Live+Virtual Industry Meetings

September 25, 2020

Three industry meetings are scheduled for this fall: MPI, IMEX and IRF, with only one including a live component.

Of the industry meetings happening soon, only MPI’s WEC will be a combination of live and virtual.

IMEX

PlanetIMEX October 12–16 will deliver a full week of creative and educational content as well as an interactive experience with a whole new look and feel. PlanetIMEX was originally designed as a destination in its own right with 3D, interactive islands, with the intention of keeping the spirit of IMEX alive following the cancellation of IMEX Frankfurt in May.

MPI

Meeting Professionals International’s WEC will be held November 3 to 5 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, and will also include an online program. MPI has branded the event “Reunite for Recovery.”

All of the keynote speakers at WEC Grapevine will be streamed live for the digital audience. There are also more than 20 live education sessions for digital participants, slotted across ten time slots throughout the event and also available on-demand. The WEC Digital Connection will be open 24 hours a day (with the exception of general session times) to make appointments and find new business connections. A mid-day broadcast with WEC Digital Experience hosts will feature interactive experiences including daily group Zumba classes and interviews with thought leaders

For live attendees, the host hotel, the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, has a 24-page downloadable “Commitment to Clean” PDF outlining its safety protocols. MPI created a page on mpi.org that provides resources for meeting and event professionals. It has also created a page of FAQ’s specifically for the upcoming WEC.

Incentive Research Foundation

The IRF is replacing its annual Invitational with a new virtual event, Dec. 1 and 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. EST. The UNvitational will include an Industry Legends panel, preview findings from the new Incentive Travel Index and include sessions such as “Using Incentives to Accelerate Recovery” and “New Legal Considerations in a Post-COVID World.” The event will include teambuilding activities and competitions as well as a chance to win trips and merchandise.