A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD
WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR
 
Happy 2022!   There is much to look forward to in the new year for our industry and our membership. MPI New Jersey hosted our first Town Hall of 2022 on January 20. It was great to connect with our membership and share exciting plans for the year. 

We are looking forward to convening our second annual (and first in person!) MEETS Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City in March. Mark your calendars for March 23 for a program featuring a dynamic keynote speaker, sessions from several industry experts and an engaging supplier and buyer tradeshow. The event will be rounded out by site visits, parties, and lots of opportunities to interact and connect with our colleagues.

We will also take this opportunity in Atlantic City to mark our chapter’s 35th birthday. Truthfully, we turned 35 in 2021, but the time wasn’t right for an in-person gathering so we will celebrate 35+1 years as a chapter on March 23 following the MEETS Conference at the Hard Rock. We hope you will join us as we reminisce about our chapter’s accomplishments and party like it’s 1986!  We have been gathering recollections from our past presidents and other chapter members. If you have stories or photos you would like to share we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to with your memories of our chapter.

Many of our chapter members are counting the days to June 9th for the return of the MPI New Jersey Golf Event. After a two-year absence we will return to Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, NJ for a great day filled with activities for golfers and non-golfers alike.  
MPI turns 50 this year and the celebration is so big it will last throughout the year. Keep an eye on our social media accounts and visit MPI.org for details on special offers celebrating this milestone for both members and nonmembers.

Speaking of social media accounts, make sure you are following MPI New Jersey on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram to keep up with all of our chapter news and events. If you have news to share please reach out to me at [email protected]We welcome your input and have opportunities for newsletter and blog entries for any who wish to connect with our membership (writers can earn CMP points toward qualification and recertification too)!

Trish Rafferty, CMP, HMCC
MPI New Jersey Vice President of Communications
Maritz Global Events
(photo circa 1986)
UPCOMING EVENTS
TUNE IN TO TALK
Episode 9: Wellness Accreditation for Planners with Michael Dominguez, and Ruth Marion, CMP

What is a Wellness Accreditation for Meeting Planners and How Can You Get It!

We will begin the program with a conversation about the new influx of wellness hotels, what it is and what it means to the hospitality industry. We will segue into a discussion about the wellness accreditation for meeting planners, what it is and how to get it.

Meetings and Events are an essential part of the hospitality industry but should never come at the risk of anyone’s health or well-being. Whether you’re looking to differentiate your property in the market or attract new clientele, the Delos Wellness Accreditation gives meeting and event planners the tools they need to design attendee-centric wellness meetings.

Learn how to design, plan and implement wellness solutions and create safer, healthier experiences for meeting and event attendees.

DATE: Tuesday, February 1, 2022
TIME: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
LOCATION: Virtual
MEMBERSHIP MONDAY

MPI New Jersey Chapter Membership Monday Events are for MPI MEMBERS ONLY!
This interactive session will provide you with an opportunity to connect with your colleagues for some industry "REAL-TALK" you'll want to be part of.

"Covid-19, Delta, Omicron, Flurona… what’s next?" 

How are meeting planners and hotels addressing and living within the rapidly changing health environment to keep their clients safe? Hear from different sides of the business on their lived experiences creating and executing events in this unprecedented time.

Discussion led by:
Adele Perkins, HMCC: Senior Operations Manager with Meeting Alliance
Kellie Ann Cahill, CMP: Complex Commercial Director with New York Hilton Midtown & Conrad New York Midtown

DATE: February 14, 2022
TIME: 12:00pm
LOCATION: Virtual
THE MEETS CONFERENCE

Registration is now open for the highly anticipated MPI New Jersey MEETS Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.

MPI New Jersey is excited to announce Marcy Blum as the MEETS Conference keynote speaker! Marcy is an internationally sought-after event planner & entertaining expert who, with 30 years of experience, crafts events with sanity, humor, innovation, and style. With attention to detail and flair for the unimaginable, Marcy creates events that stimulate the senses and awe guests while creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for clients.

Along with a host of dynamic breakout session speakers and an engaging supplier and buyer trade show, this time of learning and networking will give attendees access to must-have information as the meetings industry powers back strong!

The MPI New Jersey MEETS Conference attracts professionals in the meetings, events, hospitality, travel and sales industries from across the tri-state area. An anticipated 100+ attendees will gather on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, with exclusive and fun pre- and post-conference parties, site visits, and more on Tuesday March 22nd and Thursday, March 24th.

DATES: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 to Thursday, March 23, 2022
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 - EDUCATION DAY
1000 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
35TH (+1) BIRTHDAY PARTY

MPI New Jersey is excited to celebrate its 35th (+1) Birthday with you on March 23rd at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City following the MEETS Conference. 

If you are attending the MEETS Conference, your ticket to the Birthday Party is included in your registration fee. But if your schedule only allows you to be with MPI New Jersey in the evening then please register separately to help us party like it's 1986!

DATE: Wednesday, March 23, 2022
TIME: 6:00pm
1000 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

Education Programs:
May 19, 2022: Education Program

Special Events:
June 9, 2022: Annual Golf Event @ Crystal Springs Resort

STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING EVENT DATES
April 2022: CMP/CMM Recognition Event
OUR EDUCATION COMMITTEE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU:
  • Is there a hot topic you want to learn about?
  • Have you attended an MPI-NJ education program in the past year and want to share your experience?
  • Are you looking to get more involved in the chapter but don’t know where to start?

If you answered YES to any of these questions; the Education Committee wants to hear from you! We want to meet, and exceed, our members' expectations while continuing to deliver award-winning educational programs all year long. 

Please email Kim Cowperthwait, VP of Education, and share your feedback.

Official registration partner of MPI New Jersey
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Indicator Lights: 2022 Industry Predictions


Written by: JT Long
Virtual Sponsorship, Real Money


Written by: Rob Carey
New Year, New Ideas: Event Tech Predictions for 2022

Written by: Brandt Kruger
SPONSOR
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MPI NEW JERSEY
Let us "Throwback Thursday" to January 2006 when the latest edition of Onsite was released. (Many of you will remember when Onsite was a published newsletter. Onsite is still part of our chapter, but these days it lives online as the chapter blog.)

MPI New Jersey had just celebrated 20 years as a chapter and marked the occasion with a memorable 20th anniversary event aboard Atlantica.

What a memorable event it was and it helped to set the tone for the next 15 years of success.

MPI New Jersey is so excited to celebrate this new milestone on March 23, 2022 at our 35th (+1) Birthday Party following the MPI New Jersey MEETS Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Access to this event is included in your MEETS registration, but if you are unable to attend the full day, registration for our Birthday Party will be opening soon.

Have some fun MPI New Jersey photos to share with us to be included in the slide show, please email to [email protected].
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
MEMBER MILESTONES:
Congrats to the following members celebrating anniversaries with MPI this month:
Janet Pickover, CMP Emeritus: JR Associates - 36 Years
Kellie Cahill, CMP: Hilton New York Midtown - 19 Years
Michelle Wescott: Sponsorship Boost - 19 Years
Frank Fricano, CMP: Bridgewater Marriott -18 Years
Judy Hathaway, CMP: Meeting Professionals Expectations - 18 Years
Gail Brophy, CMP: NPS Pharmaceuticals - 16 Years
Tracey Lane: The Lane Group, LLC - 14 Years
Kristin Neglia, CIS, HMCC: Radisson Hotel Group Americas - 13 Years
Lauren Nance, CMP: Nance Communications, Meetings & Events - 9 Years
Treva Antonakos: Educational Testing Service - 2 Years
Amy Giron: ION - 2 Years
Gail Marrant, CMP: Sivantos - 2 Years
Megan Black: Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau - 1 Year
Rosemarie Mendes - 1 Year
Janet Murphy-Stott, HMCC - 1 Year
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
What is the best career advice you’ve received?
Never burn your bridges as you never know who you will work for or who you will need as a recommendation.

If you were not in this industry, what would you be doing right now?
I would probably work in market research. I received my Master’s in Corporate and Organizational Communication and interned doing Market Research and loved it. I love turning raw data into useful information to meet a goal.

SPONSOR
MASTERING YOUR MEMBERSHIP
MPI'S CAREER CENTER:
Connecting you with career opportunities:
Post a job or search available listings at MPI's Career Center

AFFINITY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM:
As a member of MPI, you have access to a number of exclusive savings on a variety of services ranging from travel to business, technology and more! Below is a small sample of the many brand and product savings available to meet your personal and professional needs and priorities.
To access your savings simply click here for more information.

MPI RESOURCES: 
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today's world. Check out the links below for information you want to know.
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