Associations, Events

SITE & MPI Global Forum: the two associations together in Rome

January 2018

SITE MPI Global Forum Rome

The two leading international MICE associations come together for a global event in Rome on 12-14 January.

The two leading associations of the meeting industry – the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI) – are coming together in Rome for the SITE MPI Global Forum.
On 12-14 January 2018, for the first time ever, the two associations are joining forces to create, share and discuss industry trends.

Kevin Hinton, CEO of SITE, and Paul Van Deventer, President and CEO of MPI, will both be in attendance.
The event is hosted by Miek Egberts (CMP, CMM, Owner of InspireMe Montecarlo), Chair of Global Forum, and Annamaria Ruffini (CMP, President & CEO of Events In & Out), the new – and first Italian – President of SITE World.

 Paul Van Deventer MPI e Kevin Hinton SITE   Annamaria Ruffini SITE
(left: Paul Van Deventer and Kevin Hinton – right: Annamaria Ruffini) 

Over 500 people are expected at the SITE MPI Global Forum, that offers more than 30 tailored education and training sessions, as well as keynotes by International speakers such as Julie Cottineau, Frans Johansson, Federico Mattei and Kristian Ribberstrom.
Attendants will also be able to sit for the Certified Incentive Specialist (CIS) and the Certified Incentive Travel Professional (CITP) professional certifications.

Three inspirational keynote speakers will try to ignite innovation and bring alive the event tagline “Connecting Event & Incentive Professionals”.
Paleontologist, journalist and tv host Alberto Angela will inaugurate the Forum with “A Day in the Life of Rome”, a journey in the life of ancient Rome.

With “The Medici Effect”, motivational writer Frans Johansson will urge both individuals and organizations to step into “the intersection”, a place where different fields, disciplines, and cultures converge to create new breakthroughs.

With “Twist Your Experience – Take the Magic Home”, Julie Cottineau, author of the best-selling book “TWIST: How Fresh Perspectives Build Breakthrough Brands”, will share tips on how to take the learning of the Global Forum home and make a profit out of it.

At the Global Forum, the results of the research commissioned by SITE Foundation on the economic impact of the incentive travel market in Europe will also be revealed. Incentive, Congress and leisure travels are worth over 500 billion dollars worldwide, and the travel & tourism industry employs 108 million people and generates a 7.6 billion dollar GDP.

Professionals, guests and chaperones will have the opportunity to visit some of the most prestigious venues in Rome: Palazzo Brancaccio, the MAXXI, Villa Miani and the Baja River Experience. The latter will be the setting of the Rendez-vous party organized by MPI Foundation and coordinated by MPI Italia Chapter’s President Mauro Bernardini.

Eleven students of BeAcademy’s Master THEM have taken part in the event’s organization.
“It’s a great opportunity for the selected students – said Mauro Bernardini, president of MPI Italia Chapter – as they have the opportunity of building relationship with the leading and most influential MICE professionals. Creating training and networking moments like these is essential to the growth of our young Italian talents.”

Info and registration >>>

About SITE
Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) is the only global organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting the incentive travel industry. The association provides its members with professional development, certification and business connections.
Over the last 44 years, SITE has grown to over 2,100 members in 84 countries with 29 local and regional chapters.

About MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide. Founded in the United States in 1972, it provides innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges to its 17,000 members.
The association has more than 90 chapters and clubs in 19 countries.
MPI Italia Chapter, founded in 1991, was the first European chapter. Rodolfo Musco, its first president, today oversees the project of the Italian professional certifications.