MPI readies for EMEC game-changer on Dutch testing ground in 2019

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) says its four-day 2019 European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC19) is all about focussing on how meeting and event professionals can change the way they meet, experience and learn and how to apply new formats in their next event. Once a year MPI organises its annual conference in Europe called, ‘The European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC)’, located in a different country each time. The 2019 edition will the first time in history the organisation of EMEC is licensed to a local MPI Chapter, in this case MPI The Netherlands Chapter, which is using the marketing strapline: “We are not here to play the game. We are here to change it.” “Too often, conferences use the same design. We think it is time to change. Therefore, we designed a lab for professionals rather than yet another conference where you sit and listen all day,” said Gijs Verbeek, Executive Director MPI Netherlands Chapter. “EMEC19 offers 16 hours of education and more than 12 hours of networking – bar time not included.” Delegates will have a choice to follow one of four dedicated conference tracks, based on four topics: Risk Management, Design Thinking, Leadership and Meeting Perspectives. Serious networking is integrated in several ways and moments during the programme, e.g. based on country of origin, business interest and choice of leisure activities. A conference dinner and a ticket to MPI Foundation’s Rendezvous are included. Half of all EMEC19 tracks are interactive, so attendees are being challenged to turn on their action mode when they turn up. One example of a changing learning method is scenario-based learning – applied to 58 world leaders during the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS). By participating in a real-life scenario, delegates can experience their response to a situation and learn ‘on the job’. In addition, over 50% of the programme takes place outside of the conference centre and EMEC19 will take delegates on learning journeys, exploring how other industries deal with the same challenges our industry is facing. The EMEC19 will take place on 9-12 February in The Hague and delegates don’t have to be a member of MPI to join. There are discounted rates until 14 December. Join EMEC19 MPI has a global community of 60,000 meeting and event professionals, including more than 90 chapters and clubs in 19 countries.