hilton EventReady protocols. 

The feeling of excitement and relief in the ballroom was palpable as people savored being at an in-person event once again. Both in-person and remote attendees used the event platform to submit questions (in addition to those submitted in advance through the registration form) and connect with each other. Some also posted photos. And the event recording, sponsor pages, resources and platform were available to all registrants to access until April 30. Two editors of PCMA’s Convene magazine also attended, one in-person and one remote, and shared their experiences in a recent Convene article. Here’s to meeting safely, engaging in-person and remotely and eventually sharing a hug!

Photos courtesy of Front Page Photography

Thank you to everyone who joined us on April 22 for our spring Auction and Mixology Madness #WithATwist preview event. We love to see our membership come together virtually to network, mix drinks and win prizes. A huge congratulations to sponsor Kalahari Resorts for winning the Mixology Madness competition with their Kilimanjaro Kosmo. And a special thank you to Fun Corporate Magic for providing entertainment throughout the evening.

Stay tuned for details about the Auction and Mixology Madness main fundraising event in the fall.

The Cultural Collective Experience is an MPIGNY program designed to collect from members recommendations on books, podcasts, music, documentaries, movies, etc. with a diversity and inclusion focus. For May, it is Asian Pacific American heritage, and we are seeking contributions with a theme of celebrating and recognizing  Asian Pacific American heritage. We also have two sub-themes this month and welcome any contributions with a focus on Mental Health Awareness Month and Jewish American heritage.

Recommendations will be accepted by clicking here and completing the submission form.

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! 

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.

May 7 - Med Up-Meet Up | The Doctor Is IN!

May 21 - Meetings Outlook: Future Predictions for the Business of Meetings

May 26 - #RealTalk | Standing up and Speaking out – AAPI Voices in the Meetings & Events Industry

June 1 - The Science of Meetings & Events Series: The Science of Trust

June 4 - Inclusive Experience for Your Virtual Events

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.