DALLAS, March 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the spirit of collaboration, the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation Canada announced today it will transfer ownership of the Canadian Economic Impact Study (CEIS) to the Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada (BEICC). This strategic move will take effect on April 10, 2014, in connection with National Meetings Industry Day in Canada.
"Our goal with this strategic effort is to position the CEIS as a broad industry initiative in order to gain more collaborative support and exposure for the study within Canada," said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. "With its strong base of founding members, we believe the BEICC is an exceptional organization poised to activate and elevate the study in-market."
In addition, the MPI Foundation Canada will become a member of the BEICC Board of Directors to support the transition of the study. As part of its renewed mission, the MPI Foundation has shifted its focus from producing major research such as the CEIS to funding pan-industry research that drives the success of meeting and event professionals.
Considered a pioneer, the CEIS is the first study to measure the contribution of meetings activity on the Canadian economy and to detail the meetings sector industries using World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) guidelines. The soon to be published CEIS 3.0 represents a continuation of reporting initially published in 2008 and updated in 2009, and will be the first to quantify the value delivered by the meetings industry to the country's economy at the provincial and local destination levels.
The MPI Foundation Canada will announce the CEIS 3.0 preliminary findings on National Meetings Industry Day, which is organized by the MPI Canadian Chapters. All eight chapters – the Atlantic Canada Chapter, British Columbia Chapter, Greater Calgary Chapter, Greater Edmonton Chapter, Manitoba Chapter, Montreal & Quebec Chapter, Ottawa Chapter and Toronto Chapter – will each celebrate the day by hosting educational and networking events focusing on the significance of the Canadian meetings industry and the value of meetings to the broader business community.
Both Van Deventer and MPI's Chairman Michael Dominguez will serve as guest panelists during the Ottawa Chapter event, and MPI's Chief Operating Officer Cynthia D'Aoust will serve as a guest speaker during the Toronto Chapter event. To learn more about National Meetings Industry Day and related MPI chapter celebrations, visit http://www.nmid.ca.
For more information on the CEIS 3.0, which was made possible through the MPI Foundation and contributions from a number of Canadian industry stakeholders, visit www.mpiweb.org/ceis3.
About the MPI Foundation
The Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation fuels the growth and advancement of MPI members by providing professional development and career opportunities through grants and scholarships. The not-for-profit organization also propels the meeting and event industry forward by funding important and quality research initiatives. For more information, visit www.mpiweb.org/foundation.
About the BEICC
The Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada is the voice of the meetings and events industry in Canada. The Coalition is comprised of organizations dedicated to the betterment and promotion of the meetings and events industry. www.beicc.com